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
OBriens. With a background in
hospitality, James is a keen cook and
he has been working with wine his
entire career.

Lorcan O' Brien,

Starts
Store Manager, Citywest Monday, 4th December
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. Limited Quantities
While Stocks Last
In stores only
 Compiled by Lynne Coyle MW

A t OBriens, 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
they do on Christmas Day and how they
enjoy their own wines. It gives us a lovely
insight as to what happens around the
tends to resonate equally in a vineyard, a winemaking world and how the families
winery and in our stores. With tradition, that make our wines enjoy them at this,
friends and family so high on the agenda at the most traditional time of year.
this time of year, we love to get the inside
track and hear from our winemakers what

Georg Lingenfelder
Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling,
Pfalz, Germany
12.95 down from 14.95
Jesus Alvarez Otero
At Christmas, we tend to have long vineyard walks and Contrapunto Albario, Ras Baixas, Spain
warming, comforting food afterwards. Typically, goose, 12.95 down from 18.45
turkey, duck or chicken would be a tradition at our house.
"The most important meal is the dinner of 24th and meal
But something unique and really traditional to our area,
of 25th December. Most Galicians love seafood and
which we always match with the Bird Label Riesling,
during these days, a big chunk of the budget is invested
saut old fashioned German sausage with apple
in all type of fresh seafood: velvet crabs, spider crabs,
sauerkraut and mashed potato. This is very simple food
shrimps, goose-neck barnacle, oysters and scallops.
but easy to prepare and popular with all the family and
The main dish, boiled cod with cauliflower dressed with
one of my favourite Christmas dishes.
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 Ras Baixas wine
Contrapunto Albario.
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 Ive 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.
 Rudi Rabl Philip
Rabl Grner Tuinder
Veltliner, Chteau de Fuiss
Kamptal, Pouilly Fuiss,
Austria. Burgundy, France.

14.95 down from 18.95 26.95 down from 31.95

Rudis family have been making
wine since the 1900s. Still
operating as a family business
today, his refreshing, elegant
Grner 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 days roast
turkey and goose are popular.
Our Grner 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.
Grard Bertrand
Although rich and concentrated
Domaine Villemajou, Boutenac, Corbires, France.
the wine has a citrus fresh
17.95 down from 20.95 acidity and works very well with
This is one of our secret gems, particularly enjoyable in traditional Burgundian
deepest winter as the warm ripe red berried fruits remind Christmas cuisine. Try the
of the Mediterranean summer sun and the charming classic food match suggested
Languedoc villages. Grard Bertrand owner of the here by Philip at the Chteau.
Domaine shares his own festive thoughts of this wine. Gougeres are our typical
I love to receive my family to celebrate Christmas on the regional morceaux, they are our
25th of December. We eat turkey with chestnuts and local traditional little cheese puffs
mushrooms cooked with our Villemajou wine by my mother that are served warm straight
Genevieve. These unique food and wine pairings celebrate from the oven, they melt in the
the memory of Georges, my father who developed this mouth and work beautifully
estate in 1973. with our Pouilly Fuiss."

Geoff Schrapel Giuseppe Rizzardi

Bethany Chardonnay, Barossa, Australia. Rizzardi Clos Roareti, Veneto, Italy.
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.
 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 frys 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 Jos Lovaglio Balbo

Bodegas Tandem, Ars in Vitro, Navarra, Spain.
10.95 down from 14.95
"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. "
Vaglio Chango Malbec Blend, Salta, Argentina.
16.95 down from 18.95
We have just started work this year with Vaglio, a new micro-
winery located in Tupungato. The project has been created by
Jos Lovaglio Balbo, the third generation of winemakers in his
family. Jos focuses on micro-climates and minimalist winemaking
and Jos 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.
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
Cuve 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
GREAT VALUE WHITE WINES...
Jlia Florista Branco
7.95 down from 9.95
Perfect for everyday drinking, this
would make a great party wine.
John Wilson, Wilson on Wine
through the festive season, so whether you
are hosting a New Years Eve bash for fifty
guests, or just popping into the neighbours
for an informal drink, you wont go wrong
with one of the wines below.
To start off the selection I am going with
a Portuguese white wine. From the team
Bougrier Sauvignon Blanc
9.95 down from 15.45
Classic, herby and zesty Loire Sauvignon.
behind Porta 6, Jlia 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 Jlia
Florista Tinto which is soft and smooth with
Duffour Pre et Fils, Cte de Gascogne
9.95 down from 12.95
Light, fresh zippy apple and citrus fruit.
Perfect party wine.
John Wilson, the Irish Times

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.
Staying in France, Duffour Pre et Fils,
Cte 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.
Bellows Rock Sauvignon Blanc
9.95 down from 14.95
Bursting with fruit, herby aromatics
and beautifully crisp and fresh."
Lynne Coyle MW, Wine Director, OBriens
Clos d'Ora, Languedoc - September 2017 @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
Moving on to South Africa now, where
Bellows Rock Sauvignon Blanc (9.95 down
from 14.95), is made by the multi-award-
winning 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.
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,
Rizzardi Pinot Grigio
10.95 down from 14.95
"We put a lot effort into creating a Pinot Grigio with
lots of expression.
Giuseppe Rizzardi
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 vineyards terrior in
the glass.
All featured wines are available to buy
in-store or online at www.obrienswine.ie
Robert Cantin Sauvignon Blanc
11.95 down from 14.95
Incredibly well-defined Sauvignon Blanc.
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.
Pictor Merlot
8.95 down from 9.95
Wonderfully Smooth and
Plummy Merlot.
Of course, when buying for a large group,
budget is paramount, but that shouldnt
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
Protocolo
9.95 down from 10.95
An old favourite that is on
song. Perfect all-purpose wine.
John Wilson, the Irish Times
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 thats often overlooked is
alcohol content; you may love Amarone, but
at 16% ABV it certainly wont make for an
elegant evening of sparkling conversation
if you plan to serve it to all your guests.
Porta 6
9.95 down from 12.95
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.
"Rated Outstanding" 90 points
Decanter

The wines below all fit the parameters
above and are all versatile enough to be
served with or without food.
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.
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
La Vielle Capitelle
9.95 down from 14.95
Soft, supple and rounded, it
will go perfectly with all manner
of white and red meats.
John Wilson, the Irish Times
Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma, US - March 2017 @LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
very polished wine for this kind of money
with good concentration of red berry fruit,
a little spice, subtle oak, and soft tannins.
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!
From renowned winemaker Grard
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.
Monte Real Tempranillo
9.95 down from 14.95
Smart modern Rioja with a
silky red berried charm.
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 Via 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 'Porteos' of Buenos
Aires, Norton Porteo (10.95 down from
14.95) is a juicier, more approachable take
on Malbec from leading Argentine producer
Norton.
Norton Porteo Malbec
10.95 down from 14.95
Nortons chief winemaker,
David Bonomi was named as
one of the top ten winemakers
in South America by Decanter
Magazine in October 2017.
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, its 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.
Many parts of the wine world employ the
traditional or Champagne method to
create a sparkle in their wines. Without
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 (Crmant), 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.
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 Sometimes only the best will do and although
hint of biscuit and toast from bottle age.
Great to drink with or without food there are some amazing sparkling wines in the
but brilliant with Tapas.
world nothing can trump good champagne.
Next, I have chosen a 100% Chardonnay
made in the exact same way as a Blanc de
Blancs Champagne, Cave de Lugny Crmant
de Bourgogne (17.95 down from 20.95)
has aromas of ripe apple and citrus, and a Rizzardi Prosecco NV Beaumont des Crayres NV
complex and creamy palate, this incredibly 17.95 down from 20.95 29.95 down from 36.95
versatile wine works well with a wide range A dry style that seeks to
of foods and above all it offers a great-value emphasise the lean, A match for famous names
alternative to Champagne. lime-tinged and zesty that cost 50plus, so why
aspects of the Glera pay more?
grape.. A delight!
Toms Clancy, the Martin Moran MW,
Sometimes only the best will do and although Sunday Business Post the Sunday Times
there are some amazing sparkling wines in the
world nothing can trump good Champagne.
The wines from Frances 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 Lanson Black Label NV

collection of growers specializing in low Valhondo Cava
39.95 down from 49.95
14.95 down from 17.95
production, high quality wines. Beaumont des
Crayres (29.95 down from 36.95) This brand new Cava is "Lansons non-vintage
is a top-notch Champagne made in a wonderfully fresh & fruity, Brut always has fine acidity
generous, toasty style with lots of toasty making it the perfect choice with just a hint of toast indicating
as an aperitif. some bottle age."
brioche and hazelnut notes on a creamy, rich
"Rated Outstanding" 90 Points,
palate.

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.
Cave de Lugny Crmant Bollinger Grand Anne NV
de Bourgogne NV 99.00 down from 109.00
17.95 down from 20.95
To finish my selection, I am going with one " Powerful, structured & graceful.
"Surprisingly complex considering
Offers a fine, raw silk-like mousse
of my favourite wines of all still or sparkling! the price tag.. So, fill-up your fridge!"
and a long, spiced finish."
Bollinger Grand Anne (99.00 down from "Rated Outstanding"
90 points Decanter "Rated Outstanding" 94 Points,
109.00) is rich and full in style with lots of Wine Spectator
rich yeasty, biscuity flavour and thrilling ripe
apple/pear fruit on the incredibly long finish.
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 Chanson Chablis Monte Real Rioja

26.95 down from 33.95 Montmains 1er Cru Gran Reserva
in our Fine Wine Sale 24.95 down from 33.95 19.95 down from 33.95
in our Fine Wine Sale in our Fine Wine Sale
" Mouth-watering key lime and Stellar Premier Cru Chablis Seriously-Refined Rioja Gran
meyer lemon flavours, linger from Bollinger-owned Chanson. Reserva
effortlessly on the intense
finish."
"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 Class 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 Gonzales Byass, Jerez, Spain - September 2017
@LynneCoyleMW- O'Briens Wine
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!
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.
The third wine from Chteau 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 last choice is a brand-new addition to
our range with serious fine wine pedigree
as it comes from Stags Leap Wine Cellars
whose Cabernet Sauvignon came out
as the top-scoring red wine in the in the
Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976 ahead
of wines from Chteau Mouton-Rothschild,
Chteau Haut-Brion, Chteau Leoville Las
Cases and Chteau 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 Pauillac de Lynch Bages Stags Leap Wine Cellars
Montalcino 29.95 down from 33.95 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
28.95 down from 39.95 in our Fine Wine Sale 45.00 down from 55.00
in our Fine Wine Sale in our Fine Wine Sale
"Elegant and fresh, this offers Beautiful Bordeaux from Delicious, complex & elegant,
cherry, strawberry, floral and the most-famous of all this wine could easily pass for a
tobacco notes, allied to a Irish Chateaux. 2nd- or 3rd - growth Bordeaux
tensile structure. in a blind tasting.
Rated Outstanding 93 points, "Rated Outstanding" 90 points,
Wine Spectator Robert Parkers 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 Albario from Ras
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 Chteau 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.
it. I would typically buy a bottle of young
For the reds I like to go with something
lighter which matches roast bird or
vegetable based dishes equally. Chteau
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, dont let Christmas pass without
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 Marques de Murrieta
Champagne When youthful the colour is deep opaque Reserva Rioja
65.00 red and the cassis fruit character is upfront 18.95 down from 23.95
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
Pazo Barrantes Albario Sauternes 2015 for the stores especially Duorum 2013 Qunita de
18.95 down from 22.95 for Christmas. I loved it so much it will be Castelo Melhor
41.95 down from 51.95
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.

Chteau de Fontaine Carmes de Rieussec

Audon Sancerre Sauternes
18.95 down from 21.95 18.95 down from 22.95

Chteau de Fleurie
14.95 down from 19.45
UNIQUE & W ithout question, fortified and
dessert wines represent some
of the most eclectic, interesting
and unique wines to occupy our

TRADITIONAL
shelves. Although their winemaking
techniques are firmly rooted in
tradition, they often struggle to find
their voice on the worlds wine stage.

WINES FOR
I personally use this time of year
as the ideal opportunity to revisit
these exceptional wines, and would

CHRISTMAS
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 Grard Bertrand Maury Smith Woodhouse LBV Port
15.95 19.95 down from 22.95 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% Palomi-
no grapes and begins life as any other wine
with a fermentation in the cellar. The defin-
ing 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, Grard Bertrand
Maury is fermented before being fortified.
Historically the fortification would prevent
spoilage of the wine. Today however, forti-
fication 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.
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
Longview Epitome Late Harvest Riesling - Half Bottle
12.95 down from 16.95
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. Ex-
pect flavours of red apple, orange blossom,
honey and a refreshing citrus finish.
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.
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.
Chteau 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 condi-
tions 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.
Chteau Coutet would pair their wine
with oysters, scallops and foie gras but also
consider Thai food (this match is a revela-
tion)- 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
Chteau 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 OBriens 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 OBriens 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 Chteau Lapelletrie
wooden gift box. Coming from Grand
Cru vineyards from the Saint-milion
region, this bold Bordeaux offers plenty
of intense blueberry fruit alongside well
-integrated oak spice.
Theres nothing quite like a bottle of
Champagne to put a sparkle in that special
someones 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 hosts Christmas dinner table,
a Magnum fits the bill perfectly. Holding
two standard bottles, our Magnum offering
here at OBriens includes some of our cus-
tomers favourite wines: from our perennial
Portuguese star, Porta 6, to Grard
Bertrands luscious, but silky smooth,
Domaine de Villemajou from Corbires.
For the gadget lovers with a fine wine
collection, OBriens 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 cant 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 2 3

4 5

1 Romeo and Juliet 2 Bottle Gift 29.00 2 Chteau

Lapelletrie 3 Bottle Gift 70.00 3 Beaumont des
Crayres & 2 Tipperary Crystal Flutes 55.00
4 Smith Woodhouse LBV 2003 26.95 down from
30.45 for November/December 5 Porta 6
Magnum 19.95 6 Grard Bertrand Domaine de

6 Villemajou Magnum 45 7 Coravin 1000 Wine 7

Preserver 299
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 OBriens Wine Beer Spirits.
No part of this document can be copied and/or distributed without the
written consent of OBriens Wine Beer Spirits.

Please enjoy alcohol sensibly.