Click here to view the embedded video. In the lateste of my videos I taste a white wine from the south of france that is available in Superquinn. Check it out and see you next time on... Similar posts

Matt @Curious Wines your time starts now … Continuing with the recent interview with Wine Retailers I put my questions to Matt from Curiouswines – here is what he had to say 1.       How did you get into wine ? When I was a student I loved going to the shop to select a bottle of wine for my girlfriend. We were both foodies well before wine drinkers, but that’s where it started to take off for me. I loved the variety in wine, as well as the packaging and the stories that come with it. My dad is also very fond of his wine, so we can now talk about wine, as well as football and cars. 2.       What are your favourite styles of wine/wine regions ? My taste is constantly evolving. I started like a lot of people, drinking relatively thin, fruity easy drinking wines, but now... Similar posts

Sunday Tribune – Lar Veale 1. St Hallett Faith Barossa Shiraz 2008 (€15) This is from the south of the Barossa where cooler climes give more floral, softer and less spicy flavours. It’s probably more bing than bang, vibrant red fruits and less of the spice than its bigger Barossa brethren. Smooth and silky. With food? Venison with chocolate sauce would be a real treat, but would work equally well with a more modest steak or lamb. Available from: Imported by Gilbeys and on the shelves of leading independents soon 2. Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz-Grenache (€17) The Glaetzer family is synonymous with Barossa. This one is a blend of 75% Shiraz, 25% Grenache, from a northernly pocket of the Barossa Valley called Ebenezer. Shiraz adds dark fruit and spice and the Grenache adds dusty... Similar posts

Click here to view the embedded video. In the latest of my video blogs I taste a fiano from Southern Italy. Check it out and see you next time on... Similar posts

Irish Times – John Wilson BOTTLES OF THE WEEK  Bürgerspital Würzburger Stein Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2008, 12%, €19.99 Fresh and lively with zingy green apple fruits and a light spritz. Perfect with crab salad, or fishcakes. Stockists: Holland’s, Bray; Karwig Wines, Carrigaline and karwigwines.ie; Eugene’s of Kenmare; Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway. Bürgerspital Würzburger Pfaffenberg Silvaner Trocken 2007, 11.5%, €17.99 Lovely light melon fruits with a delicious, subtle spiciness and a clean dry finish. Try it with lighter fish dishes. Stockists: Holland’s, Bray; Karwig Wines, Carrigaline and karwigwines.ie; Eugene’s of Kenmare; Cases Wine Warehouse. TWO UNDER €12  San Pedro Castillo de Molina Viognier 2007, 14.5%, €11.99 Just the sort of white wine you need... Similar posts

Click here to view the embedded video. In the latest of my video blogs I try a very unusual blanc de noir white from Germany. Some of  the wines of Carl Ehrhardt [available from Karwig Wines] have been featured before and we liked them very much. So lets see how the latest effort gets on ! See you next time on... Similar posts

Julian @Bubblebrothers your time starts now … Continuing with the recent interview with Wine Retailers I put my questions to Julian from Bubblebrothers – here is what he had to say 1.        How did you get into wine ?I just fell in.  I have a little French, and working for a wine merchant sounded interesting at a time when I needed a job.  It is interesting. Before that, though I drank wine, I hadn’t paid it any special attention.    2.        What are your favourite styles of wine/wine regions ?Enthusiasms come and go, but when wine is your job it can be hard to separate wines you appreciate intellectually from wines you enjoy drinking just for themselves.  I try to keep an open mind and palate, but the people and places accompanying your drinking can... Similar posts

Click here to view the embedded video. Just a quick video to give all you fans of robertfranciswine a sneaky peak of something coming very soon !! I am hugely excited about tasting this wine and seeing if it lives up to its hype with previous vintages scoring 100 points from Robert Parker ! For those of you not familiar with the label – the wine is the Amon ra from Australia available from Curiouswines.ie . Click here for more... Similar posts

Sunday Tribune – Lar Veale 1. Montana Reserve Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2008 (€14.35) A suberb example of the quality and value coming out of New Zealand. Cherries, plums, combined with velvet and savoury spices. The winemaker spends a lot of time tending to his vines, and this care and attention shows in the glass. With food? A wide range of possible matches: roast chicken, red meats, and mushroom risotto. Available in Tesco and many other wine shops nationwide 2. Clocktower Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2008 (€16.49) This one is slowly creeping up the price scale. More action hero than femme fatale while still being well balanced. This richness resembles Cherry Coke or Dr Pepper but makes no apologies for it. Full of flavour with no room for sublety, yet still maintaining low tannins... Similar posts

Irish Times – John Wilson Chardonnay, Domaine Couillaud 2008 Vin de pays du Val de Loire, 12%, €10.95  The Loire Valley can produce some very tasty Chardonnay. This one is from Château de la Ragotière, one of the very best Muscadet producers. It is light and mineral, with subtle oak, racy green fruits and a crisp dry finish. Think Chablis in other words. Perfect with salmon or chicken dishes. Stockist : Terroirs, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Chianti La Pieve 2007, Tuscany, 13.5%, €11.95  The phrase “cheap Chianti” strikes a note of pure terror in the minds of most wine-lovers; it can frequently mean bitter, acidic and watery, all at the same time. There are those who argue the only Chianti worth buying comes from either Chianti Classico or Rufina. However, the La Pieve lacks... Similar posts

Winner Alright, Winner Alright For a variety of reasons I am only getting around to blogging about this now. But on the day of the budget Ian and the folks at Simplywines had an online twitter competition to see if people could guess what adjustments would be made to the excise duty on wine in the ministers speech – Finally the level of excise duty has been reduced. This post is really that old but it was a tough christmas ! Having heard on Newstalk that morning the common views as to the reduction, I threw my hat into the ring and low and behold I won. Now I am sure that you guys think that this is a cliche but I hardly ever win anything ! In years of doing the lottery I couldn’t stop for a week and telling people when I won my record €39. Fantastic co-ordination from... Similar posts

Peter Boland Your Times Starts Now Hot on the coat tails of his recent awards from Bridgestone and the Sunday Business Post for his Wine Warehouse in Galway – we at robertfranciswine.ie put some questions to Peter Boland a while back here is what he had to say ! 1.       How did you get into wine ?  I worked in the wine/beer/spirit business for 10 years before I moved to Galway and once it gets under your skin, it’s really hard to stay out of it. So I was looking at ways of getting back into it for years, saw wine warehouses in the UK and USA and that was it for me!  2.       What are your favourite styles of wine/wine regions ? South of France for its untypically French, adventurous approach to making good wine – both reds and whites.  Argentina for the way... Similar posts

Sunday Tribune – Lar Veale’s Wine List 3 of the best… Rieslings from Germany The following are all Rieslings and widely available in Ireland. 1. Schloss Schönborn Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Trocken Kabinett 2006White (€16.89) Quite a mouthful, and that’s just the name. I first tried this at Taste of Dublin a few years ago when Peter Barth was showing a wide range of the estate’s wines and I’ve been a fan ever since. This one is a great introduction to what German Riesling is all about. Quite a floral nose, with flavours of crunchy Granny Smith apples, limes and a very obvious minerality. Great balance, focus and purity. With food? Spicy Asian dishes, blue cheese. Available in O’Briens nationwide and online from www.obrienswine.ie  2. White Max... Similar posts

Irish Times – John Wilson Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Aconcagua Valley, Chile, 13.5%, €10.49.  Errazuriz is one of the larger producers in Chile, with a range of wines at every price. I frequently find their entry level wines offer good value; smooth and easy-drinking, with a bit of varietal character. The Cabernet has medium-bodied succulent blackcurrant fruits, and light ripe tannins on the finish. Great everyday drinking. Stockists : Widely available from Dunnes Stores; Superquinn; Supervalu; Centra; O’Briens many independent wine shops and off-licences. Minervois L’Amourier, Domaine Luc Lapeyre 2006, 13.5%, €11.60.  From one of the top estates in Minervois, a lovely rich harmonious wine, with classy savoury fruits; smooth but grown up, with a nice dry... Similar posts

  A little message from John Mc Donnell from Wine Australia – Come Celebrate Australia day !! Morning in the Barossa  on Tuesday 26 The venue is the Function Room at Fallon and Byrne on Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. With over 160 years of winemaking history, and home to some of the great names of the Australian wine world, is a morning enough time to tell the full story of the Barossa? Wine Australia are welcoming Toby Barlow, Winemaker at St Hallett Wines to take up that challenge and be the guide for this morning in his Barossa. 26th January, starting at 10.30am... Similar posts

Irish Times – John Wilson Lustau Don Nuño Dry Oloroso, 20%, €12.99 – €13.50  I featured the medium-dry Apostoles Palo Cortado sherry as one of my top 50 wines of the year recently. However, I have also bought a half-bottle of this very tasty dry Oloroso. Lustau make some of the very best sherry, available in handy half bottles. The Don Nuño is dry, with intense flavours of roasted nuts and toffee. Perfect with a few slivers of Manchego cheese and a handful of walnuts. The same company produces the Lustau East India Solera, rich and nutty with caramel and raisins, which would go down very nicely with Christmas cake. Stockist : Mitchell Son, CHQ, Glasthule and Rathfarnham; O’Brien’s; Brechin Watchorn, Ranelagh; Redmond’s, Ranelagh; Bin No. 9, Goatstown;... Similar posts

Domenico De Bertiol Prosecco Pale lemon coloured wine, with solid initial aromas. Touches of peach, some zesty citrus just nice clean flavours. This wine is classed a frizzante as opposed to an out and out sparkler which is a really good tip if you are looking for some value in the sparkling world. As the duty is lower, lower again since the recent budget, so there can be more bang for your buck ! Good initial fizz, but that did die off  a little bit with time. The fruits were ripe but not super ripe or to sugary sweet. With a better delicacy of fruit on the nose then you can get from say a cava at the same price level. The stone fruit, citrus flavours were backed up by a little touch of floral notes perhaps honeysuckle or an acacia flower. On the palate the peaches, apricot and citrus... Similar posts

      Wine Australia goes to the rugby – Ireland v’s Italy Saturday 6th February. After the huge success of our outing to the Australian match last month, we’re off to the rugby again. Join us for a delicious lunch at The Exchequer on Exchequer Street served with some tasty Italian themed Australian wines (Australian Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese or Nebbiolo anyone?). Then off to see the opening match in the Ireland’s defence of their 6 Nations crown. The Cost; 100 euro per person (to cover the lunch, yummy wines and your match ticket). To Book; Contact our office to reserve your place as soon as possible. (065) 7077264 or ireland@wineaustralia.com We can accommodate only 40 people so it’s a case of first in, best dressed. Places and tickets can only be confirmed on receipt... Similar posts

Australian Wine Course. February/March, Fallon and Byrne, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. Wine Australia, in conjunction with Fallon and Byrne, is delighted to offer a 4 week Australian wine course. Want to learn more about Australian wine, or wine in general, this could be just for you. The plan for the 4 weeks is as follows; February Thursday 11th. Regional Heroes, Classic styles from unique locations. February Thursday 18th. Generation Next. New regions, different styles, unusual varieties, now that’s different! February Thursday 25th. Mystery Night. Let’s have some fun. March Thursday 4th. Landmark Australia. Australia’s finest. Presented by John Mc Donnell from Wine Australia, with fun, enjoyment and lots of delicious wines to taste (and no exam), this is an ideal wine lovers... Similar posts

Christmas Presents from Wine Australia     Barossa Tasting and Dinner. Tuesday 26th January 2010, Fallon and Byrne, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. Join us to celebrate Australia Day 2010 at our Evening in the Barossa. With over 160 years of wine making history, and home to some of the great names of the Australian wine world, is one evening enough time to tell the full story of the Barossa? Toby Barlow from St Hallett Wines takes up the challenge Toby will host a tasting of Barossa wines followed by a delicious 4 course meal accompanied by some of his own St Hallett wines. The Cost; 65 Euro per person. To Book; Direct with the Restaurant at Fallon and Byrne 01... Similar posts