• Bordeaux 2017 – Emerging en primeurs

    If you’re anyway interested in fine wine Bordeaux will be a heading bandied around many mails coming into your inbox this month. The 2017 en primeur campaign has started and the first Châteaux are gently releasing their prices. This will be an interesting campaign, not least because support for this vintage is (quite rightly) cautious thanks to late frosts decimating vineyards around the region. Members of the trade are looking for a reduction in prices of at least 20% to encourage take up of these wines, still sleeping in their oak barrels. One of the first to the post; Château Palmer

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  • Australia day(ish) in Dublin

    There’s a certain admiration I have for the Australians. They stick to their guns. Premium is the message and premium is the product. They ploughed on through a massive down turn in exports, not helped by the strong Aussie dollar and a global recession; coming out the other side with a stronger domestic market and a quality driven, pioneering wine industry ready to re-explore exports. Looking at the latest export report from Wine Australia; value is outstripping volume: it increased 15% to $2.56 billion versus an 8% rise in volume to 811 million litres. The average value of exports is also rising, sitting at $3.16 per litre; the

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  • Burgundy 2016

    A look at the 2016 Vintage in Burgundy upon release.

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  • Really? The Rhône? Why?

    Rhône wine week. Will you ‘get your Rhône on’?!

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  • Experimentation in Chile

    When thinking about wines made from wild vines, amphora experimentalists and almost ‘natural’ fermentations, Anthony Tindal isn’t immediately seen as the flag waving follower of these more radical styles. Yet, new to our list are a number of small production parcels of wine from the outreaches of Chile, made by adventurous, educated winemakers looking to inject a bit of life into the Chilean wine trade and show the world that, while house wines remain the mainstay of Chilean production on export markets; there are many more strings to their bow. We had a selection of these wines open to taste at

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  • Margaux and St.Julien. Bordeaux 2015

    Our notes on the Margaux and St.Julien communes from the Bordeaux 2015 en primeur tastings.

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  • Building up to Bordeaux 2015

    We’re in the gates, the flag is raised and the tension is mounting. What will happen when the gates open? Will we all bunch up on the first bend and then fall back when high prices are set or smoothly settle into position, finding our stride, finally emerging from the pack triumphant with new fire to ignite the 2015 en primeur campaign. Bordeaux 2015 is here. ‘The rule of five’* is a phrase that has been bandied around Bordeaux a lot of late. At first mainly due to the desperation of those in the trade hoping for a top vintage following four

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  • The Douro – A story of Port, in parts around an intriguing visit.

    A snapshot of the port trade and viticultural advances being made in this land of ‘extreme mountain viticulture’.

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  • Tasting to Tucan! An interview with Donal Gunne.

    A little insight into Sligo band Tucan and the consumer side of our Portfolio tasting in March. Random connection maybe, but worth a look, even for the video at the end!

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  • Cork event!! Chateau Montelena tasting at The Grain Store, Ballymaloe

    In 1882 Alfred Tubbs purchased 254 acres of rugged land at the base of Mount Saint Helena and planted vines.1972 was the Barrett’s first vintage at Montelena. In 1976 a who’s who of the French wine and food establishment gathered for ‘The Judgement of Paris’. Four white Burgundies were tasted against six California Chardonnays. Chateau Montelena’s 1973 was voted number One. Bo Barrett has been involved in every vintage at Montelena since 1972. We are very lucky to have him leading the tasting and giving an insight into these fantastic wines. Wines to be tasted include various vintages from the following

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  • Chateau Montelena Dinner at Thornton’s Restaurant

    In 1882 Alfred Tubbs purchased 254 acres of rugged land at the base of Mount Saint Helena and planted vines.1972 was the Barrett’s first vintage at Montelena. In 1976 a who’s who of the French wine and food establishment gathered for ‘The Judgement of Paris’. Four white Burgundies were tasted against six California Chardonnays. Chateau Montelena’s 1973 was voted number One. Bo Barrett has been involved in every vintage at Montelena since 1972. We are very lucky to have him presiding over the dinner and giving an insight into these fantastic wines. Wines to go with dinner include: Napa Valley

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  • Chateau Montelena’s iconic winemaker owner Bo Barrett is coming to Ireland.

    I could waffle on about the icon status of Chateau Montelena or merely refer to you a certain film with Alan Rickman telling the story about the time when the Montelena Chardonnay wiped the floor and came out above some of Burgundy’s best whites. This famous 1976 tasting is known as the ‘Judgement of Paris’. Chateau Montelena in The Calistoga AVA of Napa Valley was established in 1882 when Alfred Tubbs decided to plant estate vineyards on the soil. Following the prohibition in 1920 and the cessation of winemaking practices at the Chateau, 1934 saw the winery refurbished in anticipation

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