This week I handed the corkscrew over to me old Irish drinking buddy, Garrett Seamus O’Sullivan, a man who’s survived questionable pubs, suspicious homemade whiskey, and at least three family weddings where somebody fought a priest. So when Garrett says a wine’s decent, ye listen. This week’s victim was the 2020 Clos de Mendoza Malbec. In his words…
(Voice of Garrett Seamus O’Sullivan)…I was a bit suspicious. It wasn’t whiskey, it was from south america and less than $6. But the back label wasn’t bad at all now. Simple stuff. Told ye who made it, where it came from, and why they bothered puttin’ it in a bottle. None o’ this poetic nonsense about moonbeams dancin’ over vineyards while some lad named Pierre whispers to grapes. I appreciate that. I’m buyin’ wine, not auditionin’ fer a feckin’ romance novel.
The wine itself showed up ready to work. Strong body, good jammy flavor, a touch o’ spice, and enough puckeryishness to remind ye this wasn’t grape juice fer children. This wasn’t some magical pot o’ gold wine, but fer six bucks, it punched well above its weight like a drunk uncle at Christmas. Best of all, the wine, steak and colcannon got along great. Ye don’t need fancy charts and sommeliers sniffin’ corks, If the wine tastes good with beef and potatoes, stop talkin’ and sit down.”
But here’s the best laugh of all: somewhere on the shelf they claimed the “regular price” was $60. Sixty dollars? Sweet suffering saints and scholars, not a chance. Maybe if the bottle came with a free sheepdog and a plot in County Cork. At $5.99 though, I’ll buy two next time.
