O'Briens Wine Blog

That time of year is upon us again! No, not Christmas but Beaujolais Nouveau Day!

The 3^rd Thursday of November is the official release day for Beaujolais Nouveau – in fact it is illegal to sell a single bottle before today.

What used to be a huge day in the wine calendar worldwide reached its heyday in the late 80’s but after a slow decline it has been rejuvenated in recent years by overall better wine making practices and a string of very good vintages.

The 2011 vintage is no exception, the Gamay grapes grown on Beaujolais’ granitic soils reached perfect maturity giving a juicy vibrancy to the wines that is all too clear to see. After a quick fermentation these wines are bottled early and designed to be drunk young whilst still full of vibrant fruit

George Duboeuf has long been hailed the King of Beaujolais, not only is he the largest producer in the region he has also been the driving force in improving the both the region’s image and the quality of the wines. Duboeuf’s  2011 is an explosion of bright raspberry and cherry fruit, very juicy and lively on the palate with not a single tannin in sight. This is really gluggable stuff and will make a super, easy-drinking bottle over the next few months – particularly good served lightly chilled with slices of cold, baked ham or dare I say it turkey and cranberry sauce sandwiches!

So pop into your local O’Briens and grab yourself a bottle of shiny new Beaujolais Nouveau today!

 

The O’Briens Annual Fine Wine Sale starts this Thursday 17th November and runs until Sunday 20th. With up to 43% off specially selected Bordeaux, Burgundy, Amarone & more, this is a unique opportunity to pick up some exceptional gifts and treats for the festive season!

This offer is not currently available online due to limited stocks, but please contact our sales team on 1850 269777  who will be happy to facilitate your order.

 

Ascheri Barolo Coste & Bricco 2006 Was €44.99 Now €26.99 Save 40%

4**** Decanter Magazine,  Aug 2011 - “Coffee, chocolate, spice, sage, cedar and cherry    fruit bouquet. Bright and uplifting palate with chewy tannins. A seamless traditional style and lovely dark berried fruit quality. Elegant and inviting.”

 

 

Château Cordeillan-Bages 1997 Was €39.99 Now €22.99 Save 43%

Owned and run by the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages, this is a beautiful, fragrant, truffley Pauillac that is drinking perfectly right now. Everything about this shows that it is at ideal maturity, decant and enjoy over Christmas.

 

 

 

Château Lynch Moussas 2008 Was €35 Now €24.99 Save 29%

 “A dark plum/ruby garnet colour is accompanied by aromas of damp earth, forest floor and sweet red and black currant fruit, ripe tannin and medium body. This well-made effort can be enjoyed now and over the next 7-10 years.” - Robert Parker’s  Wine Advocate, May 2011.

 

 

 

 

Château Giscours 2008 Was €49.00 Now €34.99 Save 29%

Rated ‘Outstanding’ 90 Points Robert Parker - “Dark plum/garnet, this elegant, medium to full-bodied, beguiling, seductive 2008 is a sleeper of the vintage. Round and silky-smooth with lovely black cherry and black currant fruit imbued with touches of smoke, herbs and earth, this relatively evolved effort is best consumed over the next 15-17 years.” RP

 

 

 

Château Lynch Bages 2008 Was €115 Now €65 Save 43%

Rated ‘Outstanding’ 94 Points Robert Parker - “A sensational effort for the vintage, this textured, opulent, superb Lynch Bages is already strutting its stuff and should easily last for 20 years. Medium to full-bodied with an opaque dense purple colour, notes of flowers and cassis, a layered texture that builds incrementally in the mouth and tremendous purity and depth, it can be drunk now or cellared for two decades or more. Bravo!” RP

 

 

 

Musella Amarone Riserva 2006 Was €48.99 Now €28.99 Save 41%

Rated ‘Outstanding’ 94 Points Wine Spectator - “A lovely wine, displaying overall style and elegance, as well as a core of intriguing spice flavours that are wrapped in layers of cherry compote, damson plum preserves, dark chocolate shavings and spicy tobacco notes. There’s fine integration here, with an overall vibrancy. The long, spicy finish shows just a hint of tannins” AN

 

 

 

Sierra Cantabria Coleccion Privada 2007 Was €36.99 Now €23.99 Save 35%

Rated ‘Outstanding’ 94 Parker Points - “…exceptionally perfumed nose of sandalwood, incense, violets, truffle, and wild black berries. Opulent and succulently-fruited on the palate, this already complex wine will blossom over the next 5-6 years and offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2027 if not longer.” JM

 

 

 

 

Campogiovanni Brunello 2006 Was €34.99 Now €24.99 Save 29%

Rated ‘Extraordinary’ 96 Points Wine Spectator – “Liquorice, sweet spices, toast, smoke and sanguine aromas and flavours envelop a kernel of raspberry in this intense, extroverted red, which is complex, focused and structured, with an expansive finish. There’s fine potential, but needs time. Best from 2014 through 2027″

 

 

 

 

Antinori Tignanello 2008 Was €80 Now €55 Save 31%

Rated ‘Outstanding’ 94 Parker Points - “The 2008 Tignanello is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. The 2008 isn’t a huge or obvious Tignanello, rather it is a wine that impresses for its sublime elegance and precision. …. In 2008 the Tignanello has more energy, focus and length than the Solaia. It is a fabulous achievement!” BS

 

 

 

Torres Mas la Plana 2007 Was €44.99 Now €32.00 Save 29%

Rated ‘Outstanding’ 93 Parker Points - “It opens in the glass to reveal a smooth texture, elegant personality, and enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years. Nicely proportioned and with excellent volume, it has a drinking window that extends from 2014 to 2027″ JM

 

 

 

 

Smith Woodhouse Vintage 2007 Was €59.99 Now €34.99 Save 42%

Rated ‘Outstanding’ 91 Parker Points - “An alluring bouquet of mineral, pencil lead, espresso, violets, black currant, and fruitcake. Dense and structured on the palate, it has an excellent integration of alcohol, acidity, and tannin. It should be one of the longer lived wines of the vintage with 12-15+ years of aging potential and a drinking window extending through 2037″ JM

 

 

 And many more fine wines available instore!

 

Promotion ends Sunday 20th November. Shop stocks only. Quotas apply. Instore Only.