What can we recommend from O’Briens Wine? – just about everything!

Ireland’s leading chain of off-licence stores really does cover all bases, has a friendly, very well educated staff and goes out of its way to bring us real quality at honest prices.

What would I look out for? First would be their own imports and always on my list are the wines of Tandem from Navarra. These are versatile and fruit driven beauties from what is probably Spain’s most flexible wine region – no wonder O’Briens’ buyer, Lynne Coyle MW, makes her Rose (RÓS) there! The Ars in Vitro unoaked Tempranillo Merlot blend is down to €11.95 for the Christmas.

A traditional Christmas recommendation is the Maurice Tremblay Chablis back to €19.95 (on my press release but showing €22.95 on the web site)! This is classy with a fabulous fruit to structure balance. Well worth the money and a wine to impress with. New to O’Briens this year.

Want a TREMENDOUS wine. Careful when someone tells you to Really Like This! Everyone’s palate is different …. that said …. The Chateau Franc-Maillet Pomerol 2019 €42.95 is a genuine treasure. Everything O’Briens tells us here is accurate to a fault ‘This family-owned estate always delivers a classic expression of the Pomerol terroir, with deep raspberry, plum and black, cherry flavours, undercut by some subtle spice and smoke. The tannins are ripe and fine’.

The O’Briens Christmas Wines and Fizz Sale is in full swing right now. Have a look at their web site HERE and see what ‘s on offer – a LOT!

ME? my tastes go to the likes of the fabulous Lingenfelder brothers’ Rieslings out of Germany; the Domaine Begude Terroir Chardonnay from the Languedoc Roussilon; the Leyda Single vineyard Cahuil Pinot Noir from Chile and the Coca I Fitó Nu from Montsant in Spain – smooth and rich with an absolutely razor like structure.

As we say – there really is something at O’Briens for everyone.

Happy O’Briens and Happy Christmas