Carneros, USA - March 2016 @ LynneCoyle - O'Briens Wine
Château Pichon Longueville, Pauillac, France - Kevin O' Brien - 2004
MEET OUR WINE EXPERTS Lynne Coyle MW Lynne is our Wine Director and one of less than 369 Masters of Wine worldwide. Lynne sources and selects our wine range. Starting a career in the hotel and restaurant industry, she is still a passionate foodie as well as being a member of the Champagne Academy and also a Sherry Master.
DISCOVER BORDEAUX
James Tobin, DipWSET James Tobin holds the WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits and is a Certified Wine Educator, he looks after wine communication and staff training for O’Briens. With a background in hospitality, James is a keen cook and he has been working with wine his entire career.
Lorcan O' Brien, Store Manager, Citywest Lorcan is WSET qualified and a confirmed wine anorak. When he's not managing our Citywest store, Lorcan can be found scribbling articles for a number of wine and whiskey publications, as well as his own blog: theirishwino.ie.
by Lynne Coyle MW
M
Bordeaux City - April 2017 @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
aybe you don’t need an excuse to open a bottle of Bordeaux, but if you do then this time of year is the perfect excuse. The nights are still chilly, weekends either frosty or rainy, the fire is on and comfort foods such as warming casseroles, tagines, wild mushroom risotto or just a plate of cheese are the order of the day. Bordeaux is the benchmark to which many other iconic international wines aspire. Introduced by the Romans, the red wines, depending on where they are from in the region are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Carménère. Bordeaux is the largest vineyard area in France, it covers 120,000 hectares and within the region there are multiples of communes each with their own soil type, traditions and appellation controlee rules. Climatically these vineyards, depending on where they are positioned, are influenced by both the Gironde River and the Atlantic. From the Graves and St Estèphe in the North to the sweet white wine communes of Barsac and Sauternes in the South each wine style reflects its commune and local growing conditions as well as the specifics of the grapes from which they were made.
They are all however unmistakably Bordeaux in style and character. The top Châteaux such as Château Lafite Rothschild or Château Margaux help drive the reputation of Bordeaux for expensive wines, wines only for the rich or only understood by wine connoisseurs, as a result Bordeaux can be considered out of reach for many wine lovers. This however does not need to be the case as there are an abundance of smaller, often family owned Châteaux known as Petit Châteaux that offer excellent wines at very approachable prices. However, after a series of good vintages in Bordeaux, the prices are still very fair. But with the devastating frosts across Europe including Bordeaux in the spring of 2017, significant price increases will come into effect with the next shipments of wine arriving. The wines featured here all arrived in the country some months ago, were purchased before the frost affected the price increases and therefore offer remarkable value for money. My heartfelt advise would be to buy these wines to enjoy now and see out the winter in style. But is also well worth buying some to tuck away to enjoy in the next two to
three years, that decision you would not regret. The key point about storing these wines is that you need to avoid light, heat, vibration and significant temperature variation. If you are not lucky enough to be blessed with a cellar in your house, that would include most houses these days including my own, then under the stairs, an unheated room or a garage that does not overheat in summer will suffice. Lay the bottles on their sides to avoid the cork drying out and check them occasionally to ensure there are no drips. For enjoying these wines over the last weeks of the winter and into Spring, serve Bordeaux at room temperature or slightly colder if you have a warm centrally heated house. Around 17 – 18 °c is perfect this is because red wines served too warm lose their definition and purity of fruit. Whilst there is no sediment in these wines, it is therefore unnecessary to decant them
For enjoying the wines over the last weeks of the winter and into Spring, serve Bordeaux at room temperature or slightly colder if you have a very warm centrally heated house. but because they are youthful, decanting will enhance your enjoyment of the wine as the aromas and flavours in the wine will intensify due to the increased exposure to oxygen. Decanters look attractive on the dinner table, even with a casual supper I feel a decanter adds to the occasion and they can be bought reasonably cheaply these days.
All featured wines are available to buy in-store or online at www.obrienswine.ie
Château Saint Poly, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2012 €30.00* Stand out quality, ripe concentrated elegant and full flavoured, cassis notes layered with hints of spice.
Château Puy Marceau, Bordeaux 2014 €17.95*
Château Sainte-Marie, Bordeaux Supérieur 2015 €17.95*
Savoury and elegant with hints of liquorice and cassis and a refreshing cleansing acidity on the finish.
Bright red fruits with floral hints of violets, forward style with good defining acidity and a fresh finish.
Château La Raz Caman, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, 2015 €29.95*
Château Clos du Roy, Fronsac 2012 €29.95*
A riper, juicy wine with good fruit concentration and notes of chocolate, spice and toast on the palate.
Concentrated ripe fruit with cassis notes, the tannins are chalky and the wine has a long rich sour cherry finish.
Château Poujeaux Moulis-en-Medoc 2011 €48.00*
Château Laroze, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2012, €50.00*
More restrained elegant style of wine with firm tannins, some savoury hints and a refreshing elegant finish.
Good depth of red berry fruit with savoury notes of coffee and spice, well balanced by good acidity.
*BUY ONE GET SECOND HALF PRICE FOR MARCH ONLY
T
IRISH
he Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations that take place all over the world each year are a reminder to us all that the Irish have always looked beyond these shores. Although historically this was mainly for reasons of political or economic necessity, these enterprising emigrants often sought out or created exciting opportunities for themselves in their adopted countries of residence.
by James Tobin DipWSET
In the case of France many of the best of these opportunities lay in the wine trade, evidence of the success of these Irish “wine geese” of centuries ago is still plain to see in the names of some of today’s leading Bordeaux Châteaux such as Lynch-Bages, Kirwan, Phélan-Ségur, and in the case of Barton family, the estates remain with the family who left Ireland almost two hundred years ago. The Bartons are famously proud of their Irish heritage, so much so that, patriarch of the clan, Anthony Barton even holds an Irish Passport. The wines detailed below illustrate the central role these Irish émigrés played in the wine trade of the adopted country. Elegant and refined, Château Kirwan, is one of Margaux's star performers, their second wine, Charmes de Kirwan 2014 is fragrant and beautifully aromatic with lovely balance, and very nicely judged oak. The Barton family's latest venture, Château Mauvesin-Barton 2014 has started to develop so besides dark fruit there are savoury cedar like notes and a rounded palate. The third wine from Château Lynch Bages: Pauillac de Lynch-Bages 2015 is a wonderfully fresh and elegant wine with notes of red fruit, spice, wood and a silky
Laurent & Neasa - Laurent Miquel Winery
Charmes de Kirwan 2014 €36.95
Château Mauvesin-Barton 2014 €24.95 for the month of March
Pauillac de Lynch-Bages 2015 €34.95 for the month of March
Black fruits dominate this 2nd wine of Kirwan.. . The oak aging is subtle and gives a smooth character..” Rated ‘Outstanding’ 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
A ripe full-bodied wine that has great structure and fine tannins.” Rated ‘Outstanding’ 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The high class origins of this wine come through in the beautiful mix of damson & cassis fruit along with Pauillac's signature cigar box character.
well-rounded mouthfeel to finish it off. But the story doesn’t end here, because while these pioneers blazed a trail, there is new generation of young Irish making a name for themselves in the wine-world in France today. One such wine goose is Isla Gordon, originally from Co. Carlow. After spending a number of years training under Jeremy Hyland, possibly the best regarded viticulturist in NZ, at Kim Crawford wines and later at Astrolabe wines, Isla and her Australian winemaker husband Paul decided it was time to set out on their own and chose the Languedoc as the place best suited to the style of wine they both wanted to produce. Today, working with some unique terroirs and old vineyards treated organically and by hand, the Gordons produce some stunningly good old-world wines but with a modern Oz twang such as the delicious wine below. Domaine la Sarabande Les Rabasses is a classic Languedoc blend of Grenache, Carignan & Syrah, that has blackberry and cherry fruit plus liquorice complemented by subtle oak notes. Another of these modern-day wine geese, based in the South of France is Neasa Corish Miquel. Originally from Foxrock, Dublin 18, Neasa is married to winemaker Laurent Miquel and living in France. The family are making delicious red and white wines from their organically farmed vineyards in Corbières region. Alongside the region’s traditional grape varieties, the Miquels are pioneering the use of Albariño, their Alaina Albariño has
Charlie, Ellen & Kevin O'Brien - Kangarilla Road
There is new generation of young Irish making a name for themselves in the wine world in France today. aromas of grapefruit & delicate floral notes, which lead to a palate which is peachy, yet also lively & refreshing with a hint of lime on the finish. Looking further afield, I have two examples of Irish Wine geese making their way to Australia, one quite recently and one a little further back. Originally from Tipperary, since 2004 the O’Dwyer family have been custodians of fourteen hectares of mature Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz vineyards in Clare Valley, South Australia. With their meticulous attention to detail, the result is high quality fruit which results in these stunningly concentrated but elegant wines. O'Dwyer Shiraz boasts all the hallmarks of
great Australian Shiraz – rich fruit, defined oak structure and fine-grained tannins. In and around the time of the great famine, winemaker Kevin O’Brien’s great grandfather James O'Brien and great grandmother Mary Mullins independently left Co. Clare they later met and married in South Australia. Kevin’s vineyard is located in the McLaren Vale, its name ‘Kangarilla’ is an aboriginal word meaning a place with abundant resources. The vineyards are located on multiple sites and ancient geologies giving the wines complexity. Farming sustainably, Kevin uses small batch hands-on techniques to give his wines a natural fruit expression, reflective of site and season. Kangarilla Road Terzetto 2013 is an intriguing mix of three Italian varieties gives perfumed tea-brack, raisin and cherry on the nose, with palate of prunes, cinnamon and chalky tannins. All that leaves for me to say is, Sláinte agus Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!
Domaine la Sarabande Les Rabasses €18.95 for the month of March
Alaina Albariño €13.95 down from €16.95
O’Dwyer Shiraz 2009 €49.95
Kangarilla Road Terzetto 2013 €17.95
Delicious blackberry and cherry fruit is perfectly complemented by subtle oak notes.
Deliciously peachy, yet also lively & refreshing with a hint of lime on the finish.
This stunning Shiraz has rich fruit, a well-defined oak structure and fine-grained tannins.
"Smooth, with a taste of gently poached red fruits and sweet spice. Dark prunes and a touch of anise linger.” Rated ‘Outstanding’ 91 Points, James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
HOW ARE THINGS
IN CALIFORNIA? by Lynne Coyle MW
C
alifornia is the largest economy in the US, it is also the most populated state with almost 40 million residents. It has over 600,000 acres under vine and accounts for 85% of US wine production, this makes it the biggest wine state in the US and the fourth biggest wine producer in the world. It is a significant contributor to the US economy and a major employer through wine production jobs, wine tourism, and wine hospitality. Cutting edge in terms of their visitor experience, Californian wineries and vineyards have been referred to as adult theme parks. From afar it would be easy to imagine that California’s multi-billion wine industry would be devoid of the authenticity that abounds in other wine growing areas around the world.
and wine makers. Who, like their colleagues around the globe, are doing their very best to make the best wine they can from the climate, the soil, the grapes and the prevailing vintage conditions. California is steeped in grape growing history and winemaking know how, the first vines were planted in 1863 by Spanish missionaries. The Californian gold rush started in 1848 which increased and the number of people arriving in the state and the subsequent demand for the local wines increased. In 1919 California faced the challenge of prohibition which all but wiped out the industry. In 1976, The Judgement of Paris tasting elevated the status of California wines and once again increased demand for them worldwide.
caused $9.4 billion US dollars and led to loss of life. It has been suggested that the long drought, followed by excessive spring rains and a dry summer left dry brittle trees and grasses which was perfect kindling for the fires that spread quickly, fanned by the autumn winds. Perhaps because of the environmental issues California has faced, in 2001, The Sustainable Winegrowing Program was initiated. It has impressive far reaching objectives for its 975 member wineries which represents 85% of the country’s wine production.
No stranger to environmental challenges, the insect Phylloxera (1980’s) and Pierce’s Disease (1880’s, 1930’s, 1940’s and 1990’s) have taken their toll on the vineyards over the years. Even as I write, Santa Barbara in Southern California is battling with a wild fire that has already been burning for two weeks. The damage so far is estimated to be in excess of 55 million US dollars.
Apart from an agenda to protect rural land from urban sprawl, the focus is directed towards biodiversity, ecosystem management, energy efficiency, water quality and air quality. When driving through the vineyards of Napa, bat boxes and owl boxes are common place. Land set aside to encourage pollinator insects and vegetable gardens growing beside the vines are frequently seen. Refreshingly, in keeping with this philosophy, cover crops and the decision not to use weed killer, leaves the vineyards alive and natural in appearance rather than manicured to within an inch of their lives.
This is on top of the wild fires this October, in the wine regions of Sonoma and Napa. These fires destroyed over 5,000 buildings,
It was the people however who brought the California wine scene alive for me, and their abounding devotion to making the
Raymond Field Blend €22.95
Schramsberg Traditional Method Sparking €40.00
Inglenook Pennino Zinfandel €60.00
A field blend, this is where the different vines are grown together in the same vineyard, this is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Zinfandel. Supple, ripe and concentrated.
100% Chardonnay, made in the same way as Champagne, elegant and complex with toasted brioche on the nose and palate balanced by refreshing citrus notes and a touch of honey.
Purity of fruit, intense and concentrated with a ripe tannin profile, hints of spice and vanilla, this wine is perfect with red meats and hearty stews and would do a hard cheese proud.
However, on a recent visit to Sonoma and Napa I discovered that this could not have been further from the truth. Yes, at some wineries the impeccable visitor experience is similar to visiting the top Châteaux in Bordeaux – wine of the highest quality, information in-depth and flawless. But my overriding impression of the Californian winery visits was of their diversity and individuality. Furthermore, my final thoughts of Napa and Sonoma were of the passionate dedicated grape growers
best quality wines they could. Raymond Winery, owned by the well known Burgundian Jean Charles Boisset, is a fully functioning Biodynamic winery making interesting Cabernet Sauvignon. Kitted out internally with a night club, a wine sensory area and a “Winemaker for a Day Experience”, the external area is the complete opposite with a biodynamic garden populated by goats and sheep. Jean Charles is committed to the idea of sustainable practises, wants people to remember his wines and winery and maintains “wine is fun, it should enhance life”. Raymond is open to visitors.
There was no doubt when arriving at Inglenook, that the owner was a “movie mogul”. This is a stunning estate that has a French style Château at its heart. Owned by Francis Ford Copolla, the visitors centre is stuffed with movie industry paraphernalia including the hand written cast list from The Godfather. Making stunning Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, elegance and fruit purity are the hallmarks of the estates wine style.
Napa Valley - March 2016 @ LynneCoyle - O'Briens Wine
Like their colleagues around the globe, are doing their very best to make the best wine they can from the climate, the soil, the grapes and the prevailing vintage conditions.
Napa Valley - March 2016 @ LynneCoyle - O'Briens Wine
At the smaller more traditional end of the scale is Schramsberg. This property was established in 1965 by Jack and Jamie Davis, now run by their son, this is one of the most prestigious sparkling wines made in the US. Made in the same way as Champagne, the elegance and quality of the wines are exceptional and well worth seeking out. A visit to this winery promises traditional cellars and traditional winemaking practises as well as the opportunity to taste high quality sparkling wines.
Of Irish heritage is the Teac Mor Estate in the Russian River Valley. Originally from County Galway, this Irish family are making premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from
their own vineyards. The Russian River is technically cool climate in California so perfectly suited to growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Burgundian in approach, the wines are exceptional quality and an honest reflection of the climate and vineyards of this beautiful river influenced inland region. Owner Steve Moore, expresses his delight and wonder that his Galway father planted their vineyards and he shares his families desire to make the best possible Chardonnay and Pinot Noir they can. I am sure when you taste the wines you might agree with him.
Teac Mor Chardonnay €26.95
Murphy Goode Chardonnay €17.95 down from €19.95
Kendall Jackson Zinfandel, Mendocino 2014 €23.95* - Buy one, get second one half price (February)
An elegant, rich Chardonnay, lemon freshness and green apple balances a creamy mid palate, some underlying hints of toasted hazelnuts gives an exotic feel, serve with grilled white fish.
Classic Chardonnay flavours of apple, lemon and white, well-balanced acidity on the palate with a hint of ripeness and a subtle use of oak.
Remarkable value for the second bottle, this Zin is medium to full bodied with lovely ripeness of fruit over a bed of oak, cinnamon and pepper.
Lupercalia with some of our favourite romance-inspired wines here at O’Briens.
by Lorcan O'Brien
F
ebruary enjoys an enduring association with love, romance and fertility. Long before Valentine’s cards and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, many ancient pagan societies celebrated festivals at this time of the year to herald the coming season of rebirth and regeneration. This tradition stretches back at least 5,000 years in Ireland, when pre-Celtic peoples aligned the passageway of the The Mound of the Hostages at Tara to welcome the life-giving early February sunrise. This festival was later adopted by the Celts as Imbolc, one of the four principal festivals of the Celtic calendar. It honoured the love and fertility goddess, Brigid; such an important figure to the Irish that she was
later assimilated into the Christian church as one of the country’s patron saints. Over the centuries the festival has evolved to celebrate romance and love in all its guises by exchanging chocolates and bouquets. Although we wouldn’t recognise the peculiar hedonistic practices of the ancient Romans, we do have something telling in common. As with today, the Romans associated the silky texture of red wine with seduction and romance. The grapevine was a sign of virility and fertility, sacred to Venus, the goddess of love and desire. To this day we still recognise the alluring sensuality of the grapevine’s fruit, so this Valentine’s raise a glass to celebrate the
Júlia Florista (1883-1925) was a Lisbon flower seller by day and renowned Fado singer by night. Her true bohemian soul is honoured in this vibrant, fruity white wine from the Porta 6 team. With crisp green apple and a clean finish this wine offers unbeatable value for money and would be the perfect match for our favourite aphrodisiacal Valentine’s food: oysters. (Júlia Florista Branco - €7.95 down from €9.95 for February). For something more seductive, be inspired by that most romantic of couples. From Shakespeare to Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet has long been lauded as the ultimate tragic love story. Named in their honour, this wine’s label shows part of Juliet’s wall in Verona, where 3,000 love messages are left daily. Made in the local passimento method, whereby the grapes are dried prior to fermentation, this is a truly seductive, velvet smooth wine. (Romeo & Juliet Passimento Red. €12.95 down from €17.95 for February). The Whitehaven Pinot Noir Rosé from Marlborough is a fabulous example of the delicate, fresh wine this grape can produce. A romantic pink in the glass, it offers intense fresh strawberry, raspberry and candy floss notes.
Júlia Florista Branco €7.95 down from €9.95 for February/March
Romeo & Juliet Passimento Red €12.95 down from €17.95 for February
Whitehaven Pinot Noir Rosé €14.20 down from €18.95 for February/March
With crisp green apple and a clean finish this wine offers unbeatable value for money.
This is a truly seductive, velvet smooth wine.
A romantic pink in the glass, it offers intense fresh strawberry, raspberry and candy floss notes.
P i n o t N o i r i s t h e m o st r o m a n t i c of t h e n o b l e g r a p e s - n ot o r i o u s l y difficult to cultivate, this Burgundian grape can produce wines of unparalleled complexity once tamed.
A perfect food wine from a wonderful New Zealand producer. (Whitehaven Pinot Noir Rosé - €14.20 down from €18.95 for February). If you would rather treat your Valentine to a bottle of sparkling wine, O’Briens have a wide range available, including plenty of pink bubbly. Valhonda Rosado is our new pink Cava, produced near the vibrantly romantic city of Barcelona. Made in the Traditional Method, this fresh and easy drinking pink fizz has fast become a customer favourite at a very affordable price. (Valhonda Rosado Brut NV. €14.95 down from €17.95 for February).
Valhonda Rosado Brut NV €14.95 down from €17.95 for February/March Our new pink Cava is bursting with strawberry and cherry fruit.
For something more elegant, champagne is the ultimate celebratory wine to treat the one you love. For Valentine’s day O’Briens are offering a discount on a number of big name brands, including Lanson Rosé Label, one of the first rosé champagnes. A seductive soft pink colour in the glass, this wine offers plenty of fresh summer berry fruits on a soft, subtle palate: an ideal match for salmon or duck. (Lanson Rosé Label. €47.95 down from €57.95 for February). If this Valentine’s day represents a special occasion for you and your loved one, mark it with a bottle of prestigious Bollinger Rosé. Attention to quality and finesse is the hallmark of the Bollinger house. From the high proportion of Grands and Premiers Crus Pinot Noir grapes this sparkling wine offers plenty of luscious red fruits and fine tannins, married to a rich complexity from extended lees ageing. This benchmark rosé Champagne is an excellent match for a wide range of dishes from smoked salmon to wild berry tart. (Bollinger Rosé. €65 down from €83 for February).
All featured wines are available to buy in-store or online at www.obrienswine.ie
Lanson Rosé Label €47.95 down from €57.95 for February This wine offers plenty of fresh summer berry fruits on a soft, subtle palate: an ideal match for salmon or duck.
Bollinger Rosé. €65 down from €83 for February Benchmark rosé Champagne is an excellent match for a wide range of dishes from smoked salmon to wild berry tart.
ROOT & BRANCH NAVAN ROAD
I
have managed the Navan road store for 15 years. I started in Malahide as a part- timer and then moved to Glasnevin as Assistant Manager. O’Briens have always given their staff great opportunities to advance with wine training and development. Looking forward to discovering even more fantastic wines in the future thanks to our wine buyer, Lynne.
Store Manager: Louise Newman Assistant Manager: Erica Hudson
We visited the Symington family restaurant and winery where we tried some of their amazing Ports. The Boat trip on the Douro allowed us to see some amazing views and vineyards. We were introduced to White Port and Tonic, a fabulous refreshing drink… something to look forward to on the summer nights.
I have been lucky enough to have gone on a number of wine trips with O’Briens over my 18 years in the company. I must say Portugal stands out as one of the best.
I have been working with O’Briens for almost ten years. I began my journey in Navan Road in a part time role and from then on as my experience and knowledge grew so did my role. Opportunities were always available within O’Briens to progress in many roles but my heart has always been in Navan Road. I am now Assistant manager and have been for 6 years and I can honestly say I love my job thanks to all the training provided, great support and the real family feel within O’Briens.
I
of craic with them that it must be our wine that’s keeping them together!
For Valentine's Day, my choice would have to Longview Yakka Shiraz- a real winter warmer with plenty of dark fruit and that lovely warming spice. Perfect with a fillet of steak or curled up on the couch with a box of dark chocolates and the one you love.
STILLORGAN have been working with the company for nearly 36 years and in that time I have seen it grow from a small family run company to the very successful business it is today. What I most enjoy from working here is that I have always felt part of the family and as the company has grown it has always kept that family ethos.
Store Manager: Garry Reynolds Assistant Manager: Darran Conway
The best wine trip I went on was to the Masi estate in Verona also taking in Venice. There were nine of us including Jim O’Brien. I have never laughed so much as I did over those four days and it was great to try some exceptional wines and learn from their master winemakers. It's great to meet couples who are about to tie the knot and help them choose suitable wines for their big day. They will usually look for the same wines each valentines and anniversary and we will have a little bit
For Valentine's Day, I would recommend Romeo and Juliet Passimento red and white. What could be more romanatic than this rich, spicy and velvety red which pairs perfectly with the intense citrus laden white. A tribute to the thousands of love messages at Juliet’s balcony in Verona. Keep an eye on the O'Briens facebook and twitter for more info as we hope to have the guys from Glendalough as well as some of our craft beer makers in store to do tastings over the next couple of months.
Edana Cassidy - Graphic Designer @ O'Briens Wine
UNCORKED
AWARDS
SAVE THE DATE Albariño Masterclass
Hosted by Lynne Coyle MW Venue: Smock Alley Theatre Date: Thursday, 22nd February 2018 Tickets will be on sale- early February
Limerick Wine Festival Spring Edition 2018 Date: Thursday, 10th May More details to follow.
Dublin Wine Festival Spring Edition 2018 Date: Friday & Saturday, 11th & 12th May More details to follow.
The Sunday Business Post Gold Star Awards 2018
Here, at O'Briens we were delighted to receive three gold star awards from Tómas Clancy. We were awarded Best Multiple Wine Chain, Best Specialist Drinks Outlet - France, Best Specialist Drinks Outlet-Spain and Best Tastings & Events. Thank you Tómas!
JUST LANDED Plenty of new wines have been arriving from around the globe, they are well worth checking out! Chateau de Tourans, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France Seguin Manuel Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France Lionel Osmin Le Conservatoire Malbec, South West France Domaine de Sarabande Bousigue, Faugeres, France Domaine de la Madelaine Tourraine Sauvignon, Loire Valley, France Brunello di Montalcino Val di Suga Big Sky Sauvignon Blanc, Martinborough, New Zealand Big Sky Pinot Noir, Martinborough, New Zealand Astrolabe Wairau Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand Raymond Field Blend, California Raymond Family Classic Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Motto Red Blend, California Chateau St Michelle Riesling, Washington State, US Chateau St Michelle Syrah, Washington State, US
€22.95 €13.95 €28.95 €17.95 €39.95 €24.95 €28.95 €19.95 €22.95 €29.95 €17.95 €15.95 €18.95
GRAPE PRESS The STORES El Salvaje Malbec 2014 The Sunday World 29/10/2017 “This is a FAB Argentine Malbec. The grapes come from one of the best vineyards in Mendoza, Gualtallary. This has tons of dark plum fruit. It’s spicy, dark and delicious." -Jean Smullen
Murphy Goode Chardonnay 2016 The Sunday World 29/10/2017 “Medium-bodied with plump ripe peach and pear fruits, and a hint of smoky oak.” - John Wilson
Roquette e Cazes 2014 The Sunday Business Post 19/11/2017 “A linear, fine-grained tannin delight; fresh, nuanced and quite savoury.” - Tómas Clancy
Jean-Luc Colombo les Abeilles Blanc 2016 The Sunday Times 26/11/2017 “An appealing mixture of floral and fruit favours with honeysuckle, pear and red apple.” - Martin Moran MW Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2014 Irish Independent 02/12/2017 “A top-quality sparkling wine from California, made from 100% Chardonnay, with a beautiful complexity of flavours; green apple, apricot and white peach wrapped up in a creamy, toasty texture.” - Corinna Hardgrave Tandem Inmune Garnacha 2015 The Irish Times 09/12/2017 “A very moreish ripe bouncy red with herby aromas and vivid, pure black fruits. A real crowd-pleaser.” - Martin Moran MW Beaumont des Crayères NV Irish Independent 16/12/2017 "A top-quality Champagne... complex and weighty with generous aromas of toasted brioche and notes of hazelnut over a creamy, fresh palate.”- Corinna Hardgrave Tolo do Xisto 2015 The Irish Times 16/12/2017 “An enchanting mix of ripe red cherry fruits and savoury liquorice in a very stylish wine.” - John Wilson Contrapunto Albariño 2016 Irish Independent 16/12/2017 “With aromas of peach and a distinct floral note, this is vibrant on the palate, with plenty of fruit and pure, racy acidity. Great with fish, shellfish or goat’s cheese.” - Corinna Hardgrave Domaine Begude Etoille 2016 The Irish Sun 30/12/2017 “A superb cool-climate organic Chardonnay, all that you would want from a top-end white Burgundy is here, and much more. Great richness on the buttery palate, with vanilla, citrus, and pear notes. Excellent, lingering finish.” - Matthew Nugent