In 1805 the Mitchell merchant family started their business at No 10 Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin, as purveyors of confectionery, wines and fortified wines. Today 210 years later the family are still selling wine in their shops in Glasthule/Sandycove, Co Dublin, the IFSC, Dublin 1 and more recently in the new Avoca Food Market in the beautiful surroundings of the old Jameson estate in Kilmacanogue Co. Wicklow. Four generations later, the company is still in the wine and spirits business under the stewardship of Jonathan Mitchell and his son Robert. Mitchell and Son stock a superb selection of Wines, Champagnes, Port, Sherry and Dessert Wines as well as Riedel glasses and wine accessories.
Today on Movies & Booze we are going to look at an Argentinian Malbec that is very much of the moment in terms of wine trends and a wonderful iconic pot still whiskey called Green Spot that has been associated with the Mitchell family for 128 years.
2013 Alta Vista Premium Malbec €19.99
Stockists: Mitchell and Son, CHQ Building, IFSC, D1; Sandycove, Co Dublin; Avoca, Kilmacanogue; Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway; Myles Doyle’s, Gorey; The Corkscrew, Chatham St, D2; Sweeney’s, Glasnevin; Higgins Butchers, Sutton.
Argentina has doubled its market share in Ireland in the last two years. This is very much driven by one grape variety, Malbec which has found its natural home there. The grape originates in South West France and is indigenous to the region of Cahors. You will also find it used in blends in Bordeaux and the Cotes. The maritime climate of south west France means that Malbec doesn’t really get the sunshine it needs to ripen properly and as a result can be a bit lean and tart.
Malbec features in many French regions where it has a number of synonyms. It is known as Auxerrois in the Loire , and in the Cahors region it is known as Côt. Malbec is usually low in acidity, high in tannins, and has an inky-black color. Aromas and flavors of plums, black currant and black cherry are common.
Malbec emigrated to South America in the 19th century and found its natural home in the high altitudes of the Andes mountain. The greatest of all Malbec comes from Argentina, particularly Mendoza, where it is now the most widely planted varietal and has played a big part in transforming the country's wine industry. Argentina has a continental climate this and the high altitude of the Andes mountain are two of key factors that have impacted on the quality of their Malbec. Altitude in Mendoza varies from 600 metres to 1,500 metres above sea level.
This Argentine Malbec comes from a family estate. Interestingly enough the family who produce this are French, The d'Aulan family produces wines many wine-growing regions around the world, including in France, Hungary and Argentina, where they created Alta Vista in 1998. The result is a combination of French savoir faire and Argentinean passion.
This wine has been aged for 12 months in a mixture of French 80% and American 20% oak. It has complex ripe red fruits aromas and a hint of spice. This is a premium Malbec, the wood age gives it round, soft tannins and there is a wonderful concentration of ripe black fruit. A wine made to be served with roast lamb at Easter.
Mitchell's Green Spot Irish Whiskey €56.95
Available: Mitchell and Son, CHQ Building, IFSC, D1; Sandycove, Co Dublin.
A concise definition of whiskey can be summarised simply, a white spirit, aged in an oak barrel until its colour turns brown.
The global growth for whisky sales is particularly strong in the United States. The Scottish Whisky industry sells 90 million cases a year globally, accounting for 60% of the global whisky market (in value terms £3.5 billion). The re-emerging whiskey industry in Ireland is slowly evolving; with Irish whiskey sales growing to 7 million cases globally.
Traditionally in Scotland, Whisky is spelt without the “e” in Ireland the “e” matters. During the 19th century when the phylloxera outbreak devastated the vineyards of Cognac, affecting the production of French brandy, Irish whiskey outsold it’s Scottish counterpart. This was because the Irish used unmalted barley exclusively, which made for a lighter style of Whiskey which the customer preferred. At this time, both Irish and Scotch whiskey became the drink of choice among the monied classes especially as an aperitif.
Single Pot Still whiskey is unique to Ireland in general and to Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork, in particular, and is regarded as the quintessential style of Irish whiskey. Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, Pot Still whiskeys are characterised by full, complex flavours and a wonderful, creamy mouthfeel.
Green Spot and Yellow Spot were originally produced by the Mitchell family when they expanded into the whiskey bonding business in 1887. At the time they sent empty wine and fortified wine casks via horse and cart to the local Jameson Distillery which were then filled with new Pot Still spirit and returned to the Mitchell’s maturation cellars. There, the whiskeys matured for many years under bond until they were ready to be bottled and sold.
The ‘Spot’ name was derived from the Mitchell’s practice of marking their maturing casks of whiskey with a mark or daub of coloured paint to determine the age potential of the whiskey. Blue Spot was an 8 year old, Green Spot a 10, Yellow Spot a 12 and Red Spot a 15. In time, all but ‘Green Spot’ disappeared with Yellow Spot last being seen on whiskey shelves in the early 1960s until its revival in the last decade. Yellow Spot is a 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey matured for a full 12 year period in three oak cask types: American bourbon barrels, Spanish sherry butts, and uniquely, Spanish Malaga casks. Only extremely limited quantities of Yellow Spot have been bottled making it a whiskey to seek out and savour as a true rarity.
Green Spot is a non age statement Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and is comprised of Pot Still whiskeys aged between 7 and 10 years. The whiskey has matured in a combination of new bourbon and refill bourbon casks as well as sherry butts. Only small quantities of Green Spot are bottled each year making it a rare and much sought after delight. Irish Whiskey is traditionally triple distilled, resulting in a very smooth, mellow spirit. With a light, fresh character, the flavours of golden Irish whiskies run to fruity and grassy. Green Spot has a full spicy body. A hint of cloves along with the fruity sweetness of green apples, rounded off with toasted oak.
For details of wine events go to the wine diary on www.jeansmullen.com
Argentine Wine Fair (trade & press only) on 16th April, 2015 at Hilton Hotel, Charlemont Place.
