View Full Version : The Wine & Whisky Thread
If theres one thing i cant stand its racial stereotypes.
So how many whippets do you own Andre?
Rare Bird
01-01-2011, 22:29
If theres one thing i cant stand its racial stereotypes.
So how many whippets do you own Andre?
Col again thats a Lancashire thing
when i go to Brighton and drink to much red wine i always wake up with sore arse:scratch:
Jac Hawk
01-01-2011, 22:39
Col again thats a Lancashire thing
Sorry mate my info regarding black pud and flat caps, comes from the Goodies, if you can remember the show. And as far as being tight goes yorkies and scotts share that trait it's a well known fact. :trust:
Jac Hawk
01-01-2011, 22:40
when i go to Brighton and drink to much red wine i always wake up with sore arse:scratch:
Brighton you say, doesn't brighton have a thriving gay community :lolsign:
Col again thats a Lancashire thing
Reminds me when trainspotting came out and people telling me " i cant understand a word with all those glasgow accents:rolleyes:
Rare Bird
01-01-2011, 22:42
Sorry mate my info regarding black pud and flat caps, comes from the Goodies, if you can remember the show. And as far as being tight goes yorkies and scotts share that trait it's a well known fact. :trust:
I can assure you (Being a Yorksire man) your wrang ;) Bill oddie is a Lancashire man btw
Rare Bird
01-01-2011, 22:42
when i go to Brighton and drink to much red wine i always wake up with sore arse:scratch:
:lolsign:
when i go to Brighton and drink to much red wine i always wake up with sore arse:scratch:
Have you forgotten about that gay party you gatecrashed, where you met 'Simon' and his unfeasibly large sausage? :lol: :eyebrows:
Marco.
Have you forgotten about that gay party you gatecrashed, where you met 'Simon' and his unfeasibly large sausage? :lol: :eyebrows:
Marco.
the bastard told me he was a butcher and his sausage was the finest in the land, toad in the hole took on a very different meaning as for the batter.....
Rare Bird
01-01-2011, 22:59
the bastard told me he was a butcher and his sausage was the finest in the land, toad in the hole took on a very different meaning as for the batter.....
:lolsign:
To return to topic:
2008 Château Vieux Manoir Bordeaux Supérieur.
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/152964.jpg
Situated in the Entre-Deux Mers region this wine uses Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon grapes.
"Cherry, cedar, leather with a very dry finish. Dry tannins and slightly chalky".
The redoubtable Jancis Robinson strongly advises this wine should only be drunk with food and not on its own! I'm inclined to agree.
Decant and allow to breath for an hour. Must be served at the correct temperature 17 - 18°C.
£6.99 Co-op
Some of the alcohol that passed my lips during the past fortnight or so:
2005 Château de Lyde
2006 Magon
2006 St Joseph
2008 Château Neuf du Pape, Rhône
2006 Bourgogne Hautes - Côtes de Nuits
2001 Castillo San Lorenzo , Gran Reserva Rioja
2005 Château Castelbruck , Margaux
2006 Albeisa Barolo
2007 Bastides de Garille Cabardès
2005 Château L'Argenteyre, Médoc
A couple of bottles of 2008 Dino, Pinot Grigio
and at Marco's, a rather fine
2006 Château les Eyguem, Margaux.
Several bottles of either Conwy Brewery 'Welsh Pride' or 'Honey Beer', a few pints of 'Speckled Hen', 'London Pride', 'The Reverend James' or Marstons 'Pedigree'.
Most of a bottle of Aberlour 10yr malt, several aperitifs of Raki with water and a similar number of digestifes of Janneau 'Napoleon' Armagnac.
Jac Hawk
06-01-2011, 01:38
Not beer or wine but i just got another bottle of La Fee Absinthe 140 proof and not to be taken lightly, very nice drink though if you like anaseed, you can now get it from amazon too:):):)
http://www.lafeeabsinthe.com/images/stories/b-parisenne.jpg So i think i'll go and hack my left ear off :)
Rare Bird
06-01-2011, 02:37
What the hang over front like Mike?
Jac Hawk
06-01-2011, 22:42
What the hang over front like Mike?
Well i'll let you know when i sober up mate :eek:
plus it has wormwood in it, which aparently has an helusenogenic effect, gives you some real wird dreams.:eek:
Well i'll let you know when i sober up mate :eek:
plus it has wormwood in it, which aparently has an helusenogenic effect, gives you some real wird dreams.:eek:
And badly affects one's spelling!
Jac Hawk
06-01-2011, 23:45
And badly affects one's spelling!
True and i'm only onto my second glass:eek::eek::eek::eek:
in the words of earnest hemingway "got tight last night on absinthe and did knife tricks"
not a drink to be taken lightly:cool::cool::cool:
The Grand Wazoo
09-01-2011, 17:48
I've spent the last 5 hours driving, so I've put my feet up & poured myself a well earned glass of Brakspear's Triple.
http://hywelsbiglog.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/spm_a2231.jpg?w=450&h=600
I've spent the last 5 hours driving, so I've put my feet up & poured myself a well earned glass of Brakspear's Triple.
http://hywelsbiglog.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/spm_a2231.jpg?w=450&h=600
7.2% ! It wouldn’t take that many bottles to put me under the table.
In turn let me introduce you to the
2006 Château de l’Estang, Côtes de Castellion, Domain: Vinyards Bocquillon.
http://pmcdn.priceminister.com/photo/295142725_ML.jpg
Composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Suvignon. Situated 45km east of the city of Bordeaux, this is a new AOC, only designated since 1989.
“Medium bodied, with a long silky finish”, the 2006 scores 85-87/100.
Can be drunk now but would benefit from laying down for 3-4 years.
£9 from the Co-op.
Attention all whisky lovers, especially those that enjoy Islay malts:
http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/ProductImage.aspx?pc=LRGOB.10YOV1&w=270
My local Coop is selling the 70cl Laphroaig Islay single malt for less than £20! The offer ends 18.01.11, so hurry - at that price I bought two!
The Grand Wazoo
14-01-2011, 19:55
For Christmas I was given a bottle of the Quarter Cask that I think both of us enjoyed so much last year Barry. Having a snifter is a tough choice in this house at the moment, what with that & the Arbelour sitting side by side in the cupboard!
For Christmas I was given a bottle of the Quarter Cask that I think both of us enjoyed so much last year Barry. Having a snifter is a tough choice in this house at the moment, what with that & the Arbelour sitting side by side in the cupboard!
Haha! - It's a tough choice Chris, but someone's got to make it! ;) I'm in a similar position myself.
Regards
Rare Bird
30-01-2011, 15:46
Any home brewers of beer here? if so i'll get cracking with a fresh Topic!
To be ‘laid down’ for a couple of years:
2009 Chateau Dubois Gramond Bordeaux
http://www.cavusvinifera.com/fr/watermark.php?idcru=12123
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Chateau la Picherie Montgne Saint-Émilion
http://www.nectarwineclub.com/images/products/60628b.jpg
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Chateau Rollin Haute-Médoc
http://www.bawineclub.co.uk/images/products/62636b.jpg
Cabernet Sauvignon
All around £16 a bottle
Nice, Barry. Just in case you hadn't noticed, the Castello San Lorenzo Rioja Reserva is back on offer at Tesco - half price again, but the original price had gone up 10%... Still, at £5.24 a bottle it is still a bargain.
Nice, Barry. Just in case you hadn't noticed, the Castello San Lorenzo Rioja Reserva is back on offer at Tesco - half price again, but the original price had gone up 10%... Still, at £5.24 a bottle it is still a bargain.
Good call Alex!
I haven't visited my Tesco for about six weeks now. Good job I spotted your post this morning before I went shopping. Needless to say, I have 'stocked up'. The offer ends 22.02.11, so time enough for a few more. Verily my 'cellar' runeth over! ;)
Personally I think the San Lorenzo Reserva is better than the Berberana. :)
Thanks
Regards
I have 'stocked up'
Excellent!
Personally I think the San Lorenzo Reserva is better than the Berberana. :)
I'd agree, my wife prefers the more oaky Berberana, but to be honest we're not fussy when either are on offer! ;)
Nice reccos, Barry - noted :)
Sorry, but I have to chuckle at "Chateau la Picherie" (pron: peesherie). I can't help thinking of pissoirs, where one would take a 'pich' (peesh) :lol: :eyebrows:
I believe that wine may have considerable 'lime' content! :lolsign:
Marco.
Hi Marco,
I realise my post on the clarets was somewhat scant and probably not very informative. I’ll try to put that right by expanding what I know about them.
Château Dubois Gramont 2009, Bordeaux AOC
Situated in Blaye, across the river from the Médoc cru of Margaux. 2009 was by all accounts a very good year for Bordeaux. A mixture of largely Merlot and a little Cabernet Sauvignon grape: the Merlot providing soft, ripe summer fruits and the Cabernet blackcurrant notes.
Can be drunk now but will benefit from cellaring for a couple of years, allowing more complex savoury notes to develop. 12.5% ABV. Drink by end 2015. This wine works out at £8 a bottle.
Château La Picherie 2006, Montagne-Saint-Emilion AOC
There is nothing lavatorial or even ‘fishy’ (;)) about this small family-run estate of 3.5ha. The vines are 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged between 30 and 80 years.
Deep plum and black cherry flavours. A few years cellaring will allow the wine to take on more complex notes. Drink by 2016. £16 a bottle
Château Rollin 2009, Haut-Médoc AOC
A petit vin from a family estate adjacent to Paulliac. Again this is a 2009 Bordeaux and one that I am looking forward to drinking in a couple of years time. Drink by 2016, 13.5% ABV. £14 a bottle
I ordered all these wines from Laithwaites.
Regards
Ok down at the scratter's end of the scale...
My local coop is selling;
Poggio Castagno Chianti Riserva 2007 @ £4.99
... allegedly half price :eyebrows:
Not sure I'd pay £10 for it, but at a fiver it's very good value, and very drinkable
:cool:
Rare Bird
11-02-2011, 19:17
Trouble with Red Wine is it's moreish to me i end up supping 4 bottles & getting hammered..pouring it in a pint pot don't help :lolsign:
Ok chaps off down the club for a good sesh, i'll try disconnect my arse from this chair... :cool:
Just about to sit down for tonight's repast, which is roast wild Scottish grouse wrapped in Bayonne ham, in Sauce Albert on a bed of braised Savoy cabbage and celeriac mash with Pommes Dauphinoise, garlic-infused fine green beans and steamed asparagus tips, drizzled with Jersey butter.
For anyone interested, the grouse is from Donald Russell (phenomenal quality on-line butchers): http://www.donaldrussell.com/pages/product/product.asp?prod=oven-ready-whole-grouse-G933&ctgry=ShopByCategory_Butchers&cookie%5Ftest=1
We're having this cheeky little chap with it....
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5170/terrefortbellegraveprod.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/i/terrefortbellegraveprod.jpg/)
:cheers:
Laters!
Marco.
I'm about to have me tea, which will be a spam butty washed down with a can of dandelion and burdock.
;)
Arr, it's tough down there in Derbyshire... I thought it was your turn for the bone this week, Keith? :eyebrows:
Marco.
S'ok, I'll send a doggy-bag down ;)
Marco.
Just about to sit down for tonight's repast, which is roast wild Scottish grouse wrapped in Bayonne ham, in Sauce Albert on a bed of braised Savoy cabbage and celeriac mash with Pommes Dauphinoise, garlic-infused fine green beans and steamed asparagus tips, drizzled with Jersey butter.
For anyone interested, the grouse is from Donald Russell (phenomenal quality on-line butchers): http://www.donaldrussell.com/pages/product/product.asp?prod=oven-ready-whole-grouse-G933&ctgry=ShopByCategory_Butchers&cookie%5Ftest=1
We're having this cheeky little chap with it....
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5170/terrefortbellegraveprod.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/i/terrefortbellegraveprod.jpg/)
:cheers:
Laters!
Marco.
Sounds nice and at a reasonable price too! Where did you buy yours from Marco? Sainsburys?
I'm afraid my evening meal tonight was far more prosaic: grilled local butcher-made wild boar and apple sausages; mustard-flavoured mashed potato; braised celery and red pepper; steamed savoy cabbage, asparagus tips (snap! :)), sugar-snap peas and garden peas.
Washed down with Tesco's dependable 2006 Castillo San Lorenzo Rioja Reserva.
What you had sounds really nice, Barry - nothing prosaic about it, yum yum! :)
As it's Valentines night tonight, and we detest mingling with the rabble in restaurants paying though the nose for some rather vulgar 'themed dinner', most of which Del likely couldn't eat, I went into Chester today to our favourite French delicatessen and bought her a selection of vegetarian canapés and nibbles (and of course some flowers).
So along with that lot and some smoked salmon blinis, parma ham filled rosemary and sea salt-infused ciabatta, and also some duck liver pâté, we'll snuggle up in front of the log fire instead with some pink Champers, which is in the fridge chilled and ready to go:
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/520/champveu12.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/champveu12.jpg/)
:cheers:
Anyone else got any plans for Valentines?
Marco.
Trouble with Red Wine is it's moreish to me i end up supping 4 bottles & getting hammered..pouring it in a pint pot don't help :lolsign:
I have the same problem with the overly large wine glasses that are popular over here, I had to import some smaller ones from Spain...more like port glasses in size. :cool:
Sounds nice and at a reasonable price too! Where did you buy yours from Marco? Sainsburys?
Sorry, Barry, I missed that. Are you referring to the wine? If so, we bought it in France :)
Jolly nice it was, too!!
Marco.
BTH K10A
14-02-2011, 20:21
Had 2 cases of this in the cellar for 7 or 8 years now.Going to give it a try tonight and see how it's doing
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0834.jpg
Had 2 cases of this in the cellar for 7 or 8 years now.Going to give it a try tonight and see how it's doing
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0834.jpg
Wow! :eek: The going rate for the 2000 1er Cru Beaune Teurons is £1060 a case, or £88 a bottle!
Enjoy
Respect, Andy :youtheman:
However, I hope before you drink it, you decant it properly, serve it at the right temperature in proper glasses for Burgundy, and most of all, enjoy it with a meal that befits its stature! ;)
Marco.
BTH K10A
14-02-2011, 22:13
Respect, Andy :youtheman:
However, I hope before you drink it, you decant it properly, serve it at the right temperature in proper glasses for Burgundy, and most of all, enjoy it with a meal that befits its stature! ;)
Marco.
Hi Marco
Yes, all done properly. :)
It's getting there, maybe a couple more years to reach its best.
Finishing off with Ramos Pinto port. Highly recommended.
Les Coucherias is worth looking out for. It's not bad at all.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0835.jpg
BTH K10A
14-02-2011, 22:26
Wow! :eek: The going rate for the 2000 1er Cru Beaune Teurons is £1060 a case, or £88 a bottle!
Enjoy
I got the Teurons through a mix up. I actually ordered a couple of cases of Les Hospices 1er Cru as I only had one bottle left but recieved the Teurons by mistake. As a goodwill gesture the seller gave me a partial refund and I ended up paying less than £8 per bottle.:):):):):)
I wish I had the self-discipline to lay a wine down for 7 or 8 days, never mind years! :lol:
Sounds like a good evening!
Rare Bird
14-02-2011, 23:10
I wish I had the self-discipline to lay a wine down from walking in the house with it :lol:
Nice outfit, dude - it suits ya. Bet the boots pinch after a while, though! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Rare Bird
15-02-2011, 00:10
Their killing me mate,i'll be glad to get em off
I got the Teurons through a mix up. I actually ordered a couple of cases of Les Hospices 1er Cru as I only had one bottle left but recieved the Teurons by mistake. As a goodwill gesture the seller gave me a partial refund and I ended up paying less than £8 per bottle. :):):):):)
:eek: It's not fair, it's not fair, it's just not fair! :wah::wah:
BTH K10A
15-02-2011, 23:20
For someone who's indifferent about Brut Champagne, I must admit this is pretty good. Not the Cr*p you get from the big houses and keeps well too.
Bought 2 cases of six about 3 years ago. worked out at about £100 or so.
This ones now out of the cellar and being chilled ready for tomorrow. :)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0836.jpg
Just ordered a case of this to lay down for a few years:
2009 Château de Boissac Bordeaux AOC
http://www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk/DWBase/images/products//62853.jpg?d=1
Merlot, 13.5%. To 2016. Around £9 a bottle.
"Deep ruby colour, elegant, complex fruits of the forest aromas, with hints of clovesand vanilla. Smooth, rich and wonderfully structured."
Just to remind you, 2000, 2005 and 2009 were excellent harvests. Many believe 2009 to be the best of the lot!
Barry, you're doing brilliantly recently picking some cracking names of wines!
First we had Chateau 'Pishhouse' (or roughly the equivalent thereof), and now 'Chateau Bo'sac....... :lol:
I take it you know what a bo'sac is? :eyebrows:
Marco.
Barry, you're doing brilliantly recently picking some cracking names of wines!
First we had Chateau 'Pishhouse' (or roughly the equivalent thereof), and now 'Chateau Bo'sac....... :lol:
I take it you know what a bo'sac is? :eyebrows:
Marco.
No not really, but I can guess. Still got a couple of bottles of the 2000 'Vieux Scrotum' left!
BTH K10A
20-02-2011, 09:12
Just ordered a case of this to lay down for a few years:
2009 Château de Boissac Bordeaux AOC
http://www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk/DWBase/images/products//62853.jpg?d=1
Merlot, 13.5%. To 2016. Around £9 a bottle.
"Deep ruby colour, elegant, complex fruits of the forest aromas, with hints of clovesand vanilla. Smooth, rich and wonderfully structured."
Just to remind you, 2000, 2005 and 2009 were excellent harvests. Many believe 2009 to be the best of the lot!
Barry
That's the way to do it, spend £110 or so now and in a few years you can be enjoying not only a better wine but without paying a price inflated by the greedy speculators.
Looks a good choice by the way. :)
chris@panteg
21-02-2011, 00:31
http://www.exmoorales.co.uk/assets/images/b_header_beast.jpg
A night on this stuff , and this morning i discovered why they call it the Beast:spew: lovely pint but jeez .
http://www.exmoorales.co.uk/assets/images/b_header_beast.jpg
A night on this stuff , and this morning i discovered why they call it the Beast:spew: lovely pint but jeez .
Well it is 6.6% ABV. How many pints did you have?
Regards
chris@panteg
22-02-2011, 10:56
Hi Barry
Yes 6.6 and I'm afraid i can't remember to be honest :scratch: trouble is i also had some weak stuff called Blitzen @ a mere 6% , which i didn't care for .
All my drinking buddies were on the Beast and Allan was in a shocking state :eek: and just suddenly disappeared ! poor bugger :eyebrows: he was ok next day though .
Never again :rolleyes::rolleyes:
Tried this one the other week in France for our 20 years wedding anniversary, very very nice indeed, 12 euros a bottle over there
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp272/jonboy_01/DSC_0299.jpg
Rare Bird
20-03-2011, 13:29
Hi Barry
Yes 6.6 and I'm afraid i can't remember to be honest :scratch: trouble is i also had some weak stuff called Blitzen @ a mere 6% , which i didn't care for .
All my drinking buddies were on the Beast and Allan was in a shocking state :eek: and just suddenly disappeared ! poor bugger :eyebrows: he was ok next day though .
Never again :rolleyes::rolleyes:
I love those strong bitters Chris but i consume too much beer in a night it's not a good thing. I've started drinking my old drink again down the pub 'MAGNET'
Mark Grant
30-03-2011, 17:11
Ogio Primitivo 2009
A picture:
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/server9/forum-pictures/ogio-1-DSCF9707.jpg
-
On Saturday we attended a blind wine tasting and this was our favourite wine.
When tasting blind most people thought this was a very good Reserva Rioja, we where all wrong :) It's from Italy.
Imagine your favourite Reserva Rioja with a bit of Borello goodness thrown in :)
Tesco appears to be the UK retailer:
http://www.tesco.com/wine/product/details/default.aspx?searchBox=ogio&id=262489849
A review here on a blog ( with stretched pictures? )
http://winehosguide.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/ogio-primitivo-2009/
Well recommended :) Don't let the plain looking label put you off.
Ogio Primitivo 2009
A picture:
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/server9/forum-pictures/ogio-1-DSCF9707.jpg
-
On Saturday we attended a blind wine tasting and this was our favourite wine.
When tasting blind most people thought this was a very good Reserva Rioja, we where all wrong :) It's from Italy.
Imagine your favourite Reserva Rioja with a bit of Borello goodness thrown in :)
Tesco appears to be the UK retailer:
http://www.tesco.com/wine/product/details/default.aspx?searchBox=ogio&id=262489849
A review here on a blog ( with stretched pictures? )
http://winehosguide.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/ogio-primitivo-2009/
Well recommended :) Don't let the plain looking label put you off.
It is fairly regularly on 1/2 price offers in Tesco's supermarkets, Mark - well worth getting at a fiver! I'm a Rioja lover, and agree that this has some of the traits of good Rioja. :cheers:
The Ogio Pinot Grigio is my favourite white. Failing that, Dino is another good Pinot Grigio.
Both of these are around £9 a bottle, but are often subject to a half price offer in Tesco.
OK, to hold up for East Anglia, Adnam's bitter is a good beer to drink with a meal, or without a meal. Best pint I ever had was at the Nelson in Southwold, but it's good most places in Norfolk and Suffolk. Woodforde's Wherry is also good.
I used to live on Fuller's ESB in the 70s and 80s when I lived in London. Back in the summer day, we used to go to the Dove at Chiswick, take a glass and drink it as we wandered along the river to the next pub, where we got the next. A proper pub crawl. And then there was the Coronet Bar in Soho, later a vegetarian restaurant, which had a cellar bar full of barrels of real ale. Where I learned to love Theakston's Old Peculier.
I love red wine almost indiscriminately, but not allowed it these days. Or the beer really.
OK, to hold up for East Anglia, Adnam's bitter is a good beer to drink with a meal, or without a meal. Best pint I ever had was at the Nelson in Southwold, but it's good most places in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Fond memories of Southwold and the Nelson. Adnams is a great brewery, hopefully won't go the same way as Tolly Cobbold, the empty brewery of which is but a stones-throw from where I am now (my house was built on the land where the Suffolk Punch dray horses used to live.)
Woodforde's Wherry is also good.
More fond memorys - the Fur & Feathers at Woodbastwick (assume it is still going?) which was part of the Woodforde's business, on the same site. Not surprisingly, they used to do a fantastic Steak & Ale pie. That and a couple of pints (or four) of Headcracker and I was done in for the night!
I love red wine almost indiscriminately, but not allowed it these days. Or the beer really.
Sorry to hear that - I guess you just have to cope if you get that sort of diagnosis - really not sure if I could! :eek:
The Grand Wazoo
03-04-2011, 22:29
I used to live on Fuller's ESB in the 70s and 80s when I lived in London. Back in the summer day, we used to go to the Dove at Chiswick, take a glass and drink it as we wandered along the river to the next pub, where we got the next. A proper pub crawl.
Blimey - The Dove!
Port of call before & after every concert I've ever been to at what used to be called the Hammersmith Odeon - is that the same one?
Rare Bird
04-04-2011, 06:37
Only ever been to the Hammersmith Odeon once, i've noticed it has a name change now!
Only ever been to the Hammersmith Odeon once, i've noticed it has a name change now!
Yup, was there 2 weeks ago, it's now the HMV Apollo, was the Hammersmith Apollo after the Odeon too. Folk still call it the Odeon though. Used to be the Gaumont Palace originally and has been called the Carling Apollo too :scratch: .... I love the place, lot's of history on that stage :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammersmith_Apollo
The Grand Wazoo
04-04-2011, 18:05
Blimey - The Dove!
Port of call before & after every concert I've ever been to at what used to be called the Hammersmith Odeon - is that the same one?
Actually,
I know the Odeon's change names several times, what I meant was: Is it the same pub?
Vinyleyes
15-04-2011, 16:01
It's time to get to know this thread a little I think .. :-) I used to drink a lot of red wine .. but with moving away I kind of lost touch with the market. My fave red was always a Château Margaux but it's out of my league now. Since then I found Australian and Chilean reds would do the trick for me and occasionally a full bodied Barolo ... But .. I am out of touch with what is out there now ,,,
Can anyone point me in the direction of a case of full bodied red with a touch of fruit and spice .. that will hold up well with spicy foods, strong cheeses and a rare steak .. ... and any other ideas in fact .. ! I like a nice drop of chilled fruity white .. and the occasional Sauternes .. or other dessert wines .. .. Anything good really that you have found lately .. :cool:
What about a nice Rioja, Brian? Pretty much my favourite, and if you have a Majestic nearby they have a Spanish promotion on, 20% off.
This one is very nice: http://www.majestic.co.uk/find/category-is-Wine/category-is-Spain/Special+Offer-is-Special+Offer/product-is-14199
Vinyleyes
16-04-2011, 05:28
What about a nice Rioja, Brian? Pretty much my favourite, and if you have a Majestic nearby they have a Spanish promotion on, 20% off.
This one is very nice: http://www.majestic.co.uk/find/category-is-Wine/category-is-Spain/Special+Offer-is-Special+Offer/product-is-14199
Thanks Alex ... never been much into Spanish wine .. I like the fuller bodied wines ... but I am willing to be educated .. I will check it out and try a couple when I get back next week .. ;) ..
My drinking is mostly liquid memories now. Intoxication and crutches don't mix and I have enough trouble staying upright when cold stone sober as it is. Years ago I worked in offices based in the Wandsworth Gas Holder Station which overlooked the Young's brewery. We had a bird's eye view of the brewery which had a farmyard atmosphere with the shire horses used for the drays, ducks, geese and of course the brewery ram. The beer wasn't bad either.
In one house I shared was Welshman Keith, rugby and CAMRA fanatic and member of the London Male Welsh Choir. The best drunk driver I've ever known, mind you as the rest of us in the car when Keith was at the wheel were always at least half-cut I guess he would have seemed like Stirling Moss to us. Any and everywhere that served a decent pint in Herts and Bucks was a target. Then there was the mouth watering cold beef salad in the pub at Crickhowel Powys … and when on home soil and he'd oiled his vocal chord's with a few pints, Keith would sing ... all bloody night.
These days its just a few glasses of the red stuff. First Cape Limited Reserve Merlot is the regular on our table for over a year now. Very fruity, very mellow, far too easy to drink. Bought by the case it can be had for under a fiver a bottle.
Pete The Cat
16-04-2011, 07:51
I haven't read the whole thread and am sure that this will have been recommended previously. Amarone is the greatest red wine on the planet in my humble opinion. It was ca 13.5-14% long before the antipodeans began to up the alcohol content and has immense depth and warmth taking it more towards port than wine. Barolo is a good second in my chart.
Thinking about this has made me feel so good that I'm going to sit back and start the thread from page 1... :)
Pete
Vinyleyes
16-04-2011, 15:31
I haven't read the whole thread and am sure that this will have been recommended previously. Amarone is the greatest red wine on the planet in my humble opinion. It was ca 13.5-14% long before the antipodeans began to up the alcohol content and has immense depth and warmth taking it more towards port than wine. Barolo is a good second in my chart.
Thinking about this has made me feel so good that I'm going to sit back and start the thread from page 1... :)
Pete
Yes indeed ... thanks Pete ... I remember that one now .. it must be 10 years since I last had a bottle ... one of the very few reds that do not leave you wanting another glass after you have finished the bottle ..... :cool:
one of the very few reds that do not leave you wanting another glass after you have finished the bottle ..... :cool:
Sorry Brian, I've never found such a wine!
Very nearly picked up an Amarone in Majestic but will wait until next week when my best mate is coming to stay as I know he is a fan.
Instead, just opened another Rioja:
Rioja Reserva 2006 Marqués de Riscal
http://www.majestic.co.uk/Assets/Majestic/Client/products/1/4/2/14210_p.jpg
http://www.majestic.co.uk/find/category-is-Wine/category-is-Spain/category-is-Rioja/product-is-14210
"A classic Rioja with complex aromas of vanilla and toasted oak combined with summer fruit flavours. 90% Tempranillo was sourced from vines aged between 15 and 30 years, and oak-aged for 24 months."
Very, very nice - one of the nicest Riojas I've had in a long time. Normally £14.99, on special at £13.74 but £10.99 when you buy at least 2 as part of a mixed case.
Vinyleyes
16-04-2011, 18:33
Sorry Brian, I've never found such a wine!
HaHa .. :cool:,,,,,,, yes indeed ... It is a VERY seldom occurrence .. and only cos I usually go on to Whisky or something .... ;) ....
That Rioja does look nice .. but my nearest Majestic is over in Beverley ... 30 odd miles away ... still if the weather is nice next week it might be a nice 1st run out of the year for the old TR ... and I'll bet they have an Amarone too .. :cool:
A quick question though .. Do you find Majestic better than the other retailers .. or are they just convenient for you ?
HaHa .. :cool:,,,,,,, yes indeed ... It is a VERY seldom occurrence .. and only cos I usually go on to Whisky or something .... ;) ....
That Rioja does look nice .. but my nearest Majestic is over in Beverley ... 30 odd miles away ... still if the weather is nice next week it might be a nice 1st run out of the year for the old TR ... and I'll bet they have an Amarone too .. :cool:
A quick question though .. Do you find Majestic better than the other retailers .. or are they just convenient for you ?
Only really just started using Majestic the last couple of months as a new store has opened up 5 minutes away - been pleased with it so far, but usually get my wine from Tesco or Sainsbury - we don't really have a decent independent wine seller that I have found, otherwise I would use them. I used to order from Laithwaites but they constantly hassle me with telesales offers which gets on my nerves to be honest!
Rare Bird
22-04-2011, 12:03
Off out later our boozers got sme new Beers in so i just been told :eyebrows:
Anyway don't worry about later this is my last post on AOS, totally nothing in comon with yours truly around here, nothing!
Bye chaps.
Andre, mate - come back soon! :)
Anyway, after having done without alcohol of any description for the last SIX weeks, and with it being Easter Sunday, we decided to have a bit of a splurge... And as it was a beautiful day (25°C during some parts), we ate outside:
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/892/img0612br.jpg (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/img0612br.jpg/)
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/6429/img0613s.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/img0613s.jpg/)
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/3172/img0615h.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/img0615h.jpg/)
Nosh was home-made spinach and ricotta cannelloni, with a salad of rocket, Lollo Rosso and Radicchio, drizzled in Del's 'house dressing', to start.
This was followed by roast pheasant 'Gypsy Style' (roasted in a Le Crusset pot with Bramley apples, white wine, brandy, streaky bacon, fresh thyme, and a touch of cream to finish, accompanied by rosemary and garlic infused new potatoes, mustard seed cauliflower, and steamed asparagus and french beans.
Yum yum... Oh, and the wine was bloody good, too! :cheers:
Marco.
Crabbie's Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer
http://www.drinksdirect.co.uk/acatalog/crabbies_ginger_beer.jpg
Brought by a house guest over the weekend - if you like normal ginger beer then this is a must try - and very moreish... :)
Rare Bird
25-04-2011, 22:32
Nice Making me hungry looking at that cannelloni. :eyebrows:
LOL. We can send some up if you like inside a freezer box.... ;)
Trust me, they were fab. I polished off what was left for lunch today!
Marco.
P.S Alex, I love that Crabbies, too.
P.S Alex, I love that Crabbies, too.
Just got in from a visit to my local. They have the current seasonal brew from Frederic Robinson's (Stockport) - Ginger Tom - a 4.2 percent beer based on their award-winning Old Tom barley wine with added ginger. Superb (far nicer than the Crabbies). The Old Tom is amazing too, but at 8.5 percent (and £4.60 a pint) needs to be treated with some respect. Will sleep well tonight :comatose: :cheers:
Tonight's "leftovers" (thanks again Steve!) - Kopparberg Premium Cider with Strawberry & Lime
http://www.shortersclub.co.uk/images/thumbs/0025947_250.jpeg
My goodness, this is potentially dangerous stuff... imagine a really delicious fruit cordial, strawberry being the main flavour but with no hint of alcohol in the taste - really lovely summery drinking... :) Who knew that the Swedes made great cider?!
Mark Grant
27-04-2011, 11:46
Carta Roja 2004 Gran Reserva
This is on offer at Costcutter, was £10.99 on offer at £4.99 which is cheaper than Sainsburys :)
http://wine.mysupermarket.co.uk/sainsburys-price-comparison/Red_Wine/Carta_Roja_Gran_Reserva_750ml.html
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/server9/forum-pictures/IMG_9778.jpg
Note the creative use of depth of field, I learn from Hamish :) http://www.realphotographersforum.com
It even has a proper old fashioned cork with printing on :)
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/server9/forum-pictures/IMG_9777.jpg
-
That's not a bad drop of Vino, Mark - had some on Monday with our steak...
Tonight's leftovers - erdinger weissbier
http://www.drinksdirect.co.uk/acatalog/erdinger_weissbier.jpg
Not bad - I'd rather have a Hoegaarden though, if I'm honest... But a nice tipple.
Posted this on the Royal Wedding thread, but thought, for relevance, it should also go here... Today's 'scran':
First off, Del had made two lots of the cannelloni (we'd had first of all on Sunday), so we ate the second lot today, freshly made, (and it was so nice, it was no 'hardhship' enjoying it again!):
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5313/img0616ug.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/img0616ug.jpg/)
And then, to follow, Scalloppine al Limone (with Mitze, one of our cats, vying for our attention!):
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/843/img0619ph.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/img0619ph.jpg/)
Veg was steamed asparagus, celery, green beans, purple-sprouting broccoli and baby sweetcorn, with roasted cherry tomatoes in garlic and basil, and potatoes roasted with rosemary. All herbs came from our own garden.
Wine (for the connoisseurs among us) was a rather lovely Barbera d'Asti (full-bodied with nice sharpness and acidity, ideal to compliment white meats), and a chilled Pinot Grigio - both going rather well the veal with lemon sauce.
NOM NOM, slurp, slurp!! :cheers:
Marco.
Reid Malenfant
29-04-2011, 18:21
Damn that looks good food :drool: It just isn't the same when you have to cook it for yourself :doh:
I still enjoy eating my own meals though ;) Oh i forgot the wine, i'd best not drink with a meal or i'd be starting drinking at 3PM rather than 6 :lol:
You'll have to visit sometime then, Mark, and give us a hand to 'clear the table'.... :eyebrows:
We're actually thinking of holding an AoS barbeque/garden party, with music and entertainment (I'm not saying what form the latter will be yet, hehe...!) in the summer, although it may not be in time for this summer, as we're having some work done in the garden (patio and gazebo erected).
But there's enough room on the front lawn to put up a sizeable marquee, and parking at the rear and sides of the house for around a dozen cars... Could be fun! :cool:
Marco.
Tonight's "leftovers" (thanks again Steve!) - Kopparberg Premium Cider with Strawberry & Lime
http://www.shortersclub.co.uk/images/thumbs/0025947_250.jpeg
My goodness, this is potentially dangerous stuff... imagine a really delicious fruit cordial, strawberry being the main flavour but with no hint of alcohol in the taste - really lovely summery drinking... :) Who knew that the Swedes made great cider?!
I've been drinking this as well on a warm evening, it really is very nice and very moorish
Rare Bird
01-05-2011, 11:23
Do more people drink at home these days? I was in the pub from 14:30 - 23:30 yesterday
:comatose:
Yep, dude - it's much cheaper, generally more comfortable, and you don't have to mingle with dafties! ;)
Marco.
Do more people drink at home these days? I was in the pub from 14:30 - 23:30 yesterday
:comatose:
At £2.70 a pint a day's drinking in the pub is a luxury for me nowadays:(
Rich Conroy
02-05-2011, 12:50
Beer
A really good pint of Fullers London Pride. Pride comes before a fall.
Guinness - in the Dublin brewery itself. Best pint of the black stuff I ever had.
Spirits
Whisk(e)y - Black Bush. Black Bush is worth it over the ordinary Bushmills, but the pure malt isn't worth the extra over the BB.
Gin - Bog standard Gordons with Schweppes. In an interview a top bartender stated that it was more important that the tonic was absolutely fresh than which brand of gin you used. He used small cans of Schweppes.
Wine
Red - Barolo. But you'll pay for it.
Also I had a very good bottle of Pinot Noir recently (Redwood Creek, California) from Asda
White - Riesling. Can anyone suggest a good supermarket Riesling? I can't find one.
RC
My brother has this (http://www.bathales.com/ales/gem.html) on pump at the moment in his pub, thoroughly recommended
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp272/jonboy_01/gem.jpg
My brother has this (http://www.bathales.com/ales/gem.html) on pump at the moment in his pub, thoroughly recommended
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp272/jonboy_01/gem.jpg
I had some of that last weekend, very nice pint indeed :)
Rare Bird
18-05-2011, 12:58
I'm off the Beer & on a diet for some time now, I've had pains in my chest for the last few days..I'm probably the heaviest i've ever been to date which kinda makes sence.. :rolleyes:
I don't give two hoots if i dropped dead tomorrow tbh, i've always boozed & other recreational passtimes to excess, i just try keep it in order for the wife.
icehockeyboy
29-05-2011, 20:17
Locally ( to Nottingham) there are a good number of micro breweries, and some of them brewing what has become my favourite type of bitter, which is a "blonde"type bitter, lager-esque in colour, but not in taste.
Nottingham Brewery have a couple of brews that match my criteria, EPA and Rock Bitter, and across at Castle Rock Brewery, ( a former partner of Nottm's Phil Darby) they brew Harvest Pale, a similar blonde bitter to the aforementioned two.
If you like this type of beer, I can recommend all three! :cool:
Rare Bird
02-06-2011, 22:49
O well off the booze didnt last long, three bottles of Red, killer juice at 14%, great stuff very slight taste of Athlete's foot yum yum,
:comatose:
:lol:
How long is not long? I'm currently on the wagon again, don't reckon it will last long either! That said, I am making a concerted effort to cut down so I will still limit myself to weekends. Even so, I could never manage 3 bottles of red without :spew: :spew: :spew: - that's insane, dude!
O well off the booze didnt last long, three bottles of Red, killer juice at 14%, great stuff very slight taste of Athlete's foot yum yum,
:comatose:
Should of gone for the 2004 André. More of 'rugby player jock-strap' with only a hint of 'athlete's foot'.
I'm expecting to be prescribed some antibiotics and will have to be off the sauce (why?). Tonight with a home made dinner of beef stroganoff with wild rice, in my own mushroom sauce, carrots, broccolli, sugarsnap peas, fine beans and sauteed red pepper, I've been slurping a 2006 Tarragona.
2006 Gran Monasterio de Santa Cruz. 60% Monastrell and 40% Granachia. The latter being unusual for a Tarragona, usually known for the use of Tempranello grapes.
Rare Bird
02-06-2011, 23:15
Even so, I could never manage 3 bottles of red without :spew: :spew: :spew: - that's insane, dude!
Just small sips (till the wife goes to bed) :lolsign:
Should of gone for the 2004 André. More of 'rugby player jock-strap' with only a hint of 'athlete's foot'.
That's funny, I had that one, and mine tasted more of fusty tart’s saddle-bag, with a hint of stagnant helmet froth and beaver musk...
Perhaps mine was corked?
Marco.
icehockeyboy
06-06-2011, 22:35
I promised the wife to halve my drinking, so I did. ;)
Now, instead of having a gin and tonic, I just have the gin!
As a certain meerkat once said "Simples!"
As for real ale, there are a fair few brewing wonderful blonde bitter in the East Midlands, two examples : Nottingham Brewery and Rock Bitter and EPA (their version of an IPA), and
Castle Rock and Harvest Pale. :cool:
Thing Fish
06-06-2011, 22:50
I normally go for a good glugger at no less than 13%. Anything less seems a waste of money!
Australian wine normally provides the necessary kick but most new world wines will do. and at around £4.50 or less from my local Indian shop it always hits the spot.
I like a Shiraz or a Merlot with a curry and maybe a cheeky cab/sav with beans on toast. Either way its usually a 2-3 bottle night when I'm not working. much cheaper than the local boozer which can easily be a £35 event.
Either way its usually a 2-3 bottle night when I'm not working.
Wow... You can drink 2-3 bottles of WINE a night??? :eek:
That's serious alchy shit, dude!!
Marco.
Reid Malenfant
07-06-2011, 18:26
I drink the equivalent of around a bottle of whiskey every evening Marco :eyebrows: As long as you restrict it to the evening it doesn't appear to do too much harm, i don't even get hangovers ;) Been at it for 14 years now with only a few breaks of a day or so, i think the record was 5 days & only due to medication that should have had a seriously adverse reaction with alcohol. Turns out that was a load of cobblers to :doh:
I can't say i'm proud of it, i'm just used to it.
Mmm... It's your body and your life, mate, but whatever way you cut it, that ain't good for you.
I'm afraid that all this is an alien world to me, as I only drink is 2-3 glasses of wine occasionally with some meals, and the odd beer, now and again! :eek:
Each to his or her own, but I'm definintely more of a 'quality over quantity' person, when it comes to alcohol. I guess it's the way I've been brought up, and also how people live in Italy :)
Marco.
I've been there Mark, i used to drink myself to sleep every night of the week, just have a glass of red wine with my dinner most nights and have a few beers on the weekend, all though i did fall of the wagon a few weeks ago and sunk loads of whisky, i told my wife i wanted a divorce and i slept on the sofa to annoy her as well, what a twat i am at times :doh: she forgave me again as she knows it's the drink talking and has seen it all before with me, just need to keep clear of the Scotch in big quintities, take it easy Mark though it frys the brain cells ;)
Reid Malenfant
07-06-2011, 20:07
Good point Jon :eyebrows: If i don't drink i don't get to sleep for a couple of nights, by the time the third comes round i'm so wacked nothing stops me.
I agree Marco, i know it's not good but i'm still coherent now & i'm about 2/3 the way there to my usual consumption. I do like good quality stuff & i'll drink that in moderation, but the daily stuff is nowhere near as expensive & i get where i'm going for £3.70 a day :doh:
As mentioned earlier, I think - currently (almost) "on the wagon" - stopped drinking in the week, and cut back at the weekends - for a start, I can't keep flushing money down the toilet (two of us getting through a dozen or so bottles of wine a week, equates to £500 + a month! :eek:) and then I also know it isn't going to do me any good... It just creeps up on you though, and very easy to get into the habit of opening a bottle or two every night... Like Mark, though, I find I can't sleep for the first couple of nights without, by the third morning I can't get up!
Reid Malenfant
07-06-2011, 22:01
Ah well i have added that extra little bit :eyebrows: Unfortunately this happens pretty often :rolleyes:
Another 3/4 pint of 7.5% cider & i'm still reasonably sane, it's still early days to :doh:
Thing Fish
07-06-2011, 22:49
Wow... You can drink 2-3 bottles of WINE a night??? :eek:
That's serious alchy shit, dude!!
Marco.
I do work nights and when I work it can be between 4-14 nights in a row so I don't drink at all. But when I do drink its as stated 2-3 bottles of 13% wine a night. Usually 2 to be honest.
Strange thing is I don't feel too drunk (I know that seems hard to imagine) and I never get hangovers...:confused:
Very nice Côtes du Rhône from one of the great producers - Paul Jaboulet Aîné - Parallèle 45, 2009
http://www.harperwells.com/Images/Uploads/CDR%20Rouge%20Parallele%2045%202007.jpg
http://www.invinitywines.co.uk/products/paul-jaboulet-aine-parallele-45-cotes-du-rhone-2007?utm_source=google-product-search
Excellent value, bursting with fruit and a rounded finish - recommended. :cheers:
I like this thread - there's nothing better than people who make my own alchoholism seem less rampant:lolsign:
I did the http://www.realaletrail.net/ the other weekend and had a great time
would recommend doing it but might be best not at weekends as it does get a bit busy on the train, 10 deep at some of the platforms !
Mark Grant
14-06-2011, 17:38
That link brings up a virus / trojan warning in avast.
Reid Malenfant
16-06-2011, 16:16
Just bought a box of 6 bottles of this stuff for £16.50 (http://www.olivin.co.uk/villa-radiosa-pinot-grigio-p-29.html). Quite nice to, no doubt much better once it's chilled ;)
Not exactly a wine fanatic so it'll take me a while to get though it :)
That link brings up a virus / trojan warning in avast.
really I've had no issues with it Symantec isnt picking it as a problem and the works network which it as secure as you can be has no issues with it.
it the trip that Oz Clarke & James May did on the train from Batley to Stalybridge stopping off at the stations with pubs on them.
Dewsbury was my Fav
Mark Grant
16-06-2011, 22:04
Interesting :)
Avast reports a trojan as soon as link is clicked and blocks access,
AVG online link checker shows threats:
http://www.avgthreatlabs.com/sitereports/domain/?domain=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realaletrail.net&check=
Might just be false positives to try to encourage people to buy better virus software. :)
Having just spent some time in Morocco (based on Marraketch) I can report that there are some fine local wines to be enjoyed there.
The first to attract my attention was a vin gris ('grey wine'). I first came across vin gris in Madagascar; the art of wine making being brought not as you might think by the French but by Swiss missionaries. From memory I would have described this as a tawny coloured wine, darker than vin blanc, more the colour of whisky. But that was nearly twenty years ago.
The vin gris I enjoyed (a 2009 Guerrouane Gris, 12% Cinsault) had a distinct rosé tint, but it was not a rosé; they were listed separately. This vin gris was darker than a rosé. Served chilled (10 degC) it was perfect with barbecued fish.
I also tried a local white: a 2009 Cap Blanc Fruits de Mer Blanc de Blancs. This is made from 'clairette' and 'd'Ugni Blanc' grapes. Perfectly acceptable but not such a delight as finding the gris.
I tried a couple of reds. The first a 2009 Guerrouane Rouge, made from Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Alicante grapes. Perfectly fine with red meats and cheese, but not as good as the:
2008 Vin de Maroc Medallion Rouge, a Vin Vieux Grande Reserve. Marked as a Cabernet, so either Sauvignon or Franc. Bottled by Thalvin au domaine des Ouled Thalbet Bensilmane, this was quite something. A smooth and well structured wine with soft tannins but not a particularly long finish.
All the wines were 13% ABV and worked out at about £12 a bottle with the exception of the last which was about £20 a bottle - still not too bad for hotel and restaurant prices. (The same could not be said for whisky - I paid £6.40 for a good measure, more than a single but not a double!)
The (lager) beers available are also pretty good - I drank 'Casablanca'. Like most African lagers it's 5% strength.
Anyway I'm now home so have just enjoyed a half bottle of 2009 Château Rollin, a Haute-Medoc. Situated next to the Pauillac region this wine is a blend of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot.
griffo104
23-06-2011, 11:21
really I've had no issues with it Symantec isnt picking it as a problem and the works network which it as secure as you can be has no issues with it.
it the trip that Oz Clarke & James May did on the train from Batley to Stalybridge stopping off at the stations with pubs on them.
Dewsbury was my Fav
did the Rail ale trail last year - excellent fun. We started in Dewsbury, great pub. Problem we had was Leeds were playing at home the Sheff Utd so early on the pubs were packed with football fans. My friend leaves near rotherham as well so the train we got in to Leeds was the Shefflied to Leeds train - lots of fun.
We did a coupleof pubs not on the list as a friend had done it the previous month and a couple of them were excellent. these were not the ones closest to the stations. Can't remember the names though - may have had quite a few beers that day :cool:
2008 Chateau Pierrousselle, Bordeaux
Situated in the Entre-Deux-Mers region south-east of Bordeaux. A mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape.
http://www.ginestet.fr/medias/4df7121132d5f/files/medailles/red-wines/bordeaux/686_chateau-pierrousselle-2007-bordeaux-2008.pdf
Available from your local Co-op at £6.50.
Must be served at 18 degC and allowed to breath for at least half an hour, otherwise the wine has a 'dumb' nose and the flavours are suppressed.
An excellent mid week slurp.
Tesco have on half price offer (£4.99):
2010 Ogio Pinot Grigio.
My favourite Pinot Grigio, my second favourite is Dino, also available from Tesco.
Have just enjoyed a couple of glasses of the Ogio, nicely chilled, with some sushi on a bed of mixed salad leaves and chopped watercress.
Which brings me to a question I would like to ask learned readers of this thread: what is the best wine to go with sushi? Please don't all reply "saki" - I'm not over fond of saki and can't be bothered with all the palarvar to serve it at blood temperature.
Any and all recommendations will be most greatfully received. :)
Regards
Hi Barry,
In my personal experience, on the handful of times I've enjoyed sushi properly, I think it is a good idea to dust the credit card off and go for a bottle of Champers. I'm not a big Champagne fan usually, but definitely enjoyed it with Sushi. Of course, I may just be a Heathen! :)
(There is a caveat to this - I've only ever eaten sushi in a decent Japanese restaurant with very good friends, so I suspect the mood may have had as much to do with it as the choice of "plonk!" :))
Hi Barry,
Who's the lucky lady you're wining and dining? ;)
As Sushi has quite a delicate, yet sophisticated flavour, I'd go for a wine with similar characteristics, such as a good quality French Sauvignon Blanc, from the Bordeaux area.
There are some good suggestions on this site, some of which I have tasted:
http://www.wine-pages.com/organise/bordeaux-sauvignon.htm
Enjoy! :cheers:
Marco.
Hi Barry,
Who's the lucky lady you're wining and dining? ;)
As Sushi has quite a delicate, yet sophisticated flavour, I'd go for a wine with similar characteristics, such as a good quality French Sauvignon Blanc, from the Bordeaux area.
There are some good suggestions on this site, some of which I have tasted:
http://www.wine-pages.com/organise/bordeaux-sauvignon.htm
Enjoy! :cheers:
Marco.
Thanks Guys for your suggestions.
Alex - I'm not particularly fond of Champagne either, or of any carbonated beverage; though in the case of Champagne I do believe "you get what you pay for", that is good Champagne is not cheap.
Marco - my consumption of Pinot Grigiot with sushi was a seul. :( However, a week ago, I was entertaining a Japanese lady-friend of mine at a top class Japanese restaurant in London. We drank Japanese beer with our meal. :)
Regards
Rare Bird
07-07-2011, 22:18
Supped a gallon of 'Sneck Lifter' tonight, nice dark bitter (5.1%). yum yum yummy yum yum
:comatose:
Love Jennings Sneck Lifter. Many a good day's walking in the Lakes (it's brewed in Cockermouth, Cumbria) has been lost to a session on it the night before.
The Grand Wazoo
10-07-2011, 22:14
We've been swilling this for the last couple of weeks (sorry for the monster photo):
http://www.everywine.co.uk/mshopimages/PRODUCT%5CPRODUCT_ZOOM%5C202173_PRIMARY.jpg
I spent most of my life thinking that I had a genetic abhorrence of Spanish wines, however, I've discovered in the last couple of years that, actually, they can crush a mean grape in that part of the world. This is a 2005 & not bad at all for a relative cheapie.
"Aromatic aromas reminiscent of coffee, tobbaco, and fruit compote. Complex on the palate, well structured with a long aftertaste".
.............apparently!
I spent most of my life thinking that I had a genetic abhorrence of Spanish wines :eek:
I'm a big fan of Spanish wines, Rioja in particular, is probably my top tipple - but I kind of know what you mean - there's a lot of average stuff out there.
I'll try and seek that one out, thanks Chris. :cheers:
The Grand Wazoo
10-07-2011, 22:49
Many Spanish and actually, come to think of it, Italian wines have a note to their flavour which I find rather harsh - almost like a watered down version of Retsina.............but sometimes, it's not so watered down!!!!
Thing Fish
10-07-2011, 22:50
Any Red wine is good as long as its at least 13%. The Aussie wines usually suffice. Any less is just not worth it!
2 x 14% reds a night make even a shite record sound bearable...
Lots of wine to consider here.
Fan of Chateauneuf du Pape in particular.
Merlot and Rioja.
Ales: Honey Dew and London Pride, both by Fullers. Might have a Honey Dew right now actually.
Any Red wine is good as long as its at least 13%. The Aussie wines usually suffice. Any less is just not worth it!
2 x 14% reds a night make even a shite record sound bearable...
Rubbish! That makes as much sense as saying any beer is good as long as it's at least 5%.
One of my favourite wines is Chateau Le Boscq, a Saint-Estephe with 12.5% ABV and Chateau Bellevue Chollet, a Bordeaux also 12.5% ABV.
Rare Bird
17-07-2011, 04:25
I got hammered yesterday on Theakstons 'Old Peculier' yummy dark beer
BTH K10A
25-07-2011, 14:21
Bloody squirrels raiding the walnut trees so have decided to do some home made Nocino in case there's none left to eat come September. I've run out of eau de vie so some rough 60% Polish Vodka will have to suffice for the spirit. Sacrilage I know but kills 2 birds with one stone.
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/nocino/
The Grand Wazoo
25-07-2011, 16:39
In my industry squirrels are the enemy.......there's another recipe you could follow you know!
(wrong thread, I know)
Braised squirrel and watercress
Main course: serves 4-5, several hours
Fergus Henderson, chef at St John's (26 St John Street, London EC1, tel: 020 7251 0848) started cooking squirrel after his mother saw the critters in her local Wiltshire butcher. And that's where it's best to find it ? by asking your local game butcher, especially in the countryside. He may be able to get some, or put you in touch with a farmer with a good shot.
4 squirrels, skinned by butcher
Duck fat
12 shallots
15g/1oz dried porcini
Splash of eau de prune, or cognac
Approximately 500ml/1pint chicken stock
Glass dry white wine
4 pigs' trotters
125g/4oz bacon, cut into small chunks
1 carrot and 1 onion, both roughly chopped
Bay leaf
6 peppercorns
Bunch watercress, roughly chopped
Scrub trotters, cover in water. Simmer with carrot, onion, peppercorns and bayleaf for several hours until tender. Cool. Strain. Extract meat and return to liquid. Leave to jellify. Keep overnight in fridge.
Cut squirrels into five – back legs, shoulders, saddle. Remove hearts and livers, brown in duck fat, splash with eau de prune, mash into paste, reserve. Soak porcini in a little hot water for half an hour. Drain, reserve liquid. Cook squirrel gently in duck fat until lightly browned. Flame in eau de prune, add wine. Place in casserole. Fry bacon and shallots in same fat, adding porcini. Season. Add to casserole, with porcini liquor and four tablespoons trotter jelly. Cover with stock. Add lid. Braise in oven (170C/ 325F/Gas 3) for two to three hours until tender. Stir in watercress. Serve with liver paste on toast.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/braised-squirrel-and-watercress-653737.html
BTH K10A
25-07-2011, 17:31
Sounds quite tasty.
The cats seem to enjoy them. When they catch one all we find is the tail left at the back door and the arms, legs and entrails on the lawn.
griffo104
02-08-2011, 14:08
Well tonight is the first night of the GBBF at Earls Court so I'll be doing my best to enjoy some nice rare beers from around the country this evening.
Of course Friday is going to an all day beerfest as I've taken the day off work to fully appreciate the great ales of Britain :cool:
Tesco are still selling the 2010 Dino Pinot Grigio at half price (£4.99).
OK, so it's not as good (IMO) as the Ogio, but I'm enjoying a couple of glasses with some sushi.
Go on buy a case; summer's not over yet!
:cheers:
Rare Bird
06-08-2011, 18:00
Making short work of two bottles Chilian Cabernet Sauvignon 13%
:carrot:
Just hugging the last glass of Barolo; pure nectar!:glug:
Rare Bird
06-08-2011, 23:34
well i've done three bottles sniffing out the wives surplus white :D
well i've done three bottles sniffing out the wives surplus white :D
And you've still got a pulse?! :eek: Explains the spelling earlier in the "Spinning Today" thread, though! ;)
The Grand Wazoo
06-08-2011, 23:45
well i've done three bottles sniffing out the wives surplus white :D
So now it's a just choice between nail varnish remover and draining the fluid from that compass you got from your aunt for Christmas 1976!
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDwKa-vtmQZi2HDkGLqDW3ae-A76o_q1qfNVhe66MYqKRo_XFvsA
Rare Bird
06-08-2011, 23:46
Hands up ..to be honest im crap at spelling always have been, too busy looking in at teachers knicker lines at school rather than paying attention :) any intellegence or learning is self taught..but thats no excuse i'm frazzled
well i've done three bottles sniffing out the wives surplus white......... :D
Panties?
:lol: :eyebrows:
Marco.
Rare Bird
07-08-2011, 12:25
:lolsign: I don't feel too ace this morning
Ipswich Beer festival this weekend, coupled with the Maritime Ipswich Festival (http://www.maritimeipswich.co.uk/) - less than 5 minutes from the house, nice weather, and loads of Real Ale to try - sod the housework and gardening. :) Report to follow - if I can type.
Been ‘drinking up’ some of the 2005 and 2006 Bordeaux:
2006 Château Camail
http://www.bawineclub.co.uk/images/products/61501b.jpg
A Premières Côtes de Bordeaux. Château bottled. 12.5% ABV
~ £10 a bottle
2006 was a difficult year producing wines of variable quality. This was one of the better ones. Excellent with lamb
2006 Château Labourdette
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/98710.jpg
Château bottled. 12% ABV
~ £10 a bottle
“This Bordeaux is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet; having the sharp taste and the structured tannins of the Cabernet, with at the same time, the mellowness of the Merlot. Together, they create a lovely purple color and a nose of plums and tobacco. The taste is plummy with a touch of pepper and spearmint.”
2005 Château Colombier – Monpelou Pauillac
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/90153.jpg
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Château bottled. 13% ABV
~ £15 a bottle
This estate neighbours Mouton Rothschild, overlooking Pauillac. I’m drinking a glass of this now: well balanced, fruity and powerful with subtle tannins. Excellent!
The Grand Wazoo
26-08-2011, 20:33
They look very nice Barry, but not a patch on what we were drinking last week in Greece:
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/410/dscf3655.jpg
12% ABV
2.75 Euros for 1.5 litres!
12% ABV
2.75 Euros for 1.5 litres!
Yes - but drink too much of that and and what are the 'detox clinic' fees? :lol:
:drunk:
The Grand Wazoo
26-08-2011, 20:53
Actually, it wasn't too bad at all!
Actually, it wasn't too bad at all!
Oh! - I'm sure as a self effacing "dry table wine", it was fine. It's the "1.5 litres for £2.40" that could have me drinking far too much. :eyebrows:
A votre santé
:cheers:
The Grand Wazoo
26-08-2011, 21:11
We had all of these too:
http://www.agni.gr/kefalonia_travel_guide/Kefalonia_Food_and_Drink/Wines_of_Kefalonia/minas%20wine%20robola.jpg
......all of them very nice.
We had all of these too:
http://www.agni.gr/kefalonia_travel_guide/Kefalonia_Food_and_Drink/Wines_of_Kefalonia/minas%20wine%20robola.jpg
......all of them very nice.
Now that's what I call a holiday 'snap'! :lol:
The Grand Wazoo
26-08-2011, 22:10
Haha.......we didn't drink each and every one of those actual bottles..........but we did try one of each of those types of wine..........on separate evenings.......................................... ............................as part of a balanced diet!
.....................................as part of a balanced diet!
I always feel wine is an essential part of a balanced diet.... I mean it's grapes :eyebrows:
I always feel wine is an essential part of a balanced diet.... I mean it's grapes :eyebrows:
It counts as one of your 'Five a Day' - two if you drink two bottles...;)
It counts as one of your 'Five a Day' - two if you drink two bottles...;)
Not true, I'm afraid - it has to be different fruits. Now, a bottle of wine, and a bottle of gin would be ok as two - grapes in the wine, juniper berries in the gin - if you mix it with tonic even better for the medicinal effect - eat the slice of lemon after each glass, and that's three of your five! ;)
DanJennings
04-09-2011, 08:02
They serve Purity ales at Moseley folk festival, so I have been supping plenty of those and hoping to forget that they cost 3.80 a pint :eek:
My favourite so far is Pure UBU
http://www.puritybrewing.com/pure-ubu.cfm
sburrell
15-09-2011, 14:40
Hi,
I have another voucher from LoveFilm for £40 off a crate of wine valued at £80 or more through Virgin Wines Discovery Club, new joiners only. PM me if interested.
Rare Bird
16-09-2011, 00:33
They look very nice Barry, but not a patch on what we were drinking last week in Greece:
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/410/dscf3655.jpg
12% ABV
2.75 Euros for 1.5 litres!
Do you get athelete's foot of the larynx in the morning? I must have tried half a doz different red last time we were over there all gave me sore throowert..Ended up being Raki & Ouzo all hols.. i did find salvation in a pack of very out of date German Pils larger i found luking in a shop fridge tho.
Haven’t posted here for a while. Not that I’ve stopped drinking, nor have I signed the ‘Pledge’ – I haven’t: I’m still happily consuming three to four bottles a week. However it does seem as if I’m the only one who posts regarding wine – maybe it’s of little or no interest to others?
Well what the Hell, here are some ‘slurps’ enjoyed recently.
Château Camail, 2006 Bordeaux
http://www.bawineclub.co.uk/images/products/61501.jpg
100% Merlot, 12.5% ABV
“Fruity, punchy and complex Bordeaux from a little-known family estate. Heavenly with lamb
Perched on the high slopes running down to Bordeaux’s Gironde river lies Chateau Camail, is a picturesque, family-owned estate.”
“2006 was a vintage of extremes – a heatwave summer giving way to a damp harvesting period. There are some real gems in this vintage if you know where to find them, and Camail’s is one of the most beautifully poised and elegant examples.”
Thoroughly recommended. Approx £10 a bottle.
Château Labourdette, 2006 Bordeaux
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/98711.jpg
(Image of the 2005 vintage)
A blend of Merlot and Cabernet, 12% ABV
“….plummy with a touch of pepper and spearmint.”
£10 a bottle
Château Mugron, 2007 Bordeaux
http://www.bawineclub.co.uk/images/products/62390.jpg
A south facing terroir, Mugron is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. 12.5% ABV
“Mugron has crafted a 2007 of incredible character and depth - a must-have for claret fans
Château Mugron's beautiful wine is steeped in history, having been making wine since the French Revolution - and being the toast of the trenches! During the Great War, Mugron began supplying so-called "le quart de vin du poilu", ensuring French soldiers were not short of a ration to go with their meal!
Nowadays the wine is a little more sophisticated. Its 40 year old vines impart great richness and complexity to the wine, which is vinified in a hi-tech winery by an exceptionally talented team. The result is a magnificently concentrated and complex, yet soft and approachable claret.”
I really enjoyed this wine. Approx £10 a bottle.
Château Colombier-Monpelou, 2005 Pauillac
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/90153.jpg
Neighbouring Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet, overlooking Pauillac 13% ABV
“The wines are full of deep red colour, with very good Cabernet Sauvignon character. Big, fat, lush red and black fruits dominate the aromas and flavours with a very nice firm but pleasant finish of fairly well integrated tannins. Has excellent balance and power. Although it is definitely a Pauillac for that Cabernet lover, any red wine aficionado should not miss this wine.”
Approx £20 a bottle
And finally:
Château La Gorce, 2004 Medoc
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/48005.jpg
A blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Winner of four Gold medals in 2006.
“Super smart claret buy from the perfect drinking 2004 vintage and a medal-winning estate
Château La Gorce is a grand 19th century estate in Blaignan in the Médoc, just north of Saint-Estèphe and next door to the famous properties, Châteaux Loudenne and Cardorne.
The château was founded in 1821 by Madame La Gorce who gives the estate its name and came into the hands of the Fabre family only in the 1980s. The property had fallen into considerable disrepair in that time and the new owners set about restoring the quality expected of a true Cru Bourgeois. And with eight medals (including four Golds) in just four vintages, they're bang on track.
Mouthfilling ripe, concentrated blackcurrant, damson and plum fruit, framed in smooth, toasty oak.”
Delicious, £13 a bottle
Some nice stuff there, Barry! Although you forgot to mention where you bought it from...
Haven’t posted here for a while. Not that I’ve stopped drinking, nor have I signed the ‘Pledge’ – I haven’t: I’m still happily consuming three to four bottles a week. However it does seem as if I’m the only one who posts regarding wine – maybe it’s of little or no interest to others?
I don't think that's the case at all. Lots of people read this thread, and I'm sure, try the recommendations put forward, so keep up the good work!
In my case, it's simply the time and/or motivation needed to post pictures and write about what wine we've enjoyed. We do most of our drinking at the weekend, normally after a nice meal, and when that's finished, my inclination is usually to go for a wee sleep afterwards, or sprawl out listening to some tunes, than post here about what wine we've quaffed ;)
And then after that, I usually forget all about it! I promise to discipline myself better in future :eyebrows:
We're going to France in October, and so will be returning with a car full of wine and beer, and all sorts of goodies. I plan to select some truly top-notch claret and burgundy for Christmas (along with selected desert wines and aperitifs), so I guarantee that I'll be writing about that. Christmas will be better than ever this year, with my parents now living locally, as they are serious good food and wine lovers like us! :cheers:
Marco.
Folks
Tesco have on half price offer the Ogio Pinot Grigo. This is my favourite pinot grigo. :) Go on buy a few bottles (£4.99 until 4.10.11); summer's not over yet, well not quite!
I'm going to crack open a nicely chilled bottle to drink with tonight's meal: sushi to start, followed by a vegetarian dish of pasta with ratatouille.
Marco, regarding my last recommended 'slurps', I got them from Laithwaites but they can be obtained from a number of other vintners.
:cheers:
Nice one, Barry - enjoy! Just one thing, as I know you like to be correct, the 'Grigio' in Pinot Grigio is spelled "Grigio", and not "Grigot", as you have written it :)
Marco.
Corrected! Thanks Marco - I'm so used to drinking French wine, as you know, I inadvertently added a "t". :doh:
From a thread elsewhere....
Hi Barry,
It was a 2009 Masi 'Masianco' Pinot Grigio e Verduzzo delle Venezie:
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/1912/masimasiancopinotgrigio.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/masimasiancopinotgrigio.jpg/)
And absolutely delicious it was, too! Masi are one of the top producers of Pinot Grigio, so if you really want to sample the true elegance and finesse of this particular grape variety and raise the bar a little over the supermarket offerings, that's the one to go for. The Verduzzo grapes add a little more body and complexity to the finish over a standard PG
It's around a tenner a bottle, so a quality slurper with supper, and not too 'serious'. I got this one a while ago from Oddbins, but not sure who'll stock it now. Best to Google for it - enjoy!
Good one Marco. Looks like Masi are reliable producers of, not only Amarone, but of whites. Will look out for it (once I have exhausted the case of Ogio).
Lunchtime, for me was a little more prosaic: down the pub drinking with mates. Too hot today to be drinking ale; so a couple of pints of Peroni Nastro Azzuro drunk with a smoked mackerel and beetroot salad, with a honey and mustard dressing. :)
Cheers
If you've got a Morrisons near you, I can thoroughly recommend this Canti Pinot Grigio Rosé:
http://www.morrisons.co.uk/Food-and-drink/Drink/Wine/Rose-wine/?WineId=620
Served ice cold, it slips down really nicely, in this current hot weather, with a lovely fresh salad Niçoise ! :cheers:
Marco.
unclepuncle
18-10-2011, 13:22
Does anybody know where I can buy this Danish brewed lager in the UK?
http://www.royalunibrew.com/Files/Billeder/MediaDB/Originals/giraf_beer.jpg
I used to buy it (nearly 20 years ago mind) from an off-license called Macs in Buckingham - pure nectar with a lovely aroma.
I also used to like that beer, but haven't seen it for ages!
For unusual beers, I order from the following website, particularly for topping up our stash of booze at Christmas. I've used them before on numerous occasions and can highly recommend them.
They have quite a few Danish beers, in this section, which might tickle your taste buds:
http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/acatalog/Beers_of_Europe__Danish_Beer_81.html
:cool:
Marco.
jazzpiano
18-10-2011, 17:09
Hello all,
Thank you for the wine/ale rec's. I have written down about a dozen of your Bordeaux wine rec's and searched for them locally with no luck. It's like trying to find a local jazz or classical radio station - good luck... Anyways, I have been trying different wines since the late 70s and have developed some definite likes and dislikes (dislikes don't mean they're bad, just not my thing). I'd like to hear some of yours? I'll start by listing a few of mine and see if anyone wants to respond.
Likes: Casanova di Neri - Rosso (and Rossos generally), Dolcetto d'Albas in general, esp. lighter ones, Cotes du Rhone in general, Morellino di Scansano, M. Lapierre Morgon, any single domain Chiroubles
Dislikes (so far - things change): Malbecs, Calif. Merlots, Shiraz, Zinfandel, any ones that hit you over the head like a sledgehammer or are so dry you'd swear they used stones instead of grapes, or are cloying or vinegary
Best,
Barry
Hi Barry,
I suspect that you and I have very similar tastes!
I can relate in particular to your love of quality Italian wine. How about some Duca Enrico, Barbera d'Asti Riserva Speciale, Sassicaia, Amarone, Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva or Brunello di Montalcino, to name but a few?
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/1791/103817d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/103817d.jpg/)
Yum, yum! :cheers:
However, I shall comment more later :)
Marco.
jazzpiano
18-10-2011, 19:09
Thank you Marco. I know I can find most of these locally. I just feel like Italian gives me the best balance and complexity w/out spending crazy$$$. I feel like most wine people I run into in this country are overly influenced by Robert Parker and have a tendency to place wine on some kind of trophy pedestal (metaphorically speaking). They don't have a balanced approach that places wine as part of the overall meal. Also, I can't tell you how many expensive wines I've tried only to feel they weren't worth the money and simply went for bigger, bolder flavors. I look at the descriptors at my local shops and all I see are words like: big, bold, concentrated, blockbuster, and an RP score, what happened?...I have to admit my wine tastes are very different from my beer tastes. I tend to drink wine w/ food and look for finesse and elegance, complexity... With beer, I drink it alone usually and like to be knocked out by rich flavors (Imp. Stouts, Belgian Dubbels). With wine I want violins not tubas.
Best,
Barry
jazzpiano
23-10-2011, 18:57
Hello,
I am unfamiliar with Duca En rico or Cannonau - can you tell me something about them? (Amarone and Cote-Rotie are the 2 "big" wines I've tried that I like because they're still elegant and have so much going on.)
Best,
Barry
Rare Bird
29-10-2011, 10:05
I had a good sesh on Bend Eclipse Cascadian Dark Ale last night, yummy dark ale AV:4.8%
:cool:
A bit like Guinness Dark Side Bath Ales 4.0%
Bluedroog
02-11-2011, 22:41
Hardly exotic but favourite claret of mine is Wolf Blass - Yellow Label, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Seems to go up by a quid every year and is normally in the 10 quid mark these days. I happen to have an ASDA near my office, of course under no circumstances buy another of your food there but they do have deals on wine and this sometime goes for a fiver, in which case I’ll buy a case.
Taken from another thread:
The real connoisseurs of audio equipment abilities can be compared to connoisseurs of vintage wine and oil paintings. The modern folks are into mp3, digital photography, and Australian or Californian wine.
Whilst being a claret lover, I would be the first to admit that some very fine wine is being produced in Australia and in South America (especially Chile and Argentina)
An Aussie wine I enjoy is the intriguingly named: “The Waxed Bat”, a blend of Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Malbec grape.
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62003.jpg?d=1
A Chilean Merlot I also enjoy is: “The Patriots”
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62797.jpg?d=1
At around £7 a bottle, neither of these are expensive.
Bluedroog
11-11-2011, 23:42
I think that quote is a little dated now, or at least I can't agree with it. Bit snobby or misguided, I really like some Hunter Valley stuff. Maybe I just don't have expensive taste in wine! I'm quite happy with something like Campo Viejo Rioja or even just a Casillero Del Diablo even if it is everywhere.
If you live near a Waitrose I highly highly recommend that you purchase a few bottles Cuvee Chasseur. It will only cost you £4.35 a bottle.
If you live near a Waitrose I highly highly recommend that you purchase a few bottles Cuvee Chasseur
Sounds very 70s retro! Do you get the chicken with it? :eyebrows:
;)
Marco.
Sounds very 70s retro! Do you get the chicken with it? :eyebrows:
;)
Marco.
In a basket?
Aye, as long as the tomato and mushroom sauce (Chicken Chasseur) duznae leak out and drip on yer flares! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Rare Bird
12-11-2011, 00:24
Can i ask if that cheap arse cider you supped in France had any fancy name?
Not as far as I remember, dude. It was just labelled as 'Cidre de Normandie'. Bloody good it was, too - easily as good as the 'boutique' stuff you buy here for £8-10 a bottle!
It made some class fart gas afterwards, too! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Rare Bird
12-11-2011, 00:44
Thats all that matters :eyebrows:
bobbasrah
16-11-2011, 23:16
Meant to do this for a while, so...
Living right adjacent to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova (formerly part of Romania), good local wine is realtively cheap and plentiful here, and brewing has a long history.
Many of the nouveaux riche and young have a fascination with imports, and the traditional Feteasca Neagra is almost dismissed as common.... It is largely the same with the wonderful selection of beers, imported is best, swallow the ad while you are at it... Local brews are Ursus, Ciuc, Timisoareana, Silva, and many many more, predominantly Pils, but also dark ale-types.... 50p a pint is positively painful.
Local wines are plentiful, and can be purchased in plastic bottles from local producers by the road or in markets for less than a pound per litre. Most are cheeky little wines in that you get a nasty smack in the mouth without warning, usually followed by a headache if continued. It is traditional here to dilute the wine when drinking by adding water, which probably reduces but does not eradicate the after effects. Some of these home-grown smallholding wines however are truly sublime even if young, but it can be pretty hit and miss. Everybody makes wine here it seems.....
A 10 year old good Feteasca Neagra Sec at 4 quid a bottle may not impress here, but it is a superb traditional wine from a very different and old grape which is disappearing under the weight of demand for pinot-noir etc from the EU. This is a different wine to my typical Rioja choice, but is full bodied, and hits the tastebuds with subtlety, rather than taking a diversionary route via the gonads.
At home, it is time to get a bit of cheese out. No plastic bound Mature Cheddar (Cheddar here is as firm as spandex), but a 4 month old 2kg birch wrapped goat cheese courtesy of a shepherd (and his flock of goats grazing at 4000ft) for the princely sum of 5 quid. Crumbly full flavoured yet so young, it is not easily dismissed, and the combination with FN is absolute heaven.
Like the average Greek, Italian, and French, I cannot complain.....
I will post pics if I ever get photobucket to work.
Bob
Really interesting Bob, thanks for posting. I envy the 50p a pint/£1 a litre for beer/wine - but I'd probably be dead in a month!
As for the cheese... not normally a big fan of goats cheese, but sounds intriguing! :)
bobbasrah
18-11-2011, 07:58
LOL Alex,
Alcoholism is indeed a big problem here, but at least the Government don't make a killing on it with duty because production is so widespread, unlike the UK. If everybody gave up drinking, smoking, and driving in the uk for a month, the exchequer would be in even deeper doo-doo. How so much income is wasted by government was always beyond me, other than in "rescuing" banks etc. in recent times for the benfit of the taxpayer. Ahem, yes..... Cough...
Brewing, Distilling, and Wine making (white and red) is widespread here and not the sole preserve of the commercial lads. Unlike the monopolies that exist in the UK, this makes taxing the hell out of it by Government here not a shrewd move. So prices remain relatively low, as is also common elsewhere in Europe.
All sorts of varieties are grown for commercial production in reds and whites, but the traditional grapes are very under-rated in this modern age of cabernet-sauvignon or Chablis with everything. Feteasca is made in red and white, and is rather good, if different.
Beer is almost exclusively commercial but with a staggering number of brands, and most breweries have been bought over by the likes of Heineken, Carlsberg, etc in recent years.
I neglected to mention Tsoika, as there is also traditional distillation here, ranging from moonshine that can kill or cure, to the commercial production line stuff.
Various sizes of shiny copper stills are made and on sale by the road in the summer months which would give Her Majesty's Inspectorate a heart attack. With a long tradition of home distilling, the chances of it being outlawed here are slim to none in the short term.
Mass produced cheeses are common (Cascaval) in the supermarkets, and most have the constistency of a Pirelli (inc Cheddar - Cedar), but goat, sheep, as well as cow cheese is available commercially.
Get up into the mountains or the outlying small farms however, and the locally hand made cheeses are still crafted the traditional way.
Wonderful to see this still thriving, and the Health and Safety nanny attitude which wiped it out in the UK is not welcome here thank god.... Long may it last.
It is such a shame that side of UK culture has all but disappeared - even the local producers have to go commercial to survive... As you say, long may it continue where you are Bob!
Guys,
Aldi currently have about 7 or 8 very high-quality wines they've got in as a 'Special Purchase' for Christmas, one of which is a superb 2006 Chateau Tour Du Cauze Saint-Émilion Grand Cru:
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4756/82038.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/82038.jpg/)
...which is selling for a mere £9.95!! :eek:
Bear in mind, that a wine of that quality and vintage would normally cost around £20-25 a bottle, from a 'posh' wine merchant.... So, if you like quality claret (step forward, Barry ;)) get yer arse along to Aldi, pronto, as there is only a limited quantity available.
Incidentally, you won't find this wine (and the other 'Special Purchase' wines, such as Riojas, etc) in Aldi's usual wine section. You'll find them in the aisles towards the back of the store, in a separate section, near the Christmas chocolates, etc.
Also there, for those who love top-quality dessert wines, is a superb Beerenauslese, from Austria. Having enjoyed this wine numerous times in both Germany and Austria, I can vouch for its quality. If you prefer a white dessert wine that's not as sickly sweet as Sauternes, then the Beerenauslese should hit the spot nicely.
Have it along with some Panettone, Christmas cake, home-made shortbread or mince pies, and trust me, you'll be in heaven! :cheers:
Again, hurry now, whilst stocks last!!
Marco.
Goodness, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru for under a tenner - great shout Marco :eyebrows:
Um £4 or £20 all the same crap
:lol: . . . tis Friday I reckon ;)
The Black Adder
13-12-2011, 19:49
Guys,
Aldi currently have about 7 or 8 very high-quality wines they've got in as a 'Special Purchase' for Christmas, one of which is a superb 2006 Chateau Tour Du Cauze Saint-Émilion Grand Cru:
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4756/82038.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/82038.jpg/)
...which is selling for a mere £9.95!! :eek:
Bear in mind, that a wine of that quality and vintage would normally cost around £20-25 a bottle, from a 'posh' wine merchant.... So, if you like quality claret (step forward, Barry ;)) get yer arse along to Aldi, pronto, as there is only a limited quantity available.
Incidentally, you won't find this wine (and the other 'Special Purchase' wines, such as Riojas, etc) in Aldi's usual wine section. You'll find them in the aisles towards the back of the store, in a separate section, near the Christmas chocolates, etc.
Also there, for those who love top-quality dessert wines, is a superb Beerenauslese, from Austria. Having enjoyed this wine numerous times in both Germany and Austria, I can vouch for its quality. If you prefer a white dessert wine that's not as sickly sweet as Sauternes, then the Beerenauslese should hit the spot nicely.
Have it along with some Panettone, Christmas cake, home-made shortbread or mince pies, and trust me, you'll be in heaven! :cheers:
Again, hurry now, whilst stocks last!!
Marco.
Very good gear indeed...
Personally I think 2010 was a from fantastic year for most mid region French wines so if I see a 2010 AOC I just buy it..
Very good gear indeed...
Personally I think 2010 was a from fantastic year for most mid region French wines so if I see a 2010 AOC I just buy it..
I do the same for 2009, which is universally acknowledged as an outstanding year for Bordeaux.
Just bought a case of 2009 Château Le Coin. The vineyards, situated in Entre Deux Mers, are of the same limestone as that of the neighbouring Saint–Émilion.
http://www.bawineclub.co.uk/images/products/62823b.jpg
Notwithstanding Marco’s excellent recommendation of the 2006 Château Tour du Cauze Saint Émilion Grand Cru, some claim the 2009 Château Le Coin tastes like Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, but for less (£8 a bottle). I’ll let you know after I have tried both!
Also picked up a couple of bottles of 2009 Château Portal Minervoise, Cuvée Jérôme.
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/63033b.jpg?d=1b
Quadruple Gold Medal winner in 2010.
The Black Adder
13-12-2011, 20:29
oooooooooooooh!
where do you buy from Barry? the 2009 Château Le Coin I've had before and it's a cracker so I would like to get me hands on a batch of it.
Incidentally, does anyone fancy a bulk buy? Or has anyone got an old Bedford van and we shall take a trip over... lol - It's got to be a Bedford! lol
oooooooooooooh!
where do you buy from Barry? the 2009 Château Le Coin I've had before and it's a cracker so I would like to get me hands on a batch of it.
Incidentally, does anyone fancy a bulk buy? Or has anyone got an old Bedford van and we shall take a trip over... lol - It's got to be a Bedford! lol
Hi Joe
Laithwaites: http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/Still_Red_Wine/Chateau_Le_Coin/prod2380343
Cheers
jazzpiano
30-12-2011, 17:27
Has anyone ever found either a reliable wine critic/reviewer or web-site? I swear it's a conspiracy, almost every recommendation for wine I've gotten at a shop, every positive review I've read, web recommendation and so-on, has been utter crap. I'm usually better off just taking a stab myself. I know it's difficult, what when some folks love "blockbuster" dense wines w/ 90+ Robert Parker ratings and hang on his every word, and others like finessy/food-friendly wines (me).
~Barry
shabby64
13-01-2012, 17:48
http://www.twosawyers.co.uk/gallery/pumpclips/guest_ale_winterwarmer_lg.jpg
:drool:
http://www.wellsandyoungs.co.uk/home/our-beers/ales/young-s-winter-warmer
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vvQxTprSajg/TTrPMse-VSI/AAAAAAAAAD4/oZ7CBx2ZOlg/s1600/Winter+005.jpg
My favourite winter ale. Bloody dangerous though! :drunk::comatose:
Some of the ‘slurps’, mostly Bordeaux, enjoyed over the Festive Season:
2006 Château Camail
(£10 a bottle)
2006 Château Labourdette
(£10 a bottle)
2007 Château Mugron
(~ £10 a bottle)
2005 Château Castelbruck, Margaux
(~ £12 a bottle)
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/61501b.jpg?d=1b http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62090b.jpg?d=1b http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62390b.jpg?d=1b http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/39651b.jpg?d=1b
2005 Colombiere-Monpelou, Pauillac
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/90153.jpg
2006 Lamberti Amerone
http://static3.wine-searcher.net/images/labels/18/75/lamberti-amarone-della-valpolicella-docg-veneto-italy-10291875.jpg
(A bit of a bargain at £15 a bottle.)
2007 Cuvée du Vatican, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(£19 a bottle)
2009 Vieux Domaine Bertineau, Lalande de Pomerol
(£15 a bottle)
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62689b.jpg?d=1b http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62724b.jpg?d=1b
Plus a few bottles of Ogio, Pinot Grigo
http://img.tesco.com/wine/UIAssets/pi/699/0839728001699/IDShot_150x300.jpg
(Normally £10 a bottle, but bought a case when Tesco had it on offer at half price.)
The Grand Wazoo
02-02-2012, 21:29
We're just about to rip the cork out of one of these. Haven't got a clue what it's like, but I'm reliably informed (by the label notes) that it has an 'unctuous & lingering body'
Oooooh-err, missus. Can't wait!
http://www.mitchellandson.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/3/2300000-1.jpg
We're just about to rip the cork out of one of these. Haven't got a clue what it's like, but I'm reliably informed (by the label notes) that it has an 'unctuous & lingering body'
Oooooh-err, missus. Can't wait!
http://www.mitchellandson.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/3/2300000-1.jpg
Just drinking a less salubrious Corbières, very acceptable though, la Vendange from Asda - £10 for 3 bottles!
unc·tu·ous [uhngk-choo-uhs]
adjective
1. characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug.
2. of the nature of or characteristic of an unguent or ointment; oily; greasy.
3. having an oily or soapy feel, as certain minerals.
Every day's a school day! ;)
One of my fave "common" Riojas is currently on half-price at Tesco (£10.99 to £5.49) - Castillo San Lorenzo Reserva -
"Richly flavoured and spicy, this classic Rioja combines ripe plum and dried fruit characters with cinnamon and vanilla. From selected tempranillo, mazuelo and graciano grapes. Aged 24 months in barrels of american and french oak."
http://static3.wine-searcher.net/images/labels/87/63/castillo-san-lorenzo-reserva-rioja-doca-spain-10328763.jpg
Rare Bird
02-02-2012, 22:34
no chance at three for a tenner then :(
Roll on Saturday i'll be on the Sneck Lifter again. yum yum
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/bridge-end-inn-wins-camra-award.html
I know where I am going next time I visit Marco
Lol, as an adjunct to that, see here: http://www.mcgivernales.co.uk/
I've never been to his pub, but will check it out sometime and report back! :cool:
Marco.
2010 Roc de l’Aigle, Réserve
Grenache Noir Vielles Vignes.
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/63036b.jpg?d=1b
Grenache noir grape, 13% ABV
"Le terroire du Mont Tauche est marqué par une biodiversité remarquable. Les vignes que nous y cultivons de façon raisonnée contribuent au maintien d’espèces protégées comme l’Aigle Royal."
Laithwaites ~£8 a bottle. Drink by end 2012.
The Grand Wazoo
28-02-2012, 23:51
Neither beer or wine, but I saw one or two mentions of whisky on AoS this evening (including Lagavulin - one of the best, I reckon), so I thought I'd share a glimpse of my pre-bedtime snifter for this evening.
It's BNJ, my favourite blended Scotch:
http://www.whiskyandwines.com/images/baile_nicol_jarvie.jpg
Gmanuk101
14-03-2012, 12:21
I do like to odd real ale now and then, plus a whisky (member of the whisky society :) ) however I am more a fan of the craft beers that are becoming more and more popular.
from the likes of Three Floyds - http://www.3floyds.com/
Mikkerllar - http://www.mikkeller.dk/index.php?beer_id=78&id=61&land=1
These two breweries were brought to my attention by BrewDog.
Now not a lot of people like their marketing (I for one care nothing for it), but I am more interested in what their beer tastes like, and to me a lot of it is full of flavour and doesn't have any nasty ingredients (basically it's all natural).
They have a silly spat going with CAMRA as do CAMRA with them, however ignoring that, the proof is indeed in the pudding.
Just try some perhaps?
Now where did I put my 10year old Macallan :)
2003 Château Lalande D’Auvion
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/63456b.jpg?d=1b
This Cru Bourgeois Médoc is a fine claret and has an “intense, inky cassis and black cherry fruit, well integrated oak and complex savoury notes”. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
One the nicest clarets I have drunk for a while. Château bottled, 14% ABV.
2008 Château Roc de Pellebouc
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62064b.jpg?d=1b
Gold medal winner: 2009. Again, this is a blend of, mostly, Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon. 13% ABV.
The resulting cuvée is “beautifully rich and complex, with ripe plum, black fruits and subtle spice characters on the nose and palette, supported by well-rounded tannins.”
Enjoyed with Boeuf Bourguignon, new potatoes, baby carrots, asparagus, fine green beans, mangetout, and garden peas.
2009 L’Esprit de Pape, Côtes du Roussillon
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62899b.jpg?d=1b
Local varieties of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre go to make this a deliciously rich and complex Rhône.
“Strawberry, raspberry, cherry and black-fruit flavours and enriched by spicy vanilla tones”. 13.5% ABV.
Currently swigging a glass (or two) with some Jarlsberg and a freshly baked baton.
http://thornews.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/jarlsberg-1.jpg
Back again - to let you know Tesco is running a half price offer on the
2011 Dino - Pinot Grigio.
http://img.tesco.com/wine/UIAssets/pi/574/8007890002574/IDShot_150x300.jpg
Go on, at £4.99 a bottle it's worth picking up a couple of bottles to keep in the fridge whilst we wait for Summer. (or £4,74 if you buy a case!) :)
I shall probably crack open a bottle for tonight's meal: Sushi to start, followed by a salmon fillet with a watercress and crème fraiche dressing, new potatoes, brocolli, red pepper and garden peas. :)
C'est encore moi!
Why is it always me - am I AoS's only resident alcoholic or oenophile? No matter, it's fantastic weather (at last) and the time for chilled white wine.
This time it's a white Burgandy:
2009 Domaines Brocard, Chablis Premier Cru
http://www.cellartracker.com/labels/229492.jpg
(The 2009 has a similar label, mutatis mutandis)
Chardonnay Blanc grape, 12.5% ABV.
"This classical wine offers a palette of mouth-watering citrus fruit and minerality underpinned by a long dry finish."
£13 from Co-op (surprisingly!)
Enjoy :cheers:
Reid Malenfant
28-05-2012, 18:50
Morrisons have an offer on at the moment for Freixenet Vintage Excelencia Cava Brut & Rosado...
£4.99 per 75cl bottle.
As I'm a tad partial to the Brut I went & bought four bottles earlier today...
Well it's my b'day next month :lol:
Morrisons offers (https://www.morrisons.co.uk/Offers/), scroll down & on the left hand side :)
Welcome Mark!
Is this you debut posting to this little corner of AoS? I was beginning to wonder if it was the equivalent of "28 Days Later", and I was the only one here! :lol:
Reid Malenfant
28-05-2012, 20:12
Welcome Mark!
Is this you debut posting to this little corner of AoS? I was beginning to wonder if it was the equivalent of "28 Days Later", and I was the only one here! :lol:
:eyebrows: I think I might have been here previously, but it was quite a while ago though, so I'm not surprised you missed me when I did post - if I did :scratch:
:rfl:
It wouldn't surprise me, there does appear to be some synergy between me & a few drinks :cheers:
Beobloke
29-05-2012, 09:26
Discovered a new ale from our local brewery last night - Bowman Ales South Sea Spice. Nice light ale with a surprising, and very pleasing, blast of ginger - lovely!
http://www.bowman-ales.com/our_beers.html
I have to order some kegs from them for our neighbourhood Jubilee lunch this weekend - I can see a 9 pinter of SSS sneaking its way into my kitchen under the radar... :eyebrows:
Greetings fellow oenophiles,
Just to let you know Tesco are selling a 2011 Côtes de Gascogne vin blanc for £4.99 a bottle (normal price £7.29)
http://img.tesco.com/Groceries/pi/020/5052319043020/IDShot_225x225.jpg
This Gascon wine is made from a mixture of Gros Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc grape. 12% ABV
The offer ends 19 June, so hurry and pick up a few bottles – it may not look like it, but Summer will return! :)
2007 Chateau Capbern Gasqueton, Saint - Estephe
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62055b.jpg?d=1b
“Boasting blackcurrant complexity with irresistible mineral hints, this textbook left-bank claret crafted by Bordeaux aristocracy (Château Calon-Ségur) is the last word in seduction.”
Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Château bottled. 13% ABV
I find this wine to have a fairly ‘dumb’ nose, but this is more than made up by a deep, full and rich body. The tannins are soft, but I’ve drunk wines with softer tannins.
Enjoyed with Boef Bourgeon, new potatoes, carrots, ratatouille, club broccoli and spinach.
This seems to be the best place to ask for advice on a problem encountered recently.
It concerns wine corks breaking up whilst they are being removed from the bottle. What has happened on three occasions now is the cork will break up, or snap, part-way from being removed from the bottle. A portion of the cork is left behind and the only way it can be removed is to reapply the corkscrew, requiring a complete breach of the cork and thus decanting of the wine.
Examination of the end of the cork shows that it was fully 'wetted' and the cork had provided an air-tight seal to the wine. However it seems the bulk of the cork itself has dried out, making it less 'spongey' and more brittle, yet the corks have not shrunk and the wine itself has not been "corked".
All the three bottles were 2006 vintage, though this is probably coincidental, and all were stored horizontally.
The corkscrew I usually use is a hollow screw 'sommelier' lever-style type, though if I find the removal of the cork to be being stubborn, I will use a closed screw two-handle jack-style type. I never screw the corkscrew in too far, so as to breach the cork, nor do I only screw it in part way: to do so is a guarantee of either the cork breaking in half or the corkscrew pulling out leaving a partly removed cork still in the bottle.
I suspect it is entirely coincidental that three bottles in a row have displayed this problem, and that all were bottled in the same year.
Any comments anyone?
Thing Fish
30-06-2012, 19:52
At the risk of someone having once drunk a bottle of Penfolds and deciding to get this video pulled.
I give you 'Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon'
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1bb_1341078788
At the risk of someone having once drunk a bottle of Penfolds and deciding to get this video pulled.
I give you 'Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon'
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1bb_1341078788
Do you suppose the wine tastes any better for being housed that way? Is the wine good enough to justify the bottle? Is it a case of "judging a book by its cover"?
Regardless - it's nice to see fine craftmanship alive and well.
Thanks for providing the video link.
Thing Fish
30-06-2012, 20:13
Do you suppose the wine tastes any better for being housed that way? Is the wine good enough to justify the bottle? Is it a case of "judging a book by its cover"?
Regardless - it's nice to see fine craftmanship alive and well.
Thanks for providing the video link.
I'd like to try a glass to find out...:)
Hi Barry,
It concerns wine corks breaking up whilst they are being removed from the bottle. What has happened on three occasions now is the cork will break up or snap part-way from being removed from the bottle. A portion of the cork is left behind and the only way it can be removed is to reapply the corkscrew, requiring a complete breach of the cork and thus decanting of the wine.
It's also happened to me, mate. The reason is that the structural integrity of the cork can become eroded by an enzymatic reaction in the cork itself, which makes it brittle, and thus prone to breaking, when sufficient force is applied pulling the cork out of the bottle.
There's nothing you can do about it. However, the type of corkscrew you're using at the moment is less than ideal, as it puts way too much stress on the cork. What you need is one of these chaps, such as I use:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Screwpull-Creuset-Classic-Table-Corkscrew/dp/B00004YLW4/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1341097160&sr=1-2
Those have a much gentler action of pulling out the cork, and so rarely have I had any problems, even with 'dry' corks. I also use the matching foil cutter, to excellent effect :)
Examination of the end of the cork show that it was fully 'wetted' and the cork had provided an air tight seal to the wine. However it seems the bulk of the cork itself has dried out, making it less 'spongey' and more brittle, yet the corks have not shrunk and the wine itself has not been "corked".
The enzymatic reaction I'm referring to, which dries out corks, is not related to the chemical reaction that causes a wine to be 'corked', so don't worry about that.
I suspect it is entirely coincidental that three bottles in a row have displayed this problem, and all were bottled in the same year.
Most likely. It'll simply be a bad batch of corks used during the bottling process.
Just get the cork out as best you can, and decant the wine (as indeed you should be doing with all decent red wine, in order to let it aerate), in order to remove the remnants of cork floating in the wine, and you'll be fine! :cheers:
Marco.
Thanks Marco, for your considered and full comments. :)
I'll reply more fully later, after I have recovered from a rather nice 2010 Grande Réserve de Gassac.
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62961b.jpg?d=1b
It is however reasuring to hear that you have, at times, experienced similar problems. I don't think it is a problem with my corkscrews, rather I agee with you: it more likely a case of a bad batch of corks.
I hadn't heard of "enzymic reaction" in corks; so I have learnt something new.
Thanks,
Cheers
Rare Bird
21-07-2012, 23:25
Well i had some real nice clober tonight (that i wont mention in fear of ridicule) cos its all about that innit ;) Stupid people! :)
2009 Chateau Puisseguin La Rigodrie, Puisseguin-Saint Émilion
https://s3.amazonaws.com/winelibrary-assets/website/products/66417/front/604021/square.png
70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% cabernet Sauvignon.
14% ABV, Approx £8 a bottle
What should have been a delightful 'slurp' from this vintage year for Bordeaux, was anything but! The wine had a ‘musty’ aroma, most likely due to being stored in a bad barrel. The taste was OK, though it was difficult to get ‘past’ the aroma to enjoy the wine.
Probably a bad bottle – these things happen, but perhaps best avoided. :(
Just shared a lovely bottle of Chateau Capbern Gasqueton 2007 with Marco, Del and family. A nice long - ish flavour with nice tannins and a lovely nose.
Went very well with the food Del prepared, organic local chicken and some belly of pork from a small farm in Rhosllanerchrugog , both barbequed to perfection.
Followed by some jambon de pays from an organic farm in L'Aigles, assiette de crudite, a nice selection of soft cheese from Normandy, plus another lovely soft cheese from Lidl, whose name escapes me, but is very similar to Port Salut, only much cheaper.
So thanks to Barry for gifting the wine to Marco.
:cool:
Guys,
If you're looking for a lovely light and fruity red wine to quaff with some supper, then look no further than Lidl's superb 2010 La Cytelle Pays d'Oc, at £4.00 for a 1 litre bottle! :eek:
13%vol, so not 'watery' in the slightest, but neither is it in any way 'heavy going', in the way of some wines, from the likes of Bordeaux. This slips down very nicely, silky smooth, with no 'edge' or overtly acidic finish on the palate - perfect with some pasta, salads or light meats.
Make no mistake, this is high-quality genuine French table wine at its best, so run along now and empty the shelves of your local Lidl, or be a daftee forever!! :D
Marco.
2008 Château Minvielle, Bordeaux
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/61577b.jpg?d=1b
Gold Medal Winner, Paris 2009
58% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc.
Château bottled 12.5% ABV.
A good mid-week slurp, and a delight after my last posting (above).
But - not as good as this fabulous Rhône:
2007 Cuvée du Vatican, Châteauneuf–du-Pape
http://s3.amazonaws.com/winealign-production/wine_labels/0013/4176/Cuvee-Du-Vatican-Chateauneuf-Du-Pape-2007-Label.jpg
This is what Robert Parker said about it:
“The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape spent over a year in neutral wood foudres. A blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and other authorized varietals, it exhibits sweet black cherry, licorice, pepper, garrigue, and earth notes. Fullbodied with moderate tannins, the sweetness of the fruit, the levels of glycerin, and the wine’s expansive, savory texture support the tannin. It will benefit from another 1-2 years of bottle age, and will drink nicely for 15+ years. Score: 90. (Robert Parker Jr., www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2009)”
15% ABV
Sadly down to my last few bottles. :(
The Grand Wazoo
25-08-2012, 23:22
They say the devil has the best songs..........
15% ABV
..........but the Pope gets the strongest wines!
and not just the strength either, Châteauneuf–du-Pape is usually superb. Looks good Barry. :cocktail:
awkwardbydesign
27-08-2012, 19:02
https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaLQvcvauGIntbFOasXby7V8gGYugQW wV5k-gpQOxZu76qlXd2LQ
This is lovely, ruined by water or anything else. Keep it in the fridge. If I can't get it -
https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ5JjlJB9JeBXCjxLIMwf7y5YjLJC4Kh 1llbzsI4KGOoZXWl5vTpQ
Or beer, this- St. Sixtus Abbey, Westvleteren, Belgium. Almost impossible to get unless you go there. And they don't sell on Fridays or Sundays. And you have to buy a crate, and pay the deposit on that. I like Belgian beers generally, but this is special.
https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOCUZdFIRbecTouAgDQLeSHoIos2gSH R3CrZaRCLkaZOuIl6Ni
I know they're not wine and "real" ale, but hey, I've been drinking. Sue me!
awkwardbydesign
27-08-2012, 19:24
Ok then. Also called Santa Maddalena in Italy. I was given this with soup in a restaurant on Lake Como, and it wasn't sweet at all. I mean, it was a savoury wine! It was chosen to complement the soup, and wow, did it ever!
https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOO77I8Xb6diwWKrbYPk6AABURVec-Z0m2XIAOR_qLyysU4qlK
Or in the real world- Tesco, normally £6.99 but they sometimes drop it to £5.
http://www.ollysmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Screen-shot-2011-06-20-at-11.53.32-564x348.png
2010 Château Fleur la Mothe Médoc
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/images/products/62039b.jpg?d=1b
This is one of the finest Médocs I have tasted in a long time.
“Château Fleur La Mothe is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. The fruit was carefully selected from 50-year-old vines (so you'll enjoy terrific concentration) lovingly aged in oak barriques. The style is classic Left Bank Médoc - think rich cassis and blackcurrant with cedar hints - and those lovely silky tannins that means it will age if you want it to.”
‘Lead pencil’ in the nose – something I have not smelt for sometime. 14% ABV.
Absolutely bloody marvelous. Don’t be put off by the horrible orange coloured label and neck foil.
And the price is, and available from where, daftee? ;)
Marco.
Hi Marco
Laithwaites, £14 a bottle (£168 for a case of 12)
Gold medal winner: Concours des Grand Vins de France Macon, 2012.
Silver medal winner: Concours Modial de Bruxelles, 2012.
Care to share a case with me?
Sure. Could you bring me a bottle to try next week, when you're up for the gig, and I'll give you my verdict after sampling it? :)
Marco.
Having now sampled this wine, and gone 'halfers' on a case, with Barry, I can confirm his findings:
Absolutely bloody marvelous. Don’t be put off by the horrible orange coloured label and neck foil.
It's an absolute stonker! Currently enjoying a bottle with some farm-sourced local Welsh ribeye steak, cooked pink, pan-fried in a red wine, wild garlic and green caper reduction, with button mushrooms, potato rosti, buttered fresh spinach, rosemary-infused carrots and crispy deep-fried fresh sage leaves.
Yum, yum! If you've got an account with Laithwaites, then buy this amazing wine with confidence!! :cheers:
Marco.
2006 Saint-Estèphe Château Le Boscq
If you’re quick, pop into your local Co-op and take advantage of their offer on this superb Haute Médoc, Cru Bourgeois Superieur Bordeaux.
This is one of my favourite ‘slurps’: the 2004 vintage was divine and I’m hoping the 2006 will be just as good once it has been laid down for about 5 years. (2006 was not a good year for Bordeaux.) So good in fact, I bought half a case on the spot.
http://urbandiner.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/chateau-le-boscq_SE_06.jpg
“Made predominately from Merlot with Cabernet Sauvingon and a touch of Petit Verdot, this wine is a beautiful deep magenta; Its scent is a perfect balance of spicy vanilla and earthy black fruits; After 7 years, its crisp blackcurrant and plum flavours have started to acquire a rich savoury character and the tannins are softening to a velvety smoothness; Delicious with red meat dishes, especially grilled steak.”
Château bottled, 13% ABV. Ought to benefit from laying down for 5 years.
Normally £19-20 a bottle; the Co-op are selling it for £16 a bottle. (The 2005 vintage sells for £34 a bottle.)
Hurry!
Hurry, hurry Mrs Murray... :eyebrows:
Nice one, Barry. As luck would have it, I'm popping by the Co-op today, so I'll see if I can snaffle some! :cheers:
Marco.
Ogio Primitivo 2009
A picture:
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/server9/forum-pictures/ogio-1-DSCF9707.jpg
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On Saturday we attended a blind wine tasting and this was our favourite wine.
When tasting blind most people thought this was a very good Reserva Rioja, we where all wrong :) It's from Italy.
Imagine your favourite Reserva Rioja with a bit of Borello goodness thrown in :)
Tesco appears to be the UK retailer:
http://www.tesco.com/wine/product/details/default.aspx?searchBox=ogio&id=262489849
A review here on a blog ( with stretched pictures? )
http://winehosguide.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/ogio-primitivo-2009/
Well recommended :) Don't let the plain looking label put you off.
The 2011 release of this wine is currently on half-price offer at Tesco at £4.99. It is bloomin' marvellous - even better than the 2009 was I think, even at full price it isn't shoddy at all and at a fiver it is a veritable bargain. No surprise the shelf was empty when I went in there for more the other day. :(
we had a bottle of this tonight cheap as chips
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp272/jonboy_01/pissdru.jpg
The 2011 release of this wine is currently on half-price offer at Tesco at £4.99. It is bloomin' marvellous - even better than the 2009 was I think, even at full price it isn't shoddy at all and at a fiver it is a veritable bargain. No surprise the shelf was empty when I went in there for more the other day. :(
I love Tesco's 'Ogio', especially the Pinot Grigio.
Normally I baulk at paying £10 a bottle for a mid week slurp, so when I see it on offer at half price I take full advantage! :) As you have observed, they don't last long. :(
By the way, according to Marco, who ought to know these things: 'Ogio' is Italian for 'today', and Pinot Grigio refers to the 'grey' Pinot grape.
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