I popped into Molloys in Clonsilla recently and spotted, rather narcissistically, a shelf-talker featuring yours truly got my attention first.

Well, Molloys sent me on two more samples, so perhaps their customers will be be exposed to me more often. Poor them.

Anyway, that just one of the ways the wine world works. Samples sent out (or lavish lunches put on), wines tasted and written about favourably, supplier or retailer markets the wine with the independent endorsement on a “shelf talker”.

Back to the two samples that Molloys sent out.

Château du Donjon Cuvée Prestige 2008

The first, the Chateau du Donjon Cuvée Prestige from the Minervois in the Languedoc. It’s a blend of Grenache and Syrah which spends 12 months resting in oak, softening out and picking up some vanilla and spice flavours.

This is a lovely blend of dark ripe fruit and warming spices. Lovely silky texture. While it’s quite full bodied, it doesn’t smack you in the face – it’s really well balanced. Real quality here.

A wine to enjoy while indoors looking out at the summer drizzle and would go well with simple fare like steak, lamb or roast chicken. The wine is good and,

RRP: €12.99

The second is from Portugal, where there’s so much good wine coming out of these days.

Quinta do Cachao, Douro 2009

The Quinta do Cachao from the Douro region is a gorgeous wine and for €9, you’ll struggle to find better. Rich, dark, plummy fruit and moreish mocha. A real treasure.

RRP: €8.99

Mas de Daumas Gassac 2004

The last one is not one I’ve tried, the Mas de Daumas Gassac 2004. This, I imagine, is extremely hard to find and Molloys have it for €40 a bottle. Not an insignificant sum of money for a bottle but if you think of it as €8 a glass – it’s no worse than a G&T in your local pub – for a wine that  Michael Broadbent has put in his top ten wines of the world.

I can’t quite endorse it as I haven’t tasted the 2004 vintage from Molloys (I had it 3 or 4 years ago and it was brilliant then).

More recently I had the 2006 and it was spectacular, see the notes here.