Incredible nose! Deep honey and roasted nuts, intense petroleum and citrus mineral lime characters, very complex, palate has great balance, exquisite poise and elegance, amazing richness but light and refreshing, palate changing from heavy and honeyed into light cirus and mineral with one sip, amazingly long. A real treat.
Red bowl brown orange rim, nose open quite rustic and dried fruit aromas, cranberry and strawberry, earthy with hints of leather and kirsch cherries on the nose, some VA, dry and soft palate, not great length good aromas not substantial.
Wonderfully expressive nose, very open soft and ripe, mature and spicey, round soft fruirts strawberry and raspberry, with some tart cranberry, soft leather and earthy wet forest character, palate light well balanced with long firm acidity, soft dried fruits, shorter on length than expected.
Nose little tight, youthful still fresher oak more viognier lifts wood aroma, bramble and cassis with pepper and earthy full flavours, round and balanced, full long and complex.
Straw golden colour with slightly amber rim, needs air to open up, decanting required, honey, nuts, lanolin and beeswax aromas, orange, tangerine, herbal and camomile, still with a crisp fresh acidity and long complex mineral palate.
Nose open very aromatic, delicious old Amarone balsamic complexity, truffle and black chocolate aromas, earthy rich fruitcake like, palate quite soft tannins, very long and harmonious, delicious.
Brick red rim against a garnet bowl, nose open soft and aromatic, forest fruit aromas – strawberry, raspberry damsons and redcurrant, some earthy undergrowth sous bois aromas, mushroom and leather. Delicate palate, balanced earthy and long.
Brick red with a garnet bowl, still so youthful for 45 years! Nose lovely sweet ripe cherry liqueur fruit, black chocolate and spices, candided dry fruits and cranberry mulled wine aromas, very christmas like, xmas pud with dried fruits, palate sweet rich not too heavy or alcoholic, warming with a well balanced thick texture.
Mahogany with brick orange rim, wonderful lustre still for age, nose open old Italian piedmont character, like an old Barolo with a touch of olorosso sherry, rancio nuts, leather, sous bois, figs seche, prunes, round soft palate frits still sweet, superb.
Pale red garbet, brick rim, nose little closed and light, earthy and vegetal forest floor with rowan cranberry aromas, not too complex, fruity round and rich on palate bright cherry acidity, easy drinking medium to long length. Pleasant.
Ronan is a very valuable member of the Master Sommelier Organisation.
His knowledge and passion for wine is frequently passed on to candidates at all levels of our education programmes.
He is an accomplished lecturer, and has a way of putting his subject matter over to candidates in a manner which promotes the learning process. Candidates respond positively to his approach and up to date knowledge of the subject.
Ronan's skills also extend to his practical work in the restaurant where he demonstrates benchmark standards.
His ability to taste and analyse wine has been proved with his success in gaining the Master Sommelier Award.
Bryan Dawes, Education chair, Court of Master Sommeliers