Curious Wines Becomes Exclusive Distributor of Dom Brial Wines in Ireland

press release

Curious Wines Becomes Exclusive Distributor

 of Dom Brial Wines in Ireland

LEADING Irish wine importer Curious Wines has become the exclusive distributor in Ireland of wines from French collective Dom Brial. The Cork-based company has just added two reds, one white and a fortified wine from Dom Brial to its catalogue.

“These are cracking wines produced by a collective that represents around 250 growers cultivating over 2,000 hectares of vineyards in the Côtes du Roussillon. The collective’s vineyards make up a patchwork of terroirs and microclimates, allowing them to plant a wide range of varietals that are suited best to a particular location. We’ve chosen four that are a true expression of the region,” says Mike Kane, Curious Wines’ co-founder and Chief Taster.

The four wines from Dom Brial are (with Mike’s tasting notes):

Dom Brial ‘Les Camines’ Blanc 2022
“A blend of Rhône grapes Grenache Blanc and Viognier, 50/50 in proportion, grown in three distinct terroirs. Harvesting is done at night, with cool fermentation in stainless steel putting the focus firmly on the fruit. This is fresh and lively with aromas of white flowers and tropical fruits, beautifully balanced on the palate. It’s ripe and round with sweet stone fruit flavours and a clean, citrussy finish.”



Dom Brial ‘Les Camines’ Rouge 2021
“A blend of Merlot, Grenache and Syrah, fermented and matured in stainless steel. The three grapes work beautifully together here, the Merlot providing soft tannins and red fruit, the Syrah black fruit and acidity, and the Grenache some savouriness and spice. Supple and fruity, it offers aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and a hint of earthy garrigue, with a summer fruit bowl on the palate, raspberries and damsons providing sweetness and depth, with a dry, elegant finish.”



Dom Brial ‘Mirade’ 2021
“A three-grape blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from a single terroir, Hautes Terrasses — clay terraces with a proliferation of round stones — with no oak involved in the winemaking, just 12 months maturation in steel with further development in bottle. Gorgeously dark in colour, a deep purple-red, the nose is jam-packed with blackcurrant, blackberries and dried fruits, prunes and dates, with prominent herbal characters and earthy notes. The palate is rich in fruit, layers of summer berries and dried black fruit, with a fine tannin structure and minerally texture, hints of smokey meats and fruitcake, and a lithe, precise finish.”



Dom Brial Rivesaltes Ambré Hors d’Age
“Rivesaltes is a sweet, fortified wine. It’s made in a similar way to Port, the addition of grape brandy stopping the fermentation early and leaving the wine higher in sugar and alcohol. There’s a more oxidised effect to Rivesaltes though and for that reason they’re a bit more like Madeira. With a minimum of three years in oak barrels and two years in bottle, this speciality of Dom Brial is such a treat. Golden amber in colour and with thick tears in the glass, the nose is a concentration of sweet dried fruits, toffees and Christmas pudding spices. The balance on the palate is exquisite — viscous and sweet, dried apricot and candied orange combining with vanilla toffee, with a tangy citrus peel acidity and dry, piquant nuttiness giving the wine a savoury dimension and mouth-watering finish.”


Curious Wines is a family owned wine importer based in Cork City. It was founded in 2008 by Mike and Mary Kane as a more open, fun and approachable wine merchant for trade and private customers. It specialises in lesser known, quality wines that will tantalise the palate of curious wine drinkers in Ireland. The company distributes wine to both consumers and the trade throughout the Republic of Ireland from its headquarters and warehouse on Tramore Road, Cork, and its online shop at www.curiouswines.ie.