Finally managed to get to an Aldi this AM (our 'local' one is an hour away in Boston and a pain to get to) in Rugby, while visiting family.
Found the Amarone label on the rack.... but NONE LEFT!!
Gutted :(
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Finally managed to get to an Aldi this AM (our 'local' one is an hour away in Boston and a pain to get to) in Rugby, while visiting family.
Found the Amarone label on the rack.... but NONE LEFT!!
Gutted :(
Also, If I'd known about the Gauloise at that point I'd have snagged some while there.
Bad day....
Ouch! And the Gauloise is in Lidl, dude, not Aldi... ;)
Marco
Bu99er. We DO have a Lidl near us. Will try to mosey on over before the weekend!Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Cool. Let us know how you get on :)
Marco.
Finally got into Lidl this morning and picked up a couple of packs of Gauloise.
Not tried it yet as I had one or two too many Pale Riders this afternoon and I'm at work in the morning. Boo...
However, I'll definitely be slurping one or two tomorrow evening. :cool:
Cheers!
Nice one, Steve. Let me know if you enjoy it. If you like Leffe, and strong-ish Belgian beers of that ilk, it should hit the spot nicely :)
Marco.
I LOVE beers of that type. I'm like a kid in a toyshop in the average Belgian bar :eek:
Just having a Christmas drink with friends , hook norton twelve days , fabulous dark ale , 5.5 and full of flavour ! Lovely .
I bought quite a few mini kegs from Stewart Brewing; the 80 shilling & Zymic are particularly nice :D
http://www.stewartbrewing.co.uk/brow..._0_0_de_c.html
Also supped a couple of bottles of Chateau Musar already; a 2000 and a 2005 so far; have a 2001 to drink today when the wife & i go to the folks this afternoon :)
Bullseye.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Luuurvely. :)
Nice one, dude. Nice and creamy, innit? :)
Marco.
Certainly is, but with plenty of body & flavour. My worry is that the tab at Lidl said 'While Stocks Last'.
I also tried a bottle of Batemans' Vintage Ale last night. Now, I'm not an afficionado of the darker ales, and certainly not of anything that smacks of being a 'Barley Wine', but...... This one is so complex - plummy, toffee-y, Porty, almost Christmas Cake-in-a-bottle-y, and quite strong (7.5% ABV) yet not 'feeling' overpoweringly so. Don't know if I'd drink very many, but an occasional one may go down a treat.
The story behind it goes something like: Old Mr Bateman brewed a run of a special Barley Wine way back when, and put the last few cases away to be brought out for son Stuart's 21st in 1981. It was subsequently overlooked and eventually was dragged out and sampled many years later. It was found to be so good that Stuart decided to try to copy it, and this is the result.
I got it from Batemans' shop down the road, but I believe there are a few bottles around in some supermarkets. Worth keeping an eye out for!
Oh, by the way, it really is a 'keeper' too. The Best Before' is 2037!! :eek:
Jesus i'm enjoying some Spanish red tonight! The wife bought it & was adamant it was good,regardless of what i say, but blimey it's so smoothe 13.5% more tororrow hopefully :lol:
2008 Antica Vigna Amarone della Valpolicella
http://www.by-invitation.com/wp-cont...08-230x306.jpg
14.5% ABV
Available from Aldi (thanks to Marco for pointing this out), this Amarone lived up to expectation: big bold and beautiful - rich, smooth and rounded with a long finish. Personally I prefer the 2006 Masi Costasera Amarone, but given the good price of the Aldi sourced Amarone (£14.99), this is a minor quibble.
Enjoyed with venison steak, roast potatoes, baby carrots, Savoy cabbage, and green beans.
2008 Château Minvielle, Bordeaux
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/61577.png
Merlot 70%, Cabernet Franc 30%. Winner of Concours Général Agricol gold medal. 12.5% ABV.
2010 Château Fleur la Mothe, Médoc
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/63370.png
Merlot 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 50%. One of my favourite Médocs! 14% ABV
Enjoyed with beef ravioli, sweetcorn, sugar-snap peas, asparagus, and green beans.
2001 Château du Clos Perrault, Bordeau Supérier
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/61973.png
Merlot 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon. 13% ABV
Enjoyed with boeuf bourguignon, mashed potato, baby carrots and green beans.
2010 Château la Croix des Ducs, Montagne Saint-Emilion
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/63200.png
Merlot 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, 13% ABV
Looks like 2010 could be as good a year for Bordeaux as 2009. Time to start laying down some of the 2010 vintage.
2005 Château L’Insoumise, Cuvée Caresse du Terroir, Bordeaux
13% ABV
Enjoyed with chicken breast stuffed with Manchego cheese, topped with chorizo and cheese with a tomato and red wine sauce, boiled potatoes, green beans and broccoli.
2010 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Collection, Réserve Bordeaux Special
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/63723.png
65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% ABV
About as close as I’m going to get to drinking Château Lafite! Another 2010 vintage that will be worth laying down for a couple of years.
2008 Un Vent de Folie, Côtes du Roussillon Village (Bottle number 007091)
http://sc.cellartracker.com/labels/1...693/142854.jpg
This “Flight of Fancy” was bought on a whim – and boy I’m glad I did! An absolute stonker. Inky black in colour with a complex nose. Full bodied with a long and smooth finish. Must be decanted; I have never come across a bottle with so much silt and sediment. Bloody marvellous.
2009 Château Le Coin, Bordeaux Supérieur
http://www.bawineclub.co.uk/images/products/63617.jpg
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV.
Another example of the excellent 2009 vintage. Good job I bought a case to lay down.
Enjoyed with a beef casserole, mashed potato, baby carrots, savoy cabbage, broccoli and green beans.
2011 Château de Fouzilhon, Coteaux du Langedoc
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/63845.png
40% Syrah, 30% Carigan and 30% Grenach. 14% ABV
2006 Héritage de Mayne Lalande, Listrac-Medoc
13% ABV
2011 Vieux Remparts Châteauneuf-du-Pape
http://www.vivino.com/images/all_lab...6_8689_150.jpg
13.5%
This is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape available from Aldi that Marco alerted us to. Not as good as some others I have drunk; the 2007 Cuvée du Vatican in particular, but at the price (£9.99) I have no real complaints.
Enjoyed with lamb shank with roasted carrots and parsnips with a redcurrant, rosemary and thyme gravy, mash potatoes, carrots, Savoy cabbage, broccoli, sugar snap peas and green beans.
And now a rather tasty Austrian white:
2011 Grüner Veltliner Weinland, Landwein aus Österrich Trocken
http://img.tesco.com/wine/UIAssets/p...ot_150x300.jpg
100% Grüner Veltiner, 12.5% ABV
This is a fashionably crisp dry wine having peach and apple flavours. A delightfully ’fresh’ tasting white wine, which has become the latest fashion amongst lovers of white wine. It now joins the Oggio pinot grigot as my favourite ‘Tesco’ white: Tesco have it on offer at £6.99 a bottle.
One bottle enjoyed with baked salmon steaks, boiled potatoes, asparagus, broccoli and green beans.
A second, enjoyed with Japanese prawn tashimi, followed by chicken teriyaki with stir-fry vegetables and rice.
Superb stuff, Barry! Most of the wines we've been drinking were bought in France, last summer, so I doubt I'd be able to find pics of the labels...
Hey that 2008 Un Vent de Folie is a stonker though, innit? :eek: Glad you very kindly let me try that! Nice one :)
Marco.
No worries Marco! Do you remember any of the names? How about giving us an impression of the wine you drank?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I've put on half a stone thanks to all the eating over the festive period! I blame it on having guests over Christmas. Think I'll have to rein back on the vino! :(
Cheers
2009 Château Dasvin-Bel-Air, Haut-Médoc
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/media/offer...8_T_a14(1).jpg
Given Cru Bourgeois status, this wine, from one of Bordeaux's best ever vintages, has a dense colour, fresh dark berry nose and great concentration of fruit complete with some savoury gravel notes. Perhaps the most famous wine growing region in the world, Bordeaux is divided by the Gironde. On the left bank of this estuary lies the Haut-Médoc home to Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air's vineyard. On the opposite bank is the beautiful town of St. Émilion.
14% ABV £9.99 a bottle
This was bought as a ‘consolation’ for missing out on the Margaux that Aldi had on offer over Christmas. And what an acceptable substitute it was! Another 2009 gem – enjoyed with Lancashire hot-pot, baby carrots, Savoy cabbage and petit pois.
2011 Réserve du Dolmen, Minervois
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/63865.png
Blend of Syrah and Grenache Noir grape. 13.5% ABV
Minervois is a rugged, mountainous region between Béziers and Carcassonne. It was the first place in southern France where the Romans planted vines. Exceptional terroir and low yields enable Minervois' growers to get real depth and concentration in their wines. (The fact that they do so at such highly competitive prices is a tribute to their dedication and perseverance.)This intense red comes from the multi award winning Lauran Cabaret cellars. Most of the grapes were vinified traditionally, although the portion of Carignan was fermented in whole bunches to accentuate fruitiness and minimise tannins. Enjoy its ripe, red berry flavours and herbal complexity with grilled or roasted red meats, light game, rich pasta dishes or mature cheeses.
I enjoyed half a bottle with a spaghetti carbonara, brocolli, green beans and sweetcorn and the second half with grilled wild boar sausages, ratatouille and mashed potato.
I got a few nice drinks from Waitrose Belgium Beer and Vintage Perry
If you're near Dunfermline I can recommend a visit to "The Commercial" in Queen Anne St, they do a nice range of hand pull ales, changes made weekly. Ossian by The Inveralmond Brewery is my tipple tonight, comfy in the house away from the cold night air, a nice malt may wash it down later.
I had a party on this yesterday & doan i know about it this morning :lol:
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Domai.../dp/B005CX9LW8
The wife was on this below, she'll be in a coma all today hence some peace & quiet :rfl:
http://www.marksandspencer.com/La-Vi..._rd_s=center-3
That's a nice wine, dude, at a bargain price! You like your Shiraz, don't you? :eyebrows:
I know why, as they're 'big', jammy, powerful and packed full of flavour... I like them sometimes too, as they're a nice change from the more traditional French and Italian wines I normally drink. You should try some of the Chilean and Argentinean stuff, too.
Watch all those calories, though, with your diet! ;)
Marco.
Yes Shiraz is my fav, don't worry about calories i'm very good with food intake at weekends :D
Trouble is, dude, and please don't take this the wrong way, but that's not a recipe for a healthy diet, as all the good that you're doing your body by eating healthily is being ruined by alcohol 'abuse'....
It's all a bit 'arse about tit'. Think of the effect that the alcohol is having on your liver. You only have to research this on the 'net.
S'up to you what you do, though. IMO, you'd be far better off enjoying a few nice meals and cutting down on your alcohol intake (especially with the amount of calories in wine), than binging on red wine and then living off of rabbit food! ;)
But then, being Italian, I have a rather different attitude towards alcohol (and food) than most people in the UK, as I just don't get the attraction of getting totally drunk. I gave all that up when I was 17.
Marco.
Yeh your right it's not good but i refuse to give my drinkipoos up at the weekend. Anyhoots it's only till im done on my diet which should be around five weeks. Ive actually finished my diet now but i want to get a bit more off because of the up & coming Holiday abroad where i want to enjoy myself without watching the calories.
No worries, dude. I guess that you get as much pleasure from your "drinkipoos" as I do from Del cooking me a nice meal, and enjoying ONE good bottle of red wine between us, with the meal.
I think it's a fundamental difference in cultures. Italians live to eat, not eat to live (as in general Brits do), and Brits live to get pished......! ;)
Marco.
To be honest i don't like food i think it's a pain in the arse having to eat a few times a day never mind a waste of a large chunk of my money & time but you have to eat to live i suppose :)
However people have different attitudes to drinking, some go out to socialize some to pull birds some to get pished, im in the latter, i don't see the logic in drinking without getting drunk :scratch: one thing i don't understand is how someone can become an alkerolic, ive been on a few week long benders in my time but never been dependant on it!
As you know i have zero value for life & if i can get out of this shitty world by getting dwunk i will do so :eyebrows:
Lol... I understand where you're coming from, dude, but can't empathise with it in any way.
You know that we agree on many things, but when it comes to our attitudes towards food and drink, we *are* literally living in different worlds!! ;)
Marco.
Oh André, André, André ....
You have it 'all about face'! The point is to enjoy life! You and I are not so different - we have both been 'shafted' in our times; at least you have a partner you care about and who cares about you.
If it wasn't for my friends, music, food, drink and travel, I think I might have 'topped' myself years ago.
Booze is not the panacea, but knowing you like Shiraz, I can recommend the following:
2010 Fairview 'The Black Road', Shiraz Pinotage
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/64138.png
An Aussie 'slurp', the Shiraz grape gives it a big 'bold' flavour (in 'wine speak', Shiraz is spoken of as being "generous"), as well as providing 'spice and pepper' flavours.
14% ABV, about £10 a bottle.
Mmm... That should pack a nice wallop! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Well today I have a stinkin' Bombay Sapphire Gin hangover, really need to get away from the keyboard and take the dog out to try some fresh air, never again, well till the snooker tonight.:cool:
A rear insight into the Government's 'Hospitality' wine collection.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-13387171
Yum i'd like some of that Cognac in mi tummy :eyebrows:
2.5 hours coundown to Red Wine drinkipoo's :D
What's so special about 23:00? Is that when you eat dinner? :scratch:Quote:
Originally Posted by Rare Bird
21.00 is when i land in the pub on a Friday :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Ah - that make sense. (I can't do simple addition! :doh:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rare Bird
For those who are getting tired of me recommending wines (clarets in particular) that cost £10 or more a bottle, here is something for lovers of Spanish rioja.
Viña Gala – Rioja Tinto
http://www.spanishwine.eclipse.co.uk/rioja_vinagala.jpg
100% Tempranillo, 13% ABV
Available from your local Co-op for £5.49 a bottle. And a damned fine rioja it is too!
Wow - that's cheap for a decent Rioja - one of my favourite varieties. I went to the co-op today but came out with a Côtes du Rhône for tomorrow's roast beef with the family.
For those of you who are partial to Spanish Rioja, do try to check this one out:
2010 Selección de la Familia Carlos, La Mancha, Castilla VdT
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ucts/64188.png
This is an absolute stonker of a rioja! Medium bodied, 100% Tempranillo grape. 13% ABV
"Jucy summer berries with a touch of vanilla"
And the best news - only £6.99 a bottle from Laithwaite's Wine. :)
I presume that's if you buy a case, or are Laithwaite's now selling bottles individually? ;)
Still - it looks very good! :)
Marco.
Hi Marco,Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
No, that's per bottle. :) http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/Still_R...os/prod4513021
Just enjoyed a couple of glasses with a beef bourguignon, mashed potato, carrots, leeks and brocolli.
If you are interested, we could share a case.
Interesting, Barry. I wasn't aware that one could order single bottles of wine, through Laithwaites.
I'll bear sharing a case in mind, but right now it's Lent, so Del and I are off ALL alcohol for 6 weeks! :(
Marco.
:eek: Thank the Lord I'm a Seven Day Imbiber :eyebrows:Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Ah yes - I had forgotten. Should have been a little more thoughtful. Sorry :doh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Lol... If you'd remembered, I'd have been most impressed!
Still, the Rioja looks good, so we can discuss sharing a case after Lent :)
Marco.
I do not touch grape these days as it doesn't agree with my stomach or head, but ale is a different matter! I am a fan of highly hopped ales & enjoying the US craft scene at the moment for American IPAs. There are also some awesome British American-style IPAs.
I think "Punk IPA" was a good brand for Brew Dog as it's a good way to describe the current IPAs with their extreme level of hoppiness that non-drinkers grimace at saying it tastes like perfume. Punk IPA is nice, but it's 'punky and immature' compared to these amazing ales:
Little Creatures IPA - this is a good introduction to IPA as it's less intense than the American & British ones. If you're an IPA fan then this'll seem a bit washed out, but it's a lovely, delicately floral (in a nice way!) and easy going ale.
Goose Island IPA to be found at many British supermarkets. Far more sophisticated than Punk IPA and a good everyday example of a real American IPA with heavy use of multiple hop varieties & dry hopping - the Yanks are biggest is best in so many ways.
Cascade IPA - this is currently in Carringtons in Chorlton, Manchester. Will find further details, but most ale fans will like this with a single hop simplicity, and not the same intensity as the American IPAs.
Marks & Spencer Cornish IPA - wonderfully fresh, medium bodied IPA that's great on train journeys. ;) I sometimes pick a couple of these up for my trains back from London. Much better than the Staffordshire IPA they sell.
Well actually, when I heard it was Lent I thought to myself "Marco and Del will be abstaining, so better not post any comments on wine" - but then I forgot and was keen to tell people about the above mentioned rioja.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Lol - don't worry about us, matey. Carry on regardless with your excellent recommendations! :)
Marco.
2008 Marqués de Valido, Rioja Reserva
Attention Rioja lovers, the Co-op have this very decent rioja on half price offer - reduced from £10.99 to £5.49.
http://sc.cellartracker.com/labels/1...227/225919.jpg
(The 2008 has an identical label, save for the year.)
Smooth, complex and reasonably full-bodied, this rioja is very drinkable and at a very reasonable price. 13% ABV. Offer ends 2 April.
(With apologies to Marco who is following the Lenten abstention – but that ought not to stop one from purchasing a bottle or two.)