Lingenfelder Estate, Pfalz, Germany
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.
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.
Starts Monday, 4th December Limited Quantities While Stocks Last In stores only
Compiled by Lynne Coyle MW
A
t O’Briens, we import wines from all of the main wine producing countries and regions of the world. Working with over ninety wineries, our focus as a family business is to forge long term links and partnerships with other family businesses around the winemaking globe.
The philosophy to produce high quality wines and give good customer service via teams of dedicated passionate professional tends to resonate equally in a vineyard, a winery and in our stores. With tradition, friends and family so high on the agenda at this time of year, we love to get the inside track and hear from our winemakers what
they do on Christmas Day and how they enjoy their own wines. It gives us a lovely insight as to what happens around the winemaking world and how the families that make our wines enjoy them at this, the most traditional time of year.
Georg Lingenfelder
Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling, Pfalz, Germany €12.95 down from €14.95
“At Christmas, we tend to have long vineyard walks and warming, comforting food afterwards. Typically, goose, turkey, duck or chicken would be a tradition at our house. But something unique and really traditional to our area, which we always match with the Bird Label Riesling, sauté old fashioned German sausage with apple sauerkraut and mashed potato. This is very simple food but easy to prepare and popular with all the family and one of my favourite Christmas dishes.” .......................................................................
Fleur Mc Cree
Insight Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand €12.95 down from €18.95
"Seafood always features in our house on Christmas Day. At some stage during the day, one of us would prepare a scallop dish – perfect for Insight Sauvignon Blanc or if I’ve been lucky, I might have caught a nice rainbow trout on Christmas eve, which would work well with the wine too. For sure Insight Sauvignon Blanc will be sipped throughout the day as we play cricket or petanque (generally not to the rule book!) and enjoy the sunshine.”
Jesus Alvarez Otero
Contrapunto Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain €12.95 down from €18.45
"The most important meal is the dinner of 24th and meal of 25th December. Most Galician’s love seafood and during these days, a big chunk of the budget is invested in all type of fresh seafood: velvet crabs, spider crabs, shrimps, goose-neck barnacle, oysters and scallops. The main dish, boiled cod with cauliflower dressed with traditional "ajada sauce" made from olive oil, garlic and paprika. An alternative is baked sea bream which can also be served during the 25th along with chicken. These foods all match with our fresh, crisp Rías Baixas wine Contrapunto Albariño.”
Philip Tuinder
Rudi Rabl Rabl Grüner Veltliner, Kamptal, Austria.
Château de Fuissé Pouilly Fuissé, Burgundy, France.
€14.95 down from €18.95
€26.95 down from €31.95
Rudi’s family have been making wine since the 1900’s. Still operating as a family business today, his refreshing, elegant Grüner Veltliner is a perfect accompaniment to festive fare. "Christmas eve is traditionally when the main meal is eaten, in the past a fish dish was always served but these day’s roast turkey and goose are popular. Our Grüner Veltliner works with all game birds and with veal which we would often serve at some point over the Christmas holidays.”
This is one of our most classic Burgundian whites in the range. Although rich and concentrated the wine has a citrus fresh acidity and works very well with traditional Burgundian Christmas cuisine. Try the classic food match suggested here by Philip at the Château. “Gougeres are our typical regional morceaux, they are our traditional little cheese puffs that are served warm straight from the oven, they melt in the mouth and work beautifully with our Pouilly Fuissé."
Gérard Bertrand
Domaine Villemajou, Boutenac, Corbières, France. €17.95 down from €20.95
This is one of our secret gems, particularly enjoyable in deepest winter as the warm ripe red berried fruits remind of the Mediterranean summer sun and the charming Languedoc villages. Gérard Bertrand owner of the Domaine shares his own festive thoughts of this wine. “I love to receive my family to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. We eat turkey with chestnuts and local mushrooms cooked with our Villemajou wine by my mother Genevieve. These unique food and wine pairings celebrate the memory of Georges, my father who developed this estate in 1973.”
Geoff Schrapel
Giuseppe Rizzardi
€16.95 down from €19.45
€19.95 down from €26.95
Bethany wines is operated by the fifth and sixth generation of the Schrapel family. Core to their philosophy is to make elegant food friendly wines. Geoff takes us through his typical Christmas day; “Because its mid-summer the weather is usually hot on Christmas day, we tend to get the BBQ going and would regularly cook lamb and serve it with a big selection of locally grown vegetables and salads. We pour our Chardonnay with oysters to start and often also pour it with our Barossa Valley Brie.”
The Rizzardi family can trace their vinous roots back to 1649. The Estates and vineyards are owned and run by the family who are involved in the day to day aspects of the business. Giuseppe explains a Rizzardi Christmas “Christmas eve mass is the start of the celebrations, we would usually eat fish on the night but the next day wild boar, venison and roast rib of beef could be on offer which all work beautifully with the Clos Roareti. It is Merlot based, and the sweetness of the Merlot is the perfect match for the richness and power of these red meats.”
Bethany Chardonnay, Barossa, Australia.
Rizzardi Clos Roareti, Veneto, Italy.
Steve Moore
Teac-Mor Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, US. €31.15 down from €38.95 in our Fine Wine Sale
"We have our Irish traditions intertwined with our Californian traditions at Christmas time. To kick the day off, my dad fry’s up a full Irish breakfast while we exchange gifts. After breakfast we drive out to the Sonoma coast to walk off the food. For dinner we serve prime rib, roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and broccoli puff. We typically have a jam or preserve from the garden to serve with a Toma cheese and crusty bread - this pairs nicely with our Pinot Noir. After dinner we all sit around the fire with our guitars and other instruments and sing songs together. "
Peter Saturno
Longview Yakka Shiraz, Adelaide, Australia. €14.95 down from €19.95
The Saturno family own and run Longview estate in the Adelaide Hills. The vineyards and house are a popular wedding venue so the family are very used to celebrations at the estate. Peter explains “Because our heritage is Italian, the food at the estate is heavily influenced by Italian food, this is probably especially true at Christmas time. We like to keep things simple and relaxed on Christmas day so we serve antipasti of Parma ham and olives, then a pasta course and a roasted bird of some description followed by Italian cheeses – the whole family gather round and we keep the actual cooking to a minimum.”
Jose Maria Fraile
José Lovaglio Balbo
€10.95 down from €14.95
€16.95 down from €18.95
"Christmas in Spain varies from region to region. There is a traditional nativity scene with baby Jesus, Virgin Maria and Joseph and the magic kings. Presents arrive to the children on the morning of January 6th when the three magic kings arrive in the homes of all Spaniards with their presents. At the table there is a very abundant lunch of prawns, truffle chicken and charcuterie – the main course will normally be baby lamb or suckling pig cooked in the oven for hours, Ars in Vitro matches any of these dishes as it is a savory, rich and versatile wine. "
We have just started work this year with Vaglio, a new microwinery located in Tupungato. The project has been created by José Lovaglio Balbo, the third generation of winemakers in his family. José focuses on micro-climates and minimalist winemaking and José studied viticulture and oenology in California. “ We celebrate Christmas eve in Argentina, usually the meal is later in the evening and our family gather around 11pm. Because it is warm we often eat outside and usually serve local pork and local beef straight from the BBQ, we also take salads from the garden, this simple local food works so well with our local wines.”
Bodegas Tandem, Ars in Vitro, Navarra, Spain.
Vaglio Chango Malbec Blend, Salta, Argentina.
CHRISTMAS WINE RACK ESSENTIAL WHITES
From cosy nights in to party central over the festive period by James Tobin DipWSET
E
lsewhere in this publication, you will find suggestions for the Christmas dinner table, generous gifting options and Prestige Cuvée Champagne but for now, I want to talk about the wines that most of us consume most often, great value white wines or as I would call them ‘house wines’, these are the wines which will get you right
through the festive season, so whether you are hosting a New Year’s Eve bash for fifty guests, or just popping into the neighbour’s for an informal drink, you won’t go wrong with one of the wines below. To start off the selection I am going with a Portuguese white wine. From the team
behind Porta 6, Júlia Florista Branco (€7.95 down from €9.95) is a fresh and fruity blend of native grape varieties. With its green apple and citrus flavours and crisp, clean finish, it is perfect for everyday drinking and offers unbeatable value for money. Also available at the same price, is the Júlia Florista Tinto which is soft and smooth with
GREAT VALUE WHITE WINES...
Júlia Florista Branco €7.95 down from €9.95
Bougrier Sauvignon Blanc €9.95 down from €15.45
Duffour Père et Fils, Côte de Gascogne €9.95 down from €12.95
“Perfect for everyday drinking, this would make a great party wine.”
Classic, herby and zesty Loire Sauvignon.
“Light, fresh zippy apple and citrus fruit. Perfect party wine.”
John Wilson, Wilson on Wine
John Wilson, the Irish Times
Clos d'Ora, Languedoc - September 2017 @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
bursting juicy red-berry fruit. My next choice, Bougrier Sauvignon Blanc (€9.95 down from €15.45) is from a 5th generation family-owned and run winery in the Loire Valley. Being family owned is important, especially when the family are fanatical about their wine. Their meticulous attention to detail allows them to produce a wine which is intensely aromatic with grassy and gooseberry notes with a lemon zest crisp finish.
Moving on to South Africa now, where Bellow’s Rock Sauvignon Blanc (€9.95 down from €14.95), is made by the multi-awardwinning winery M.A.N. Vintners, using a blend of fruit from across the Western Cape; ripe fruit characters coming from the warmer Agter-Paarl, and freshness from the cooler coastal regions of Elgin & Franschhoek. To taste, it is multi-layered & bursting with ripe fruit & pungent herby aromatics, leading to a crisp, clean finish, overall, this is a beautifully-balanced Sauvignon Blanc.
complex take on Pinot Grigio with honey and sweet spices adding to the rich pear fruit. To finish, I have chosen a superb Loire Sauvignon Blanc which is estate-grown on mineral-rich soils in vineyards just outside Sancerre. Winemaker, Robert Cantin manages to pack this Sauvignon Blanc (€11.95 down from €14.95) with fantastic aromatics; A lively gooseberry & citrus fruit character is perfectly complemented by a chalky mineral quality which offers a great expression of the vineyard’s ‘terrior’ in the glass.
Staying in France, Duffour Père et Fils, Côte de Gascogne (€9.95 down from €12.95) is an old favourite, but with a great new look and new blend. From the leading family-owned Domaine in Gascony and with its crunch of red apple-like fruit & fresh citrussy finish this is a great all-rounder.
Of course, no selection of great value white wines would be complete, without a Pinot Grigio, and Rizzardi's single estate wine (€10.95 down from €14.95), is Pinot Grigio as it is meant to be! Bursting with ripe pear and peachy fruit. This is a more serious,
Bellow’s Rock Sauvignon Blanc €9.95 down from €14.95
Rizzardi Pinot Grigio €10.95 down from €14.95
Robert Cantin Sauvignon Blanc €11.95 down from €14.95
“Bursting with fruit, herby aromatics and beautifully crisp and fresh."
"We put a lot effort into creating a Pinot Grigio with lots of expression.”
Incredibly well-defined Sauvignon Blanc.
Lynne Coyle MW, Wine Director, O’Briens
Giuseppe Rizzardi
All featured wines are available to buy in-store or online at www.obrienswine.ie
CHRISTMAS WINE RACK ESSENTIAL REDS
Warming winter reds for parties & festive celebrations by James Tobin DipWSET
W
ith the festive season now upon us, I have picked out a selection of red wines which are perfectly suited to serving at a party. Choosing a wine to serve to a large group at a party can sometimes prove challenging, but if you follow the few simple guidelines below or indeed if you were to go with one of my recommendations you will find it is perfectly possible to pick up crowd-pleasing wines without too much stress.
Of course, when buying for a large group, budget is paramount, but that shouldn’t necessarily mean going for the cheapest wine available. You will find that if you can stretch to €10 a bottle (all my selections today are under €11) you can be looking at wines several orders of magnitude better than those just a couple of euro cheaper. The next thing you need to do is to put the needs of the crowd ahead of your own personal tastes, by this I mean we need to
avoid the extremes at all costs and look for wines that sit in the ‘Goldilocks’ zone i.e.: neither too heavy nor too light, too dry or too sweet etc. Lastly, one thing that’s often overlooked is alcohol content; you may love Amarone, but at 16% ABV it certainly won’t make for an elegant evening of sparkling conversation if you plan to serve it to all your guests.
Pictor Merlot €8.95 down from €9.95
Protocolo €9.95 down from €10.95
Porta 6 €9.95 down from €12.95
Wonderfully Smooth and Plummy Merlot.
“An old favourite that is on song. Perfect all-purpose wine.”
“A medium-bodied red with blackcurrant and floral notes. It is very refreshing and vibrant with smooth tannins and, more importantly, it is worth every penny.”
John Wilson, the Irish Times
"Rated Outstanding" 90 points Decanter
Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma, US - March 2017 @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
The wines below all fit the parameters above and are all versatile enough to be served with or without food.
very polished wine for this kind of money with good concentration of red berry fruit, a little spice, subtle oak, and soft tannins.
Chile is a world-beater when it comes to making good value varietal wines, so it is a fitting place to start, from here, I have chosen Montgras Pictor (€8.95 down from €9.95) which is a classic Chilean Merlot, as in lots of ripe blackberry and plum fruit plus the expected supple easy drinking palate. Also available at the same price, is the Pictor Sauvignon Blanc which is wonderfully zesty and aromatic.
Working with traditional Portuguese varieties, the winemaking team at Porta 6 (€9.95 down from €12.95) have crafted a super-smooth red in the modern international style, which is jam-packed with ripe bramble fruit, little wonder then that this is now our best-selling red wine!
Made by one of the greatest winemakers in Spain, the fruity & silk-smooth Protocolo (€9.95 down from €10.95) is one of our most popular reds. The main reason is that the quality for price is extremely high; it is a
From renowned winemaker Gérard Bertrand, La Vielle Capitelle (€9.95 down from €14.95) is well-structured, offering a supple blend of cassis and mulberry fruit, nuanced on the nose by notes of wild thyme and spice, and softened by a hint of French oak.
Based in Cenicero Rioja, Monte Real farm 300 hectares of Tempranillo vineyards with the objective of making modern Rioja. They can trace their heritage back over 100 years and this coupled with a modern winery allows them to straddle tradition and innovation. As a Viña Joven, Monte Real Tempranillo (€9.95 down from €14.95) remains un-oaked, and is made in a fruit-forward style. With fruit grown at high-altitude in the foothills of the Andes and a label inspired by the street artists or 'Porteños' of Buenos Aires, Norton Porteño (€10.95 down from €14.95) is a juicier, more approachable take on Malbec from leading Argentine producer Norton.
La Vielle Capitelle €9.95 down from €14.95
Monte Real Tempranillo €9.95 down from €14.95
Norton Porteño Malbec €10.95 down from €14.95
“Soft, supple and rounded, it will go perfectly with all manner of white and red meats.”
Smart modern Rioja with a silky red berried charm.
Norton’s chief winemaker, David Bonomi was named as one of the top ten winemakers in South America by Decanter Magazine in October 2017.
John Wilson, the Irish Times
Schramsberg, Napa - March 2017 @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
FESTIVE FIZZ
Your ultimate guide to sparkling wine this Christmas... by James Tobin DipWSET
W
hen it comes to choosing a bottle of bubbly for celebrating this festive season, we have lots of different wines on offer to suit all tastes and budgets, so to help you make your selection I have picked out a few delicious examples below. To break it down, there are three categories into which most sparkling wines fall; Prosecco and similar wines, Champagne lookalikes and Champagne itself. Starting with Prosecco, my choice is from the legendary, family-owned and run Veneto house of Guerrieri-Rizzardi. With a vinous history stretching back to
1678, it’s fair to say the Rizzardi family are one of the most experienced anywhere in Italy. Current winemaker, Count Giuseppe Rizzardi is a man at the top of his game, his extremely-refined extra-dry Prosecco (€17.95 down from €20.95) shows the perfect balance of white peach and ripe pear fruit with a fine crisp backbone. Very pure in its fruit profile, incredibly fresh and lively with a long, refreshingly dry finish but still soft enough to enjoy without food.
getting too technical this method results in finer bubbles and more complexity than sparkling wines made by other methods. The better versions come from cooler climate zones in France (Crémant), Spain (Cava), New Zealand, etc. and they will have extended bottle age. The advantage of many of these over Champagne - besides a lower price tag - is their softer acidity and their fruitiness, making them accessible without the need for food.
Many parts of the wine world employ the traditional or “Champagne” method to create a sparkle in their wines. Without
First up is a brand-new addition to the range, Valhondo (€14.95 down from €17.95) which is an excellent example of modern
Cava; bright, aromatic apple and pear fruit, very fine thread of bubbles and just a hint of biscuit and toast from bottle age. Great to drink with or without food but brilliant with Tapas. Next, I have chosen a 100% Chardonnay made in the exact same way as a Blanc de Blancs Champagne, Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne (€17.95 down from €20.95) has aromas of ripe apple and citrus, and a complex and creamy palate, this incredibly versatile wine works well with a wide range of foods and above all it offers a great-value alternative to Champagne. Sometimes only the best will do and although there are some amazing sparkling wines in the world nothing can trump good Champagne. The wines from France’s northerly Champagne region achieve an elegance and finesse unique in the world of bubbles. The important thing is to remember is that Champagne is at its best with food, so make sure there are plenty of nibbles to accompany it. My first Champagne comes from a small collection of growers specializing in low production, high quality wines. Beaumont des Crayères (€29.95 down from €36.95) is a top-notch Champagne made in a generous, toasty style with lots of toasty brioche and hazelnut notes on a creamy, rich palate.
Sometimes only the best will do and although there are some amazing sparkling wines in the world nothing can trump good champagne.
Rizzardi Prosecco NV €17.95 down from €20.95
Beaumont des Crayères NV €29.95 down from €36.95
“A dry style that seeks to emphasise the lean, lime-tinged and zesty aspects of the Glera grape….. A delight!”
“A match for famous names that cost €50–plus, so why pay more?”
Tomás Clancy, the Sunday Business Post
Martin Moran MW, the Sunday Times
Valhondo Cava €14.95 down from €17.95
Lanson Black Label NV €39.95 down from €49.95
This brand new Cava is wonderfully fresh & fruity, making it the perfect choice as an aperitif.
"Lanson’s non-vintage Brut always has fine acidity with just a hint of toast indicating some bottle age."
Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne NV €17.95 down from €20.95
Bollinger Grand Année NV €99.00 down from €109.00
"Surprisingly complex considering the price tag….. So, fill-up your fridge!"
" Powerful, structured & graceful…. Offers a fine, raw silk-like mousse and a long, spiced finish."
"Rated Outstanding" 90 Points,
My next choice is made with a high proportion of Pinot Noir in the blend. Lanson Black Label (€39.95 down from €49.95) has subtle 'toasty' and honey notes on the nose which lead to a palate of ripe fruits and citrus flavours giving the wine a well-rounded feel.
To finish my selection, I am going with one of my favourite wines of all still or sparkling! Bollinger Grand Année (€99.00 down from €109.00) is rich and full in style with lots of rich yeasty, biscuity flavour and thrilling ripe apple/pear fruit on the incredibly long finish.
"Rated Outstanding" 90 points Decanter
"Rated Outstanding" 94 Points, Wine Spectator
Gonzales Byass, Jerez, Spain - September 2017 - @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
PUSH THE BOAT OUT
FESTIVE FINE WINES by James Tobin DipWSET
by James Tobin DipWSET
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc €26.95 down from €33.95 in our Fine Wine Sale
Chanson Chablis Montmains 1er Cru €24.95 down from €33.95 in our Fine Wine Sale
Monte Real Rioja Gran Reserva €19.95 down from €33.95 in our Fine Wine Sale
" Mouth-watering key lime and meyer lemon flavours, linger effortlessly on the intense finish."
Stellar Premier Cru Chablis from Bollinger-owned Chanson.
Seriously-Refined Rioja Gran Reserva
"Rated Outstanding" 90 points, Wine Spectator
I
f you plan to treat yourself to some Fine Wine this Christmas, or indeed if you are looking for a gift for the wine-lover in your life, our annual Fine Wine Sale presents the perfect opportunity to pick up an extra-special bottle or two. The Fine Wine sale runs from 4th-10th of December this year we have put together our biggest (and we think best) line-up to date! We have fifty wines on offer and as usual, all the classic fine wine regions are very well represented; Cru Classé Bordeaux, Fine Burgundy (red and white), Barolo, Brunello and Rioja to name but a few. Between them, these wines have garnered more Parker Points and Decanter Medals than you could shake a stick at and many of them will be very well known to all. To give you a feel for the sale, I have picked out some of my favourites from the line-up below.
Their Chablis Montmains 2014 (€24.95 down from €33.95) is a delightful Chablis 1er Cru with classic flinty aromas mixed with pear and apple fruit, stony, dry crisp palate allied to great length. On now to the reds, we start with Monte Real Rioja Gran Reserva 2010 (€19.95 down from €33.95) which is a seriously refined Rioja with a core of mulberry & strawberry fruit, oak vanilla & a savoury leathery note from ageing and a rich, smooth palate. It is made with 100% Tempranillo from Cenicero and all growers are currently producing to Organic standards, aged for 30 months in American oak barrels, then aged in bottle for 36 months before release. Up next is a true Italian classic, Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino 2012 (€28.95 down from €39.95) is structured and powerful wine with masses of dark fruit and savoury richness, this needs food and decanting and is a must for any fan of great Italian wine. And now a Bordeaux, which would be perfect for anyone looking for a gift with Irish wine geese connections.
First up is the wine that put New Zealand on the map. Ever since making its debut with the now legendary 1985 vintage, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (€26.95 down from €33.95) has been acknowledged as the absolute benchmark, against which all Marlborough Sauvignons should be measured. Its explosive nose of exotic fruits and precisely balanced acidity prove that very few have even come close!
The third wine from Château Lynch Bages: Pauillac de Lynch Bages 2015 (€28.95 down from €39.95) is made from the younger vines at the estate. The quality of the ‘Outstanding’ 2015 vintage and the high-class origins of this wine come through in the beautiful mix of damson fruit and cassis fruit with Pauillac's signature cigar box character.
My next choice is from one of the great historic producers of Burgundy. Chanson was founded in 1750 and has been owned and run by Champagne Bollinger since 1999.
My last choice is a brand-new addition to our range with serious fine wine pedigree as it comes from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars whose Cabernet Sauvignon came out
Gonzales Byass, Jerez, Spain - September 2017 @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
as the top-scoring red wine in the in the “Judgement of Paris” tasting in 1976 ahead of wines from Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Haut-Brion, Château Leoville Las Cases and Château Montrose among others. This tasting sent shockwaves right through the wine-world and was later immortalised in the Hollywood-movie ‘Bottleshock’. The Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (€45.00 down from €55.00) is bursting with ripe black-berried and has a silky texture that leads to a long, lingering finish with subtle hints of oak. Fine Wine Sale starts Monday, 4th December. In stores only.
Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino €28.95 down from €39.95 in our Fine Wine Sale
Pauillac de Lynch Bages €29.95 down from €33.95 in our Fine Wine Sale
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon €45.00 down from €55.00 in our Fine Wine Sale
"Elegant and fresh, this offers cherry, strawberry, floral and tobacco notes, allied to a tensile structure.”
Beautiful Bordeaux from the most-famous of all Irish’ Chateaux.
“Delicious, complex & elegant, this wine could easily pass for a 2nd- or 3rd - growth Bordeaux in a blind tasting.”
Rated ‘Outstanding’ 93 points, Wine Spectator
"Rated Outstanding" 90 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
WHAT DOES A MASTER OF WINE DRINK ON CHRISTMAS DAY? by Lynne Coyle MW
O
n Christmas day in our house, I try to keep the food traditional but as simple as possible. In broad terms we cater for fish lovers, meat lovers and at least two vegetarians. The wines therefore need to be versatile and appeal to a diverse but demanding audience – my family. We would always start with bubbles and because its Christmas we would pour Charles Heidsieck Champagne as a treat - deliciously brioche in character, rounded and elegant it matches very well with pre-lunch snacks. For starters or indeed an as aperitif if bubbles are not your thing, I am suggesting two delicious un-oaked versatile white wines. Pazo Barrantes Albariño from Rías Baixas in Spain is an all-rounder that is excellent on its own or with starters. Dry, fresh, crisp with a peachy mid-palate it pairs beautifully with shellfish and seafood as well as goat cheese and vegetable tapas.
For a more traditional white we might open a Sancerre, for example Château de Fontaine Audon Sancerre which is 100% Sauvignon Blanc and from the Loire Valley in France. Dry and mineral with a grassy intensity in the palate. This Sancerre works beautifully with smoked salmon and has the precision to cut though sauces so can easily accompany starters and a traditional roast main courses.
The wines therefore need to ver satile and appeal to a diver se but demanding audience m y f a m i l y. For the reds I like to go with something lighter which matches roast bird or vegetable based dishes equally. Château de Fleurie, Fleurie Beaujolais is a good pick. Bright, lively, and juicy with moderate
tannins it will not overpower a white meat such as Turkey. It also has the freshness to balance the rich flavours of gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing and the trimmings. We have a couple of fans of a richer red and a fuller red option, Marques de Murrieta Reserva Rioja never disappoints. Versatile enough to go with richer meat based Christmas dinner, it will equally pair with cheese. It shows bramble red fruits, firm but ripe tannins and hints of vanilla are apparent on the nose and palate from the American oak the wine was aged in. For traditionalists and for those who love an excuse to open a bottle of Port for the cheese, don’t let Christmas pass without it. I would typically buy a bottle of young vintage Port such as the delicious Duorum 2013 Qunita de Castelo Melhor. This is a single estate wine made mainly with Touriga Nacional and blended with some other indigenous local Douro varieties.
Charles Heidsieck Champagne €65.00
Pazo Barrantes Albariño €18.95 down from €22.95
When youthful the colour is deep opaque red and the cassis fruit character is upfront and bold, the tannins have grip and overall the wine is powerful. However, I tend to put the young bottle away for a future Christmas and drink something more mature from the cellar. Here the colour will be paler, the fruit, oak, alcohol and tannin will all be well integrated and you can enjoy drinking a bottle of history. The festive period is the perfect time to open a sweet wine. Earlier this year we purchased a parcel of Carmes de Rieussec Sauternes 2015 for the stores especially for Christmas. I loved it so much it will be the Sauternes in our household this Christmas. Mainly made from the Semillon grape, a percentage of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle complete the blend. Honeyed, ripe and concentrated with hints of citrus it is very moreish. We will serve it with a blue cheese such as Crozier from County Tipperary and an apple tarte tatin.
Château de Fontaine Audon Sancerre €18.95 down from €21.95
Marques de Murrieta Reserva Rioja €18.95 down from €23.95
Duorum 2013 Qunita de Castelo Melhor €41.95 down from €51.95
Carmes de Rieussec Sauternes €18.95 down from €22.95
Château de Fleurie €14.95 down from €19.45
UNIQUE & TRADITIONAL WINES FOR CHRISTMAS
W
ithout question, fortified and dessert wines represent some of the most eclectic, interesting and unique wines to occupy our shelves. Although their winemaking techniques are firmly rooted in tradition, they often struggle to find their voice on the worlds wine stage. I personally use this time of year as the ideal opportunity to revisit these exceptional wines, and would urge any wine lover to do the same. Shared as a treat among family and friends they will be the bottles that are remembered by all long into the Spring of 2018.
by Lynne Coyle MW
Fino Sherry - Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe €15.95
Gérard Bertrand Maury €19.95 down from €22.95
Smith Woodhouse LBV Port €26.95 down from €30.45 Gonzales Byass, Jerez, Spain - September 2017 - @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
Fino Sherry is deliciously dry and refreshing and Gonzalez Byas Tio Pepe, is considered the quality benchmark for the Jerez region in Spain. The unique qualities of this wine begin in the vineyards where the vines are firmly rooted in the “Albariza” soils. The wine is made from 100% Palomino grapes and begins life as any other wine with a fermentation in the cellar. The defining feature of the wine is the flor yeast that grows naturally on the surface of the wine. This flor protects the wine from oxidation, but also helps impart the distinctive flavour of almonds and a delicious bread aroma and flavour to the wine. Winemakers for Gonzalez Byas would advocate enjoying the wine with tapas & small plates, fish and shellfish and mild cheeses. If you are a fan of rich red wines, of Port, or if you like a suggestion of sweetness on a cold winters night, then Maury is the wine for you. Made in the Languedoc from the Grenache grape, Gérard Bertrand Maury is fermented before being fortified. Historically the fortification would prevent spoilage of the wine. Today however, fortification continues to play an important role in the style of the wine. Maury has the potential to age for twenty, thirty, fifty or seventy years – depending on your capacity to wait. Expect a gentle raisin character, some sweetness which is balanced by a lingering acidity and an intense long multi-layered finish. Maury benefits from a light chilling and is delicious as an aperitif, or with salty hard cheeses.
takes many years before it is at its best for drinking. LBV on the other hand is aged by the Port house in barrel and then bottled at optimum maturity and released to market ready to drink. The tannin is present but beautifully integrated with the ripe rich red fruit, the oak is subtle and adds complexity and length, the finish is refreshed by the cleansing acidity. The noblest of grape varieties, Riesling, when the climatic conditions allow, continues to develop on the vine long into the autumn long after all the other grape varieties have been harvested. These late harvest individual berries are somewhat shrivelled in size, contain much less juice than their previously harvested cousins and that juice is viscous and lusciously sweet. It is these shrivelled berries with their precious juice that are pressed to make Longview Epitome Late Harvest Riesling in the Adelaide Hills, Australia. Worth mentioning that the unique label is a tribute to the families lovely Grandmother who always served afternoon tea with cakes on doily dressed plates. Expect flavours of red apple, orange blossom, honey and a refreshing citrus finish.
The amazing quality and value that is offered by LBV Port is one of the inside track secrets of the wine trade. Smith Woodhouse LBV, like vintage Port, is only made in the best years. LBV wine is made at the same time, in the same way by the same winemaker as the very top vintage Ports. The difference between the two is the aging. Vintage Port is aged in the bottle and
That Riesling is grown throughout the vinous world in an effort to emulate the best German, Austrian and Alsace Rieslings is a tribute to this classy grape variety. Riesling is adored by the wine trade and in its late harvest form, it makes some of the best wines on the planet. Bethany Late Harvest Riesling comes from a family estate based in the Barossa Valley, Australia. The region is typically too hot to grow the aromatic Riesling. However, Geoff Schrapel and his family own some excellent vineyards in the cooler Eden Valley, which is perfect for growing Riesling, in exceptional years they have the opportunity to leave the grapes on the vines to make the Late Harvest style.
Longview Epitome Late Harvest Riesling - Half Bottle €12.95 down from €16.95
Bethany Late Harvest Riesling - 50cl €22.95 down from €25.45
I personally use this time of year as the ideal opportunity to revisit these exceptional wines, and would urge any wine lover to do the same. Shared as a treat among family and friends they will be the bottles that are remembered by all long into the Spring of 2018. Elegance and intensity are underpinned but passion fruit and a fresh finish. Château Coutet, Barsac, is located just beside Sauternes. In the late autumn the weather in this area of Bordeaux is unique and exceptional. Cool foggy mornings lead to warm sunny afternoons, perfect conditions for noble rot to form on the grapes. This noble rot leads to grape berries shrivelling, the sugar levels concentrating, the berry juice reducing and all the while the complexity of the potential flavours in the final wine are increasing. A blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, the final wine is golden, viscous, intense and luscious. Château Coutet would pair their wine with oysters, scallops and foie gras but also consider Thai food (this match is a revelation)- the freshness of the coriander, the heat of the chilli and the zest of the lime is a perfect foil to this opulent wine. All featured wines are available to buy in-store or online at www.obrienswine.ie
Château Coutet - Half Bottle €34.95 down from €38.95
Christmas Article by Lorcan O'Brien
T
he Festive Season can prove an annual struggle for those of us looking to buy that perfect gift for the picky wine lover in our lives. So, this year O’Briens’ dedicated wine team have produced our best collection of wine gifts to satisfy even the most challenging oenophile! Below are a few of my top picks, but drop in to any of our 34 stores or online to find plenty more options. This Christmas O’Briens are offering over twenty gift packs across our range of fine wines to suit every taste and budget. The Romeo & Juliet gift pack includes their velvet-smooth passimento white and red wines. Full-bodied with beautiful sweet fruit, these wines are made in tribute to lovers: making it the perfect choice for that special someone this Christmas. Alternatively, impress the Bordeaux buff with the 3 bottle Château Lapelletrie wooden gift box. Coming from Grand Cru vineyards from the Saint-Émilion region, this bold Bordeaux offers plenty of intense blueberry fruit alongside well -integrated oak spice.
There’s nothing quite like a bottle of Champagne to put a sparkle in that special someone’s eye. To really impress, present that bottle of fizz in an elegant Tipperary Crystal gift set, complete with two champagne flutes from their Connoisseur Collection. These elegant sets are also available with red and white glasses and offer the perfect way to enjoy your favourite wines. Port is the perfect accompaniment to pudding or a cheese board this Christmas. With intense chocolate and prune flavours and a long smooth finish, Smith Woodhouse Late Bottle Vintage 2003 offers all the complexity of Vintage port without the price tag. Presented in a wooden display box it is the perfect gift for the fortified fanatic, or those with a sweet tooth. If you are looking for a centrepiece gift to enhance your host’s Christmas dinner table, a Magnum fits the bill perfectly. Holding two standard bottles, our Magnum offering here at O’Briens includes some of our customers’ favourite wines: from our perennial Portuguese star, Porta 6, to Gérard Bertrand’s luscious, but silky smooth, Domaine de Villemajou from Corbières.
For the gadget lovers with a fine wine collection, O’Briens stock the ultimate wine accessory; the Coravin 1000 wine preserver. The innovative needle design and pressurized Argon of the Coravin system allows you to pour any wine, in any amount, without pulling the cork. This allows the remaining wine to continue ageing safely without oxidation: an essential accessory for any fine wine collector.
If there is a specific wine from our collection you want to gift but can’t find it in our pre-made packs, we have you covered. This year we have re-designed our gift boxes and bags, so drop in to any of our stores and our helpful staff will gladly make up that unique wine gift.
1
3
2
5
4
1
Romeo and Juliet 2 Bottle Gift €29.00
Lapelletrie 3 Bottle Gift €70.00
3
2
Château
Beaumont des
Crayères & 2 Tipperary Crystal Flutes €55.00 4
Smith Woodhouse LBV 2003 €26.95 down from
€30.45 for November/December
6
Magnum €19.95
6
Porta 6
Gérard Bertrand Domaine de
Villemajou Magnum €45 Preserver €299
5
7
Coravin 1000 Wine
7
STORES We deliver anywhere Ireland and delivery is FREE with any order over €60. Terms and conditions apply. We can arrange multi-site deliveries. Collect loyalty points with your purchase. We can also tailor make gifts to suit your budget and requirements. We have over 1,000 wines to choose from and flexible packaging options to suit your needs, simply give us a call to discuss.
All prices correct at time of going to print and are subjec to change. This document is the intellectual property of O’Briens Wine Beer Spirits. No part of this document can be copied and/or distributed without the written consent of O’Briens Wine Beer Spirits. Please enjoy alcohol sensibly.