A weekend in Cork and some more old(ish) Bordeaux

I visited a restaurant that I had never been to in Cork over the weekend. Flemings restaurant is located out in Tivoli, a short drive from the city centre but this Country House feels as if it is located a good bit further out. Despite an entry akin to Fawlty Towers we had a wonderful meal and I was treated to some of the finest cooking that I have eaten in Ireland in a while. Flemings specializes in French classics and seasonal foods and there was some nice game on the menu (although we were a week too early for pheasant). I thoroughly enjoyed my partridge starter and the rest of the starters were very good too. My main of Venison Loin & Burger was a little too well cooked for my liking but was very tasty but some of the other mains were seriously good! I wasn't impressed with the winelist but the food was very very good, so perhaps next time (of which there will certainly be one) I will ring ahead to see if I can bring my own bottles along..? I also had a lovely trip to Kinsale for a stroll about and enjoyed some home baked delights and lovely hot chocolate in Jo's before meeting up with old friends and overindulging in many drinks.

Following on with my quest for older wines I had the pleasure of drinking a 1994 Haut Bailly this evening. 1994 is regarded as a poor vintage in Bordeaux but this wine was still remarkably young. It was quite savoury on the nose with hints of mushrooms along with fresh herbs, some black fruits and a hint of tobacco. On the palate this also has some good life left with nice acid and some tannin. Nice smooth flavours of smoke, plums, red fruits and herbs on a medium bodied finish. This was very pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable with some meat. Not as enjoyable as the 86 Beaumont but better than the 85 D'Issan. Again, not a wine I would go out of my way to procure but a pleasure to drink all the same.