Another Empty Glass: Rugra Nivö, Nibiö 2011

In a desperate attempt to get some scribbles down, here is one of the wines I've tippled of late that has really caught my attention and brought me to care for a small flutter of words. Nivö; a Nibiö or rather Dolcetto, though not as you know it however, as this Dolcetto is Nibiö.
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@Rob_Gilmour has been writing for Empty for too long to mention, he is currently working in wine in Edinburgh. Being a balanced, multifaceted individual Rob's only interest in not wine, he is also interested in wine education as well, having passed his WSET L3 with distinction. Rob is also a deft hand at circumlocution. If you'd still like to contact him email: emptyglassie@gmail.com

28 Days Later

Here I am, nearly, twenty eight days after a perversely prescribed sobriety of the same measure. I scribe from the comfort of a pair of newly acquired beige canvas trousers. You can see, beyond any shadow of doubt, that the re-calibration has been a difficult one and I veer dangerously close to the obnoxious. So profoundly have I missed the clink of mismatched Riedel that my malted pursuits have fallen totally astray and my vinous escapades only intensified, I only fear that I am a step shy from ascending the ranks of the red trousered regiment and regaling you of a quaint 'Bojo' flight I had in the local oeno-café.

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@Rob_Gilmour has been writing for Empty for too long to mention, he is currently working in wine in Edinburgh where he runs @Wine_Edinburgh and somehow has found time to be Vice-President of the @IWSScotland. Being a balanced, multifaceted individual Rob's only interest in not wine, he is also interested in wine education as well having passed with distinction his WSET L3, not to mention Rob has a fondness for having his ego stroked, demonstrated the purring he made while receiving a WSET Scholarship. If you'd like to contact him email: emptyglassie@gmail.com

Smoke and Substance; Pietradolce, Archineri, Etna Rosso 2008

As the dust settled and the smoke cleared, it was confirmed. The other half had sped off into the distance and popped over to the Emerald Isle. I, the abnormally big child, was home alone for the weekend. That meant wine. I reasoned, what better way to spend time than being bowled over by a big fire breathing red. So, knocking off work nice and early on Saturday I had only one burning question; what wine was going to get my weekend alone flowing?

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@Rob_Gilmour has been writing for Empty for too long to mention, he is currently working in wine in Edinburgh where he runs @Wine_Edinburgh and somehow has found time to be Vice-President of the @IWSScotland. Being a balanced, multifaceted individual Rob's only interest in not wine, he is also interested in wine education as well having passed with distinction his WSET L3. If you'd like to contact him email: emptyglassie@gmail.com 

The Italian Job: Tenuta Santini Toscana Caricello 2006

Having found myself at the hands of a rather nasty bottle-shocking of travel from Maynooth to Monaghan over a tedious repetitive money-leeching meaningless "religious ceremony". I decided post-confirmation Rob was going to need something rather nice to cheer him up. Unfortunately, I was in Monaghan, and while it is where I hail from, it is the greatest hole on earth when it comes to wine, or so I thought... 

Ca'Rugate, Valpolicella Superiore, 2007

I have mentioned Valpol before, I have mentioned my infatuation, I have mentioned even my love of it's colour. I think now is the time to admit, I am obsessed with the bloody thing. Now, I am picky however, and have been set on many a rage by attempts that betray the grapes, the style and the very reason for Valpol. That being a wine, that is enticing, fresh and vibrant. This example, well lets say, pricey as it was, didn't disappoint.

Corvina Veronese, Monte Zovo, 2007

If there is one grape that tickles me fancy it has to Crovina. In fact my wine epiphany happened to involve just the culprit in the form of a Valopicella Ripasso, and has been the bar all wine finds itself up against ever since. Now, this is something a little different, it's a straight Crovina, form Monte Zovo, whose Bardolino has already struck a good note with me. So how did the single varietal stand up?

The Blueberries (Empty Awards for 2011)

Here at team empty we have decided that we could kick off the new year by having ourselves a little bout of awards just to mention some of the best wines, people, producers, regions and wine businesses that we've come across over the 2011. Our format is very simple, there is a first, second and third place, see simple. That in mind, here are our Blueberry awards for 2011.

Montezovo, Bardolino, 2009, more commonly referred too as drink up.

The Corkscrew, €12ish quid

Truth be known I have been awash with disappointments with wines of late a corked Spanish wine being replaced only to be found on its last legs, fruitless, empty, and bitter ready to turn over to a vinegar. Bordeaux with honourable exception has become a stalwart of disappointment for me, anything and everything that it has thrown my way failing to live up to even basic expectation. Outside that safe haven for the pretentious and over-paid France was failing again, now in Cote D’Oc, a Cab Sauv, which opened with so much freshness turn to a decaying hunk of meat within 20m minutes not too long ago to add to all this.

Old Ripasso Review

CESARI MARA- Ripasso

I do believe I seen a bottle of this within O'Briens halls and the Wine Mill use to stock it, regrettably no more. This is the first bottle that has managed to be bought twice by myself, more than this, this wine was bought twice, in one week, in first year, and now the owner of the Mill is now hounded to restock with the wine. At €20ish a bottle this is a big ask out of our measily budgets- My defence? This is the bottle that grabbed and dragged me to the world of wine! If my rusty memory serves me right this bottle had a deleciate balance of plum and cherry, the acidity was a little less than a normal Valpol, I would say sweetness, save sweetness is really denying the elegance of this wine. It would be impossible to classify this as sweet, it is yet far from dry. All in all, this bottle has yet to be moved from its place as my favourite bottle, whether it is the nostalgia of the wine that really got you into wine or the wine itself could be debated, however either way the wine is a star. Failing to find this try pick up a Zenato, they are about €16 at the moment a steal if nothing else.

NEW VINTAGE TO BE REVIEWED JAN 2012

Veneto and Valentines - Whites & Bubbly

Supposedly the Famous Balcony 

Hello there, Veneto is a bit of a favourite with us here, and I decided I'd throw together all the prices and scores of Venetian wines we've reviewed (If would like any more information on these E-mail us at  theemptyglass@gmail.com) as it's coming up to Valentines and Veneto is after all home to Verona the city of Romeo and Juliet. So enjoy a student take on how to get wines from one of the most romantic regions in the world without burning a hole in the wallet.

All three eventualities of taste are covered here, Red, White and Bubbly, sort of a testimony to the variety this region has to offer in terms of wine.

Well, the whites  and bubbly are up next so for anyone with wine buckets looking to impress this might be the way to go.

Veneto and Valentines - Red

Supposedly the Famous Balcony 

Hello there, Veneto is a bit of a favourite with us here, and I decided I'd throw together all the prices and scores of Venetian wines we've reviewed (If would like any more information on these E-mail us at  theemptyglass@gmail.com) as it's coming up to Valentines and Veneto is after all home to Verona the city of Romeo and Juliet. So enjoy a student take on how to get wines from one of the most romantic regions in the world without burning a hole in the wallet.

All three eventualities of taste are covered here, Red, White and Bubbly, sort of a testimony to the variety this region has to offer in terms of wine.

Here are the Reds from the list there are a lot of wines so we've split the articles up! Enjoy! Hope it helps in finding the right wine for the day!