Wine

An all-time favourite at Bubble Brothers and fantastic value.

Ripe and juicy with good weight, moderate tannins and attractive notes of sweet blackberry, farmyard and thyme in a fresh, attractive red. Impressive length and complexity for a wine at this price.

The judges at the Paris Concours Général Agricole regularly award the estate's wines in recognition of their overall excellence and exemplary Cabardès character.

‘This is another wine that won me over on the first sniff: its delicious sweet farmyard scent giving way to a well-weighted medium mouthful’.
Blake Creedon, Irish Examiner, January 2012

The Cabardès appellation was established only in 1999 and covers red and rosé wines made in the hills north of Carcassonne. The appellation's slogan “Vent d'Est, Vent d'Ouest” reflects its catchment area: on the climatic border between balmy Languedoc-Roussillon and the more inclement South-West, in the foothills of the Montagne Noir. This double identity is manifested in the grape varieties which make up the appellation's wines: Grenache and Syrah from the Mediterranean; Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, and Merlot, from the Atlantic side. The result is some unique wines, the majority of which are red.

The Jouclary history goes back as far as 1530, when Guilhaume de Jouclary was the Consul of Carcassonne. Pascal Gianesini, succeeding his father Robert who took over the estate in 1969, is currently in charge of coaxing out its wonderful, expressive wines.

Gorgeously fruity, fresh white with an exuberant nose of passionfruit, hawthorn and honey, followed by a medium-bodied, zingy palate of citrus fruits. Clean, minerally finish with the faintest suggestion of maritime Galicia.

Enjoy this perennial customer and staff favourite with seafood or as an aperitif.

“Full on flavours of gooseberry, peaches, and white flowers. Inviting creaminess.”

Decanter World Wine Awards , Silver Medal (2010 vintage)

Peñín Guide 2012 - Silver Medal, 86/100

“Pale gold. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying fresh Meyer lemon and green apple scents that give way to a deeper melon quality on the back half. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a touch of honeysuckle. The floral quality carries through a long, mineral-tinged finish that emphatically echoes the orchard fruit note.”
Vinous, 90/100 (May 2017, 2015 vintage)

“Aromas of fresh citrus fruits, crushed vitamins and nectarine are pleasant and welcoming. This offers good acidic cut and overall balance. Flavors of stone fruits focus on apricot and nectarine, while the finish is elegant.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points (December 2016, 2015 vintage)

Albariño is synonymous with the rainy DO of Rías Baixas in north-west Spain, where it accounts for 90% of all plantings. Officially, 12 varieties are allowed in the DO, but little is seen of the other whites - Loureiro, Caiño blanco, Treixadura, Godello, Torrontés - and less again of the six permitted red grapes.

Expressively scented Piedmont red with juicy black cherry, sweet blueberry, and dark chocolate notes. Inky and concentrated, with a sleek texture, seductive style and superb length.

There's good, muscular concentration and balance with the typical acidity of Barbera keeping this a refreshing, appetizing wine throughout a meal.

Barbera d'Asti is always made from Barbera, which is Italy’s third most planted red grape variety after Sangiovese and Montepulciano.

It was given DOC (appellation) status in 1970, and was upgraded to the top DOCG tier in 2008. Under the rules, at least 85% Barbera must be used; the balance may be made up with Freisa, Grignolino or Dolcetto grapes.

Lightly-oaked, pure Tempranillo with medium body, soft tannins and ripe flavours of soft fruits, brown sugar and a pinch of allspice.

Plenty of fresh raspberry and strawberry notes make this an easy-going wine to be enjoyed on its own or with a wide range of savoury foods. The hint of oak gives it just enough depth to make an ideal table wine for vegetable, poultry and pork dishes too.

Bodegas Altanza, located in Rioja Alta, was established by a group of wine-loving businessmen in 1988. It has a modern approach to winemaking and its wines are known for their keen price-quality ratio.

Intense, lemony Touraine with lip-smacking freshness and oodles of grapefruit, gooseberry, and nettle flavours. Clean and bright, with nice weight for this style.
Drink as an aperitif or with salads, tangy cheeses (e.g. goat's), fish, chicken, or curry.

The 2018 vintage was awarded a gold medal at the 2019 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon.

Christophe Godet and his wife Nathalie manage the day-to-day running of the vineyards and cellar.

‘…elegant, moderately pungent, with a lovely mineral streak’
Tom Doorley, Irish Mail on Sunday, May 2020

‘This Touraine Sauvignon is slightly softer than others, making it a bit easier to drink without food. It has flavours of apple, citrus and peppery spice with a lovely mineral acidity. A good alternative to pricier Sancerre.’
[2016 vintage] 88/100 James Button, Decanter, March 2017

An extravagant bouquet of sweet spices and pepper, followed by a full-throttle, firm-tannined wash of ripe blackberry, menthol and minerals. A very serious wine! So treat like a Bordeaux, and aerate well, before enjoying alongside roast beef, mature cheeses or chargrilled vegetables.

Cabardès is a relatively small red-and-rosé appellation in the hills north of Carcassonne. Its catchment area is on the climatic border between balmy Languedoc-Roussillon and the more inclement South-West, in the foothills of the Montagne Noir. This double identity is manifested in the grape varieties which make up the appellation's wines: Grenache and Syrah from the SE; Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, and Merlot, from the SW/Bordeaux. The result is some genuinely unique wines, the majority of which are red.

‘At this price it's a steal!’
Mary Dowey, The Irish Times

Because bad weather drastically reduced yields in Sancerre in the 2021 vintage, 75 cl bottles of the Cherrier family's Sancerre are unavailable until further notice.

A perennial favourite, this delicately flavoured, chalky, French Sauvignon is fresh and lively on the palate with intense flavours of grapefruit, herbs and green apple.

Sancerre and goat’s cheese is a match made in heaven, although the wine goes very well too with light-bodied fish like sole, or a simple roast chicken.

Sancerre is the Loire’s most famous appellation, producing distinctively smoky, flinty Sauvignon. In the Eastern Loire, in fact, many people refer to Sauvignon as blanc fumé.

Until phylloxera wiped out most of the vineyards in the mid nineteenth century, Sancerre grew mostly red grapes Gamay and Pinot Noir. But, in the aftermath of the louse infestation, Sauvignon proved more amenable to grafting than these red varieties, and so it subsequently surged ahead of its two dark-skinned rivals. (The rest is history!)

Limestone and flint are the two most important soil types in Sancerre, both having great heat-retaining and light-reflecting properties, which help the grapes to ripen in what is viticulturally a cold region.

Intense red colour with fresh, healthy fruit aromas and a hint of oak. Well rounded on the palate, this aromatic red has ripe concentration, with notes of black cherry, blackberry, liquorice and tobacco. The firm tannins fade into a long, spicy finish. Vinified in stainless steel tanks before a light oaking (twelve months) in French and American barrels.

Good with all sorts of food, this is a superb match for barbecued meats, roast lamb, and kebabs.

92/100 James Suckling
90/100 SILVER Gilbert & Gaillard 2019, blind tasting
90/100 Josh Reynolds, Vinous
90/100 Tim Atkin Report 2021

Fashionable, medium-bodied and refreshingly mineral Languedoc white, full of fresh aromas and flavours of apple, grapefruit, and wet stones. Supple and invigorating, with a dry, briny finish, it's a great aperitif or seafood wine.

‘Picpoul de Pinet will be familiar to any of you who travel to the Languedoc, where it is the perfect partner for all things fishy. It seems to be growing in popularity here too. This fine example has lots of clean, zippy, citrus and green apple fruits with a refreshing minerality. Perfect on its own or with seafood.’
John Wilson, Irish Times, April 2012

Picpoul Blanc is the grape of Picpoul de Pinet, one of the named 'crus' of the Coteaux du Languedoc in the south of France. Picpoul means ‘lip stinger’, in reference to the variety's potentially formidable acidity. Instead of acidity or, indeed, stung lips, the wine trade prefers to talk about Picpoul's ‘freshness’, ‘verve’, and ‘attractive liveliness’.

This is an excellent basic Bordeaux whose easy charm and fruity, herb-scented attack suits all kinds of meals.

It's a true everyday wine, with relatively low alcohol and pleasant vanilla character enhancing the decent finish. Made from vineyards in the Entre-deux-Mers appellation, its blend of grapes is mostly Merlot for smoothness, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc add spice and structure to the blend.

The wine is named for an eleventh century monk, one of the first to join the abbot Saint-Gérard at the abbey of La Sauve Majeure and a passionate viticulturalist in addition to his monastic calling.

There is no mistaking the commitment of the Purato range—certified carbon neutral— to minimizing the environmental impact of its excellent everyday wines.

Not only are the wines themselves made from organically grown grapes, but the bottles, labels and cartons for the range are as far as possible made from recycled materials, with pure vegetable inks used in printing.

The blending of the two grapes: indigenous Catarratto with Pinot Grigio creates an enjoyable, everyday drinking wine that delivers intense aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, with a crisp, lively fruit character on the palate too. This is a perfect wine for seafood or as an appetizer—or why not get into the spirit of the Purato project and try it with some locally produced organic fare?

‘…this Sicilian white is all about freshness’
Tom Doorley, Irish Mail on Sunday, May 2020

The appassimento method of making wine from grapes dried in the sun is a way of adding texture and raisiny intensity to the fresh fruit flavours of the juice.

The most famous wines made by this method are probably the Amarones and Valpolicella Ripassos of the Veneto region of northern Italy, but there is a similar tradition in Sicily, and this luscious red demonstrates that the island's indigenous Nero d'Avola is also an excellent candidate for the drying treatment.

Because the grapes for 'Siccari' (a dialect word for 'sun-dried') come from the relatively higher and cooler vineyards of Sicily's south-east, there's an invigorating freshness in the fruit that balances the enriching, concentrating influence of the appassimento.

The result is a voluptuous but not overpowering wine, silky-smooth and succulent, with plum and cherry character and just a hint of residual sugar. It's a perfect, full-flavoured partner for meat dishes, and its rich, very slightly off-dry finish and gentle tannins make it ideal with good cheese too.

DRINK OF THE WEEK ‘…smooth and round but not in any way jammy. Layered, intense, lovely’
Tom Doorley, Irish Mail on Sunday, May 2020

A generous and structured Tempranillo from the popular Ribera del Duero region in north central Spain.

As well as direct, fruity aromas of blackberries and plums, there are evocative hints of warm caramel from the five months' oak ageing that makes this wine a roble and dark, inky scents too.

In the mouth, its flavours are full, fruity and lasting, with rounded tannins and a final flourish of that inky depth.

Medium-bodied French Malbec, really juicy and fresh with mild tannins and attractive, gently spicy dark fruit flavours. You may find notes of leather and black olive too.
Though you can drink this on its own very easily, it works best—deliciously well—with casseroles, roasts and barbeques.

The wines of Cahors can be burly enough in general (not for nothing is one of the estate's specialities given the time-honoured title of 'the black wine') but this Esprit de Flore, Jean-Luc Baldes' fine, early-drinking example, is made entirely from young-vine fruit and so offers a soft, smooth and very approachable take on the style.

Supple and ripe with juicy flavours of plum jam, liquorice, Mediterranean herbs and cocoa. Medium-to-full body, with moderate acidity and light tannins.

Mas des Bressades was one of our first acquisitions, and Cyril Marès's wines have not failed to delight us in each successive vintage.

The Costières de Nîmes, the Rhône’s southernmost appellation, was previously called Costières du Gard before a name change in 1989. Until 2004 it was considered part of the Languedoc, but today it is included in the Rhône.

The Costières de Nîmes was settled by veterans of Julius Caesar's campaigns in Egypt, and today's bottles from the appellation bear the unlikely symbol of the Roman settlement: a crocodile chained to a palm tree.

A rich and satisfying reserva from Portugal, with intense ruby colour and floral and toasty hints woven through its rich fruit aromas.

There’s lovely balance in the mouth, the added complexity of old vines, a mellow, velvety texture and soft, discreet tannins rounding off an accomplished bottle.

An approachable Rhône blend, fruity and plump, with a beguiling flavour profile of grapefruit, pear, summer wheat, almond and lemon zest.

It's fresh and crisp, so good as an aperitif, or with fish, poultry or salads.

Ten per cent of the blend is fermented in new oak barrels, with lees-stirring, for added richness and complexity.

‘La Vieille Ferme produces exuberant and delicious wines’
James Suckling, The Wine Spectator

‘This is a wine for those who want great quality and delicious drinking’
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

‘A pleasure to taste something you know that's good—excellent value’
Decanter

Made from selected grapes from the Valpolicella hills, this cherry-and-damson scented wine is light and fruity, with barely-there tannins and a clean, fresh finish—a beautiful option for warm summer evenings.

'You wouldn’t normally expect much of a Valpolicella unless it were at least a superiore, but here’s a basic level one that’s head and shoulders ahead of its peers: lovely cherry and vanilla on the nose and lipsmackingly tart and savoury on the palate.'
Blake Creedon, Irish Examiner, January 2012

The Tezza family's 25-hectare estate is just outside the historic heart of Valpolicella in the sheltered microclimate of the Valpantena valley. Their cantina is an intriguing mix of modern and traditional, with ancient cement cisterns alongside gleaming steel vats and giant oak casks. Some of the vines are planted in the classic pergola method, where the grapes hang high, protected from both sun and humidity, while the rest have been converted to the much lower French guyot system, which is tantamount to heresy for old-fashioned winemakers.

The three Tezza brothers began their winery in 1965, and now it is run by their three sons, cousins Flavio, Vanio and Federico. Vanio says: "We are against the present trend of a dolce Valpolicella and Amarone, which many winemakers seem to think the market wants, and we prefer to produce wines to our own principles, with plenty of tannin to age well, and drier."

Guardian travel article here.

GOLD MEDAL, MACON 2019

Our range of wines from the Languedoc continues to grow with the return of a smooth, rich red from the Fitou appellation.

Given an hour or so to breathe, it brings together aromas of herbs, roads sizzling in the sun, and rich, spicy fruit. In the mouth it's supple and balanced, with more of those rich, satisfying fruits and underlying suggestions of vanilla, liquorice and black pepper.

Not quite a holiday in a bottle, but definitely a mini-break!