Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Opening Hours

After a trying run in to Christmas in a very beautiful but logistically difficult Dalkey, we are looking forward to a well-deserved rest. The following are our opening hours over the Christmas period:

Christmas Day - Monday 27th - closed

Tuesday 28th - Friday 31st - open from 11AM to 6PM

The shop will then be closed until Tuesday January 11th when we return from our annual break. Wholesale customers can reach me on my usual number for wholesale orders.

A very Happy Christmas to everyone and looking forward to a good 2011.

Gabriel

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Services this weekend

The weather forecast is looking rather scary for this weekend, so we would like to remind you that we offer free local delivery for those of you who can’t get out. For those of you that do, we will be having fantastic tastings all weekend as well as great deals on all your favourite wines. So venture out, come in and see us and we will welcome you with a nice glass of wine!
Some specials include :

St Michelle Sparkling wine – last remaining bottles reduced from €20 to only €10

John’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon reduced from €35 to €20 per bottle….

Case deals available on Bordeaux, Burgundy, Sancerre etc etc etc.

Fingers crossed the weather won’t be as bad as forecast!!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Come on Tomas, come out and see us!

I had a run in with the Bridgestone Guide a number of years ago, when they had included us in their guide, but descibed us as "an offshoot of the Cabot empire". Now I am happy and proud that Liam and myself continue to work well together, importing wines, sharing expertise and information and generally working very closely with each other, but I had to let the Bridgestone people know that Cabot and Co and On the Grapevine are very much separate entities and both operations very much stand on their own two feet. The bottom line was that Bridgestone had never set foot in the shop, so how they were in any way placed to include us remains a mystery. I was amazed at the lack of research in a guide that deems itself to be an expert on all things gastronomic. If they were recommending us, but had no idea what we were like, on what basis do their other recommendations stand? The upshot of it was that I politely asked them just to leave us out of the guide altogether.

Now, Tomas Clancy, I have met you on numerous occasions over our 12 years in business and you keep saying you must come out to visit us, but we still haven't seen you. Dalkey is not that far away, so hop on a dart and we will be glad to see you. We might even open something interesting for you. Then, feel free to exclude us from your various top ten listing as per today's paper!

By the way, the only gripe I would have with the lists is Tesco as the number 1 in multiples. Not sure about that - I know they have a big market share as a result of their bogus half-price promos, but surely Superquinn have a better range? Just sayin'.....

Now back to packing shelves.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Irish Times Wines of the Year

At some stage, I will get my thoughts together on the year gone by, but for now I just want to record the wines of ours that are featured in today's Irish Times. I have known John Wilson for many years now and I have said before I really think he has a great palate and is very fair in his spread of recommendations. His picks from our range this year are a couple of old favourites and a couple of new wines to the list.

Clos Petite Bellane Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2007 - should be €15
"A 50/50 blend of Syrah and Grenache, this is a beautifully made wine with plenty of warm, ripe dark fruits. Unlike many southern Rhones, it also has a lovely clean elegance and soft purity of fruit. Great value and worth seeking out. Try it with grilled or roast pork."




Chinon Les Granges, Bernard Baudry 2008 - €15
"Baudry is one of my favourite producers of Cabernet Franc in the Loire, making wonderfully elegant wines. This has some very intense, pure summer fruits and leafy notes, bound lightly by some dry tannins. It may improve further, but you will find it irresistable now. This would go perfectly with some slightly fatty pork dished, either hot or cold."


Felton Road Pinot Noir, Central Otago 2008 €45
"The current 2008 vintage is drinking beautifully and would go very nicely with a roast goose. Lovely vibrant piquant  dark cherry fruits, smooth on the palate with a light spiciness."

Clos Petite Bellane Cotes du Rhone Villages Valreas "les Echalas" Blanc 2007 €24
"This was one of my star wines of teh summer, a superb rich white wine packed with peaches and apricots, subtle, perfectly judged oak, and a streak of mineral acidity. It fills the mouth with flavour and lingers beautifully. Not cheap, but well worth a splurge. Try it  with full-flavoured fish dishes or grilled chicken."

Other wines in the supplement that you can find chez nous include:

Bisol Prosecco
Grange Dapot Corbieres
Simone Joseph Syrah
Muga Rioja
Chateau du Cedre Cahors
Pellehaut Cotes de Gascogne
Birgit Eichinger Gruner Veltliner
Pieropan Calvarino
Innocent Bystander Moscato
Niepoort LBV
Alamos Malbec


A reasonable sprinkling....now we just need it to stop snowing so that we can sell some wine!