The clocks have gone back and the calendar has reached November so I guess it’s now safe to use the ‘C’ word - Christmas. It’s looming on the horizon and retailers have hosted tastings for the press to showcase their offers and now they’ll be holding them for the public soon too.
The good news from some retailers is that despite the budget changes many big retailers will be holding prices until after Xmas. Aldi and Lidl won’t be changing and neither will most prices at Tesco or O’Briens. Aldi told me that as their brochures were already ordered or printed they couldn’t now change prices.
O’Briens have about 100 wine promotional offers and pricing takes effect today that run until the new year. There are many excellent wines at reduced prices including two tasted on the show today, one of which I hand a hand in, Domaine de Villemajou 2010. Well, I worked as a cellar hand in the winery during the vintage, so I probably scrubbed the tanks it was fermented in!
Winter Wine Fairs
O’Briens at the Mansion House Dublin November 8/9th. Details at obrienswine.ie
Cases wine fair, Tuam Rd, Galway November 14th. Details at cases.ie
MacGuinness Wine Warehouse, Dundalk, November 22nd, Details at macguinesswinemerchants.com
La Touche Wines, Greystones Rugby Club, November 22nd. Details at latouchewines4u.ie
Food and Wine Christmas Show at the RDS, November 22nd-24th. foodandwineshow.ie
Gibneys Malahide, Grand Hotel Malahide, November 28th. Details at gibneys.com
Wines Tasted on the Show
G. Bertrand Domaine de Villemajou 2010, Corbières Boutenac, O’Briens €16.99 (reduced from €20.99).
Gerard Bertrand has several estates and brands today but this is where it started, his family’s estate as a child. It’s dominated by old vine carignan and supported by grenache and syrah. It has a great balance between richness of flavour and juicy fruit which keeps it fresh thanks to some of the wine fermented by carbonic maceration.
Protocolo Tinto 201, €8.99 (reduced from €10.49)
One of the most popular wines in O’Briens range. Sadly the two budget excise hikes will force it over €10 in the new year but for now it’s on offer at €8.99. A good party wine. 100% tempranillo from La Mancha. Expect lots of cherry and dark berry fruit with a dash of oak.
