On the Wine Shelf...

Burgáns Albariño 2011 (Widely Available, €17.99)

While its green and orange label and Celtic name give it an Irish feel for St Patrick’s Day, this is made by Bodegas Martín Códax from 100 per cent Albariño in the slopes that run down the middle of the Salnés Valley in the Rías Baixas area of ‘green Spain’.

With typically ripe apples, apricots, and peach fruity aromas you would associate with Albariño on the nose, the palate is rich with juicy fruit and clean acidity, offering a well-balanced rounded off-dry mineral finish. Overall, a fine example of Albariño that is perfect with any seafood or fish dish, particularly mussels or a rich coddle.

Juan de Albret Navarra Do Crianza (Lidl, €9.99)

This fine little charmer from Lidl is made mostly from Tempranillo and smaller quantities of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon by Bodegas Finca Albret in Navarra in northeast Spain.

On the nose it has lots of blackcurrant, while the palate is again fruity and a little sweet and fairly meaty working its way along to a fairly decent finish. Not much to complain about at this price and something that will satisfy a number of tastes, particularly if you are serving a rich spicy Irish stew.

Juan de Albret Navarra Do Crianza (Lidl, €9.99)

This fine little charmer from Lidl is made mostly from Tempranillo and smaller quantities of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon by Bodegas Finca Albret in Navarra in northeast Spain.

On the nose it has lots of blackcurrant, while the palate is again fruity and a little sweet and fairly meaty working its way along to a fairly decent finish. Not much to complain about at this price and something that will satisfy a number of tastes, particularly if you are serving a rich spicy Irish stew.