winesdirect.ie
Voted Best Wine Website
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Welcome to
Wines Direct With 2016 now in full swing we can happily put aside unfounded rumours of a ‘dry’ January here at Wines Direct HQ. We have too many great wines to hand for that folly!
Viva España!
As I’m writing this my brother Gareth is the first of us here at Wines Direct to head off on our annual pilgrimages to source new, exciting wines and to check out how our current suppliers are faring with vintage 2015. His travels this month see him trek across northern Spain where feedback from him so far has been more than positive. Reports are coming in that he has already put up over 800 kilometres on the rental car which means his prized ‘Now That’s What I Call Eurovision’ CD has also put in some serious mileage. We can’t wait to see what vinified gems he may have unearthed.
Wine Explorers
We are delighted to see that our Wine Explorers Club has gone from strength to strength with numbers almost doubling by the end of 2015. We may be biased but we think that the club is the best in Ireland, representing exceptional value for money while offering members a chance to taste their way through, and get the full story behind, our award winning wines month by month. To discover more call us on 1890 579 579, email us at online@winesdirect.ie or enquire online at winesdirect.ie.
Vine pruning at Domaine de
L’Hortus
‘Best Wine Website’ 2016
Tomás Clancy’s annual smorgasbord of wine awards in the Sunday Business Post is a guidebook to the good and the great of the Irish wine world. Each January he devotes two pages of the national newspaper awarding outstanding retailers, sommeliers, importers and other wine merchants whose services and wines he has studiously and thirstily examined over the past year. For this reason we are delighted to have been awarded the ‘Best Wine Website’ 2016. In fact it is the fifth year in a row that we have been honoured with this accolade and we couldn’t be prouder of the online team here in Wines Direct central. If you have any wine related queries please don’t hesitate forwarding them to us at online@winesdirect.ie. See you next month! Best wishes, Gavin Keogh
P.S. Check out our case of the month with 15% off and FREE delivery online at winesdirect.ie
Guide: How to order online 1) Log on to winesdirect.ie 2) Browse through over 350 different wines 3) Made a choice? Select the quantity (6 bottle minimum, excl. gifts) 4) Click “Buy Now” to add to cart. 5) Click the cart icon at any time to checkout 6) Fill in your billing and delivery details 7) Choose a Payment option (Debit/Credit Card) 8) Relax. Your wines will arrive at your door within 48 hours *We highly recommend you create an account and use this when you login. It tailors your shopping experience, allows you to store multiple addresses and makes the checkout process even easier and faster.*
2 | Wines Direct
winesdirect.ie - Best Wine Website, Sunday Business Post
The Keogh Cellar
The Keogh Cel lar
Recent months have seen the arrival of many new vintages, Gareth picks two of his favourites.
EOGH
K GARETH
YOANNA ABETE
MARK LLOYD
01 Save over 15%
Guerinda La Blanca, Navarra
The Guerinda property is run by Yoanna and Maria Abete, deep in the mountains of Navarra. These two sisters are amongst the youngest and most dynamic winemakers we’ve come across. Alongside Yoanna’s husband, Juanma Lerga, this tightknit group are the quintessential family winery with product rather than profit at the core of their ethos. Their vineyards are hidden up treacherous mountain paths amidst garrigue-like scrubland with rosemary and lavender in abundance. Here, alongside Spanish regulars Tempranillo and Garnacha, they grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.
02 Save over 10%
These French varieties excel in the high-altitude vineyards, benefitting from the tempering influence of Atlantic westerlies. But perhaps the most striking effect on us, aside from the wines, was their work ethic and pride in what they create. As Maria put it, “we don’t try to ‘correct’ anything in the wine because we want to make it as naturally as possible.” Their rabble-rousing La Blanca Chardonnay never fails to impress with a vibrant nose and a gorgeous palate that erupts with rich peach, pear, and citrus fruits.
Coriole Sangiovese Shiraz, McLaren Vale
The produce from Coriole hints at winemaker Mark Lloyd’s predisposition. Olive oil, vinegar, cheese, breads, prosciutto, salami and wine fill the shelves of the shop at the vineyard’s cellar door. Mark is a self-professed Italophile having spent some time in the hills of Tuscany. Indeed his entire McLaren Vale vineyard has a Tuscan feel to it, with the pale yellow hills and sporadic olive plantations interspersed with vineyards. Mark’s European experience has led him to put a new twist on some Old World varieties. And this masterful meeting of Old (Sangiovese) and New World (Shiraz) offers something that is difficult to obtain in Australia; subtlety and elegance. The new label on the 2013 vintage also features a radiant painting by the late Mary Kathleen (Molly) Lloyd, Coriole’s Co-founder.
01
10946
Was €18.95 Now €15.95 Nationwide Delivery (€7.50 per address)
10009
Coriole | 2013 McLaren Vale, Australia Shiraz, Sangiovese - 14.5%
Was €19.45 Now €15.65 Wines Direct | 3
R ed W ine
Navarra DO, Spain Chardonnay - 14.5%
Whi te W in e
Guerinda La Blanca | 2015
02
A Critical View
Food & Wine magazine has established itself over the years as one of Ireland’s best loved culinary publications offering ‘a delicious indulgence for enthusiastic foodies’. Alongside seasonal recipes and restaurant reviews they also devote a substantial section of the publication to wine. Each month Raymond Blake, one of Ireland’s leading wine writers, and a selected tasting panel sip their way through an array of wines submitted for review from merchants across Ireland. The wines are tasted blind; their identities only revealed after all the notes and scores are made. Here are some of our wines that have recently made the cut above the rest.
01
11020
now €11.95
“Sweet tropical fruit very much to the fore here, lavish and plump, a bit hefty.” “Ripe fruit - Bartlett pear style - full land rich palate, great weight of fruit and good finish.” 4 | Wines Direct
Stefano Accordini Classico | 2014
Valpolicella Classico DOC, Italy, Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Molinara - 12.5%
€15.95
now €13.95
“Sweaty fruit on the nose, palate more appealing, nice grippy tingle, tasty stuff.” “Restrained nose with red fruit notes, lively palate, can be drunk without food.”
03
10730
Crego e Monaguillo Godello | 2014 Monterrei DO, Spain Godello - 13%
€15.95
now €13.50
“This rendition of the Godello grape offers delicate orchard and warm floral aromas and a textured palate leading from lush to crisp on the finish.”
winesdirect.ie - Best Wine Website, Sunday Business Post
Whi te W in e
€14.75
10300 Re d W ine
Pays d’Herault IGP, France Viognier - 12.5%
Whi te W in e
Domaine De Belle Mare | 2015
02
Raymond Blake
Food & Wine Magazine
04
10114
Domaine de la Bongran | 2014
Vire Classé A/C, France Chardonnay - 14%
€35.00
now €31.50
“There’s a gorgeous amalgam of flavours on the palate: sweet fruit, gentle spice a trickle of acidity and a mild herbaceous note, all wonderfully balanced and integrated.”
“Ripe full nose, big and bold on the palate, would be great with dry turkey.”
07
08
now €19.95
“This Sauvignon Blanc/ Semillon lends a smooth texture that is beautifully counterpoised by the the former’s green fruit perk.”
Navarra DO, Spain Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon - 14.5%
€20.30
now €17.50
“This wonderful Navarra is robust and densely flavoured but with enough juicy fruit to keep it balanced. Try it with venison.”
Nationwide Delivery (€7.50 per address)
Barolo DOC, Italy, Nebbiolo - 14.5%
now €33.00
09
10033
Chateau Sainte-Marie | 2014
Bordeaux Supérieur, France Merlot, Cabernet Franc - 13.5%
€15.75
now €13.35
“There’s a touch of sweet fruit here to balance the dry tannins nicely, crisp and clean, worth a punt. Slight tobacco and blackberry on the palate, big tannins, very intense, juicy finish.” Wines Direct | 5
Re d W ine
€23.50
10944
Guerinda ‘El Maximo’ | 2014
Barolo Vigne Dei Fantina | 2011
“Firm and sweet and tannic and long gorgeous wine, lovely balance, enduring length.”
Re d W ine
Bordeaux A/C, France, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc 12.5%
Whi te W in e
Chateau Thieuley Cuvée Francis Courselle | 2012
10484
€39.95
“Sharp lemon and lush fruit flavours sit separate on the palate.”
10022
06
R ed W i n e
€29.95 now €24.50
10075 W h i te W i n e
Coteaux du Languedoc A/C, France, Grenache, Syrah - 14%
R ed W i n e
Domaine De L’Hortus Grande Cuvée | 2013
05
Mixed Mixed Cases Cases
Saovvere 15%
Best Sellers Mix Case With a well-rehearsed drumroll our stock maestro, Fiona, announced to us the bestselling wines of 2015. With the results in we brought together a wonderful mix of six of these wines for your pleasure at a special, delivered price for this month only. Bottoms up!
6 BOTTLE CASE A ORDER CODE:
3 X RED
BSMIX16
12 BOTTLE CASE B ORDER CODE:
6 | Wines Direct
6 X RED
BSMIX162
3 X WHITE
was
€97.30
6 X WHITE
was
€187.10
1 BOTTLE OF EACH WINE
now
€80.00
2 BOTTLES OF EACH WINE
now
€155.00
winesdirect.ie - Best Wine Website, Sunday Business Post
What's in the Case? CIU CIU BACCHUS 2014 Marche IGP, Italy Montepulciano, Sangiovese
Meet the Winemakers Je��-Mi���� B���l�
“Rosso Piceno is from the Marche region of Italy, on the Adriatic coast just east of Tuscany and south of EmiliaRomagna. This is a typical blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano and has a bright juicy fruit and a pleasing ripeness on the palate - perfect for mid-week pasta or pizza.” Leslie Williams, The Irish Examiner RONDAN CRIANZA 2011 Rioja DO, Spain Tempranillo “Nice old-fashioned style. Subtle hints of coconut and vanilla from the American oak floating on top of ripebut-not-stewed plum and cherry fruit, tapering to a long finish.” Ernie Whalley, Sunday Times CHATEAU DE VAUGELAS 2013 Corbieres A/C, France Grenache, Syrah, Carignan “Slightly burly, warming dark fruits, with a good dry finish. This is a classic French style of wine, the sort you could happily drink with most mid-week meals.” John Wilson, Irish Times DOMAINE BERGERIE DE L’HORTUS - BLANC 2014 Vin de Pays du Val de Montferrand, France Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne
Chateau de Vaugelas has been the home of the Bonfils family for five generations. Jean-Michel Bonfils and his sons tend vineyards filled with the traditional varieties of the sunny south. The estate is located in the hills near Narbonne, reputed to be the best of Corbières’ eleven growing zones. The vines are planted in argilo-limestone soils mixed with the same large, round galets (pebbles) as those found in Châteauneuf du Pape. Today Jean-Michel and his sons have expanded the family vineyard to encompass some of the best terroirs in South France. Helped by the prevailing climate of dependable sunshine and an ever-present wind, they farm organically in essence. This sumptuous, engaging red is a testament to their hard working principles.
A���� C��b��
“Delicate nose and lightly peachy palate with good acidity.” (* * * * ) Decanter Magazine STABLES 2015 Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc An aromatic nose of mango, rock melon and lime with a herbal edge. Fresh acidity gives a refreshing finish. DOMAINE HORGELUS 2014 Cotes de Gascogne IGP, France Sauvignon Blanc, Gros-Manseng “Zingy Gascon white blend where Sauvignon meets local Gros Manseng to produce pungently aromatic wine that tastes, among other things, of passion fruit. Gorgeous with goat’s cheese.” Tom Doorley, Irish Daily Mail
Nationwide Delivery (€7.50 per address)
Hawke’s Bay has long been considered one of New Zealand’s highest quality wine regions. Situated on the east of New Zealand’s North Island, it is a land of impressive diversity, not least in the soil type and topography which has been influenced as recently as 1860 by volcanic eruptions. Climate-wise, it enjoys the country’s highest sunshine hours and it has some very fertile, alluvial soil. Winemaker Alywn Corban knows, however, that it is not this fertile soil that is the most sought after for top quality wine. Instead, his vineyards for the Silks, Glazebrook, Stables, and Alwyn range sit on free-draining soils with less fertility that encourage water stress. This forces the vines to focus their energies on the grapes rather than the leaves which, in turn, leads to Wines Direct | 7 powerfully concentrated flavours.
Wine Explorers CLUB
Choose your monthly budget €69, €89 or €109
THE
us to l l a C n now joi scover i or d ore... m
?
From only €69 per month
Extraordinary Wines • 6 expertly selected wines; red, white or both
With savings of up to 15% on every case!
The Wine Explorers Club is a wine club in the comfort of your own home. Every month we handpick 6 bottles from our award winning range and send them direct to your door. With 15% off compared to normal retail prices, and free delivery it’s the smarter way to discover new wines!
Distinctive Service • Distinct selections from month to month • 15% discounts compared to retail price
Exclusive Benefits • FREE €20 selection upgrade every quarter (Mar-Jun-Sep-Dec)
• All independently made and directly sourced from 9 countries
• FREE delivery
• FREE delivery on any extra orders if you include them with your Wine Explorers
• Exclusive; you won’t find these wines anywhere else in Ireland
• You’re in control. No direct debit or contract
• A first taste of our new wines PLUS exclusive member offers
Sales Office:
sales@winesdirect.ie LoCall: 1890 579 579 Tel: 044 934 0634
Online Ordering:
online@winesdirect.ie Order online at winesdirect.ie
winesdirect.ie Wines Direct Ltd. | 49 Lough Sheever Corporate Park | Mullingar | Co. Westmeath