Not a lot of people know this, but Mike’s greatest achievement was winning a gold medal with the Irish fencing team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He’s also a Michelin-starred chef, having worked as Executive Head Chef at Le Meurice in Paris in the late 90s. And he’s killed a dragon with his bare hands, after it attacked a small school in West Cork and bit his leg off.

All of the above is, of course, completely untrue. What we do know is that he drinks too much wine and gets grumpy when Liverpool lose, which in both cases is quite often these days.

MY WINES OF 2012 by Mike

1. Domaine Ferri Arnaud ‘La Clape’ 2010 €11.99 (6 for 5 until 31st December)

Château la Négly’s top dog, La Porte du Ciel 2008, is the best wine I had the privilege to drink this year – but then, at €100 a bottle, it would need to be. This little cracker from the same winery shares so much of the La Porte’s appeal, though. It’s simply sensational for the price – dark and savoury, silky minerals, complex and beautifully balanced, it draws you in, covers you with a warm blanket and makes everything right with the world. I couldn’t stop smiling.

2. Pago de Cirsus Vendimia Seleccionada 2009 €13.99 (6 for 5 until 31st December)

I said in January this would be the year for Spain, given the quality and value we were seeing at the back end of 2011. Maybe it was self-fulfilling but I could have filled my top 5 with Spanish wines, such was the quality of the new wineries and regions we’ve introduced. The Oak Aged from this winery is the commercial superstar at just over a tenner, but this for me is the jewel in the crown. Thick, unctuous and massively complex, it’s a €20 wine for a lot, lot less.

3. Tiger Horse Old Vine Cinsault 2011 Normally €9.99, on sale €7.99

I’ve an old pair of Timberland boots, bought in Boston in 1994, and still going. They’ve been up most of Ireland’s mountains, across fields, bogs, rivers, walked on many foreign soils, and streets, and bars, and now in their middle age, my garden. They smell just like this wine: muck, sweat, a bit of farmyard and a whole compost heap of earthy goodness. It is ridiculously characterful and tasty for the price and so nearly my wine of the year.

4. Solonio Rea Silvia 2010 Normally €12.99, on sale €9.99

As I tend to drink more red, this is my type of white – rich and full bodied, with lovely ripe stone-fruit and soft savoury spice, and a buttery mouthfeel that concentrates all the flavour so that it doesn’t disappear instantly like so many lighter whites. I had melon, butterscotch and apple crumble in my tasting notes for this, and that’s the appeal – it’s got so much going on and just makes you feel good.

5. Castelo de Medina Verdejo 2011 €11.99 (6 for 5 until 31st December)

As with the Pago de Cirsus, the Real Castelo from Castelo de Medina is the commercial superstar, but this is the queen bee from this Rueda winery. It’s beautifully weighted, with tons of sweet fruit like pear and apricot but with an underlying savouriness and beguiling complexity, with hints of herbs, floral and spice. When we’ve bored people at home with The Ned, this is the wine we bring out.

Rose joined the Curious Wines team this year, bringing with her years of experience in hospitality, marketing and PR. She has played an important role in expanding the commercial side of the business, as well as buying into the values of a company that prides itself on making curious people happy.

Rose has brought her own resourcefulness, personality and drive to the organisation, whilst having plenty of fun in the process. Naturally!

MY WINES OF 2012 by Rose

1. Real Castelo Rueda Verdejo 2011 €10.99 (6 for 5 until 31st December)

Me and my mum’s favourite wine to come in this year. I love, love, love this wine and the price is so reasonable for what you get. It is a fresh, vibrant and fruity juice, bursting with tastes of banana, passion fruit and pineapple, and a softness that makes it so easy to drink. Would happily drink this with a group of friends all night, matches well with food also.

2. Moulin de Gassac Classic Blanc 2010 Normally €8.99, on sale €7.19

This is a fab, everyday wine that I would keep in my fridge at all times.
It’s a dry and fruity blend of three grapes including Sauvignon Blanc from the Languedoc. It has a perfect acid-fruit balance, which makes it crisp and fresh and an excellent food wine. Great to sip as an aperitif before dinner or match with fish or seafood.

3. Philippe Girard Silex Sancerre 2010 €23.00

Sancerre is my favourite wine due to the fabulous minerality of the soils of the Loire. This particular Sancerre is crisp and dry and has a scrumptious stone-fruit flavour with amazing minerality which stays with you long after your initial sip. Sancerre is paired well with shellfish and seafood, this particular beauty is recommended with river fish such as trout and goats cheese. Go on, treat yourself!

4. Pago de Cirsus Oak Aged 2010 €10.99 (6 for 5 until 31st December)

I’m loving Spanish wines at the moment, and this little beauty from Navarra (region next to Rioja) will impress you. It’s a great gift idea, too, as the appearance of the bottle and superior taste of the wine comes across as something picked from the fine wine section. A full bodied red with ripe cherry and red fruit flavours combined with vanilla and roasted coffee. One of this year’s winners!

5. Santa Alicia Reserva Carménère 2009 Normally €9.99, on sale €7.99

Wow, what great value for its buck! When I first tried this Carmenere, I was blown away by the black fruit flavours of rich plum and black cherry, accompanied by a nice toasted, oaky element. The delicious aftertaste lingers and what girl doesn’t love chocolate! A fabulous winter wine for indulging in next to a roaring fire, mmmm.

As his parents and siblings can attest, Matt was a difficult child growing up. Excitable, restless and easily agitated, he was nicknamed ‘the not-so-genius Evil Genius’ by his younger brother, David, who’s revenge was exacted on Matt’s stag weekend back in April (pictured).

Since putting those difficult early years behind him, Matt has grown into a rather affable chap who, along with wine and customer service, has developed a deep passion and disturbingly constant hankering for triple chocolate fudge cake.

MY WINES OF 2012 by Matt

1. Bozeto de Exopto Rioja 2010 €12.49 (6 for 5 until 31st December)

Initially, it was the critical acclaim Bodegas Exopto was receiving from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate that got my attention, but our own sampling was what sealed the deal to bring the wines of this small producer to Ireland. Winemaker Tom Puyaubert is a native of Bordeaux, and his expert use of quality French oak in his Spanish wines are there for all to see. Bozeto is a young wine showing hedgerow fruit and a squeeze of sweet blackcurrant, with peppery, floral overtones.

2. Santa Alicia Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2011 Normally €12.99, on sale €10.39

This is the type of wine that would make any member of the ABC (anything but Chardonnay) club choke on their Pinot Grigio. Forget the over-extracted, all-butter and no-balance Chardonnay of the nineties. With the judicious use of oak, the team at Santa Alicia have handcrafted a wine that a top Burgundy producer would be proud of, and charge a lot more for. Subtle tropical fruit, a sprinkle of spice and a lick of butterscotch complete the package.

3. Bleasdale ‘Frank Potts’ 2009 €22.00

A close runner to Woodstock’s Shiraz Cabernet for my more indulgent pick of the year, but if you’re comfortable veering away from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, check out this amazing red blend from Langhorne Creek. Frank Potts possesses a certain Bordeaux character. Cabernet dominates, and despite signature Australian richness of luscious blackcurrant, sweet chocolate and savoury oak, it retains the poise, class and elegance of its Old World counterparts.

4. Casas de Herencia Tinto Barrica Normally €8.99, on sale €7.19

We’re always on the hunt for something amazing that the wider wine drinking population has yet to stumble upon. The Valencia region as a whole has probably been our star find this year, and Bodegas Arraez ticks all the right boxes. This inexpensive red blend has had eight months to mature in oak, which is a considerable investment at this price level. Smooth and fruity, it possesses that warming rustic edge we all love in Spanish wine.

5. Montaria Branco 2011 €8.99

Two of the things that appeal to me about Portugal are the interesting grape varieties they use and the potential of wine producing regions like Alentejo, from where this wine is sourced. The Montaria Branco is delightfully different, yet consolingly familiar. The grape varieties Arinto and Antão Vaz produce a characterful and versatile white displaying crisp citrus and soft stone fruit flavours. This is a well made wine with tons of appeal.