That looks like a belter, Barry! I think I'll buy a couple of bottles and put them aside for after Lent :)
Marco.
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That looks like a belter, Barry! I think I'll buy a couple of bottles and put them aside for after Lent :)
Marco.
I love the old real ale and if you get the chance I recommend Hepworths from the lovely town of Horsham. They brew the Sussex ale for M&S and also do a blond lager (called, brilliantly, "blond") which is perfect for a summer's day. Assuming one ever arrives.
Following on from my notification of the 2008 Marqués de Valido Rioja Reserva the Co-op have have on half price offer, I may have appeared to be a little too enthusiastic. Certainly this rioja is not worth the full price of £10.99 a bottle but at £5.49 it's not too bad.
I certainly found the bottle I tried to be very drinkable: smooth with good complexity, if far from being full-bodied. It does have to be served at 18C, and allowed to breath.
The reason I am posting this, is because I have just spent the afternoon listening to a friends audio system, and by way of conversation, the Co-op rioja came up. He too had tried a bottle (from the same store) and found it, in his words, "harsh, coarse and un-drinkable". So much so, he finished the bottle by adding sparkling lemonade (?) to make a spritzer.
Now he may have had the misfortune to buy a 'bad' bottle, but I feel I had to bring this to your attention. Caveat emptor.
[I believe Aldi are selling some good rioja at the moment on offer. Will investegate and report back.]
Funnily enough Barry, we've just polished off a bottle and "Certainly this rioja is not worth the full price of £10.99 a bottle but at £5.49 it's not too bad." was almost exactly what I said. Not enough oak or vanilla for my taste, but certainly acceptable. I had no need to reach for the lemonade, though! :eek:
Now this is more like it co-op - from Bodegas Luis Alegre - Simo Rioja Crianza 2007. Technically, a Crianza shouldn't be as good as the last recommendation of a Rioja Reserva, but this one is a cracker! All that lovely oakiness and vanilla - one of the nicest Riojas I have tried in a long time.
http://yfrog.com/scaled/landing/739/6zzhk.jpg
Not such a bargain as last time, though - down £2 from £8.99 to £6.99 - but I'd be happy with it even at the full price - in fact better than most £10-12 Riojas if you love them the way I do. :)
No wonder your wine bill for a WEEK was the same as my fuel bill for the month! :rolleyes: :D
Yes it was, Barry - sorry you couldn't find it at yours. :(
Discovered in Maplin - a rather "nifty" wine bottle thermometer:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/digital-wine...mometer-662388
At only £2.49 (on offer until 16.04.13), this is a useful little "gizmo" to check the temperature of your wine. It clips around the bottle, and whilst there is no indication of accuracy, I believe the accuracy is sufficient for practical purposes.
Used it today to ensure the temperature of my bottle of Bordeaux was 17 - 18 degC. :)
As an update to the above post and having read the information on the side of the box, I can now tell you:
Indoor temperature accuracy: +/-1 deg C
Indor temperature resolution: 1 deg C
"Measures bottle temperature which is one degree higher than contents"
I believe this is sufficient for practical purposes.
The thermometer comes with fitted with a CR2025 lithium cell, but I can see no way by which the cell can be replaced. Since the device is activated when it is clipped around the bottle and deactivated when removed, the battery life should be long; but when exhausted it would seem the thermometer has to be thrown away! :doh:
Nice one, Barry. That's a neat little device :)
Anyway, I don't normally remember to recommend the real ales I drink, but this one I'm quaffing now is special enough to have reminded me to make the effort:
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3320/hummerbio.png
If you love pale ales, such as Deuchars IPA, then this unusual American beer should hit the spot: creamy as a very creamy thing, with an attractive richness and refreshing citrus hit - luvvly jubbly! :cool:
Details here: http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/humming_ale
Available in the UK from Beers of Europe: http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/anchor-humming-ale
Marco.
2009 Château Cap D’Or Saint Georges – Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage
Gold Medal Winner Vignerons Independants Concours 2011.
Châteaux in the tiny outlying village of Saint Georges may use the Montagne Saint Emilion appellation for their wines but a number continue to assert their own identity, taking pride in their excellent terroir. Typically for this part of Bordeaux, Château Cap d'Or grows mostly Merlot, which is well suited to the clay rich soils, and produces lush, ripe, plummy flavours. That's just what you'll find in this wine, plus a gentle wrap of oak.Like many properties, the estate crafted one of its finest clarets to date in 2009 - "perhaps the greatest vintage Bordeaux has ever produced" (Steven Spurrier). To enjoy the wine at its best, open an hour beforehand and decant to let it breathe. Delicious with red meats - roasted, casseroled or grilled.
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14% ABV, £15 a bottle
2009 Château Portal Minnervois Vieilles Vignes
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage
Gold Medal Winner Concours Mondial, Bruxelles 2010.
Château Portal is one of the leading estates in the Minervois, with a history dating back to the 11th century. The property was home to French nobility throughout the Middle Ages and to this day retains a restored 8th century chapel. Jérôme Portal's 80 hectares of vines grow right next to the region's top cru, La Livinière, so it's little surprise the quality is so high.Cuvée Jérôme is crafted mainly from rich and spicy Syrah supported by raspberry rich Grenache and spicy Carignan - the incredibly intense flavours of which are due to rare 100 year old vines. Ageing for a year in lightly toasted French oak barrels imparts extra complexity. Serve this splendid southern French red with traditional cassoulet or roast shoulder of lamb.
14% ABV, c. £11 a bottle
I can highly recommend both of these!
Spring, at long last, is now here - so it's time for vin blanc. Tesco have on half-price offer (£4.99) the 2012 Ogio, Pinot Grigio. 12% ABV
http://img.tesco.com/wine/UIAssets/p...ot_150x300.jpg
This is my favourite pinot grigio. :) Offer ends 25.04.13.
2009 Château Peybourdieu, Médoc
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage
“When it comes to positioning the quality of a Bordeaux vintage, critic Robert Parker is highly influential. His verdict on 2009? It "may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years". Shortly after this pronouncement, prices of leading crus classés wines soared. That's why we delight in discovering sensibly priced classics like Château Peybourdieu. Winemaker Denis Cayé is the third generation of his family at the property since 1956. In 2009, grape quality was so exceptional he had little to do in the cellar other than let nature do its work. A 60/40 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this is thoroughly delicious, satin smooth Médoc with cassis, liquorice and cigar box character. Well suited to roast duck or lamb.”
Another ‘belter’ from Laithwaites. 14% ABV, £9.99 a bottle.
Decanting is recommended as a small amount of sediment will have formed.
Ooh, that sounds good Barry... :drool: I might have to abuse my Laitwhaite account!
2011 Réserve du Dolmen, Minervois
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage
A cheeky little wine that may amuse you with its presumptive nature….
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.
A blend of Syrah and Grenache Noir. 13.5% ABV £8 from Laithwaites.
Good evening oenophiles,
Of late I have been going through a Médoc ‘phase’. I have already waxed lyrical about the 2009 Fleur de Mothe (sadly finished my last bottle!). This time I want to commend another Médoc to you, the
2009 Château Cerestin La Lande
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage
Region: Garonne Grape variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. 14% ABV.
Jean-Marc Sauboua was born into the elite world of Bordeaux wine. He is himself an accomplished winemaker and now, as our claret buyer, he draws on his valuable little black book of 'wine chums' to help track down exceptional clarets ahead of the UK competition. To follow up a lead, Jean-Marc drove out to some tucked away Médoc vineyards in the little village of Saint Christoly. There he met with François Arnaudy, seventh generation owner of Château Cerestin La Lande, and tasted his truly sublime 2009 vintage.A blend of equal parts Cabernet and Merlot from the fruit of 30 year old vines, this is a classic Médoc with exceptional vintage ripeness and balance. It's best when decanted an hour in advance and enjoyed with roast lamb or duck.
This has received mixed reviews; one good review, one poor. Maybe the latter was a bad bottle? I loved it, 2009 was an excellent year (and so too was 2010) and am thinking of buying a case (Marco?)
Laithwaite’s, £11 a bottle.
Have just opened my last bottle of the 2007 Le Grand Chai, Margaux. Enjoyed with chicken breast in a tomato and basil sauce, baked tomato, potatoes, baby carrots, fine beans, peas and broccoli and spinach.
Have you tried your bottle yet Marco? What did you think of it?
I think it was the 29th March the last time booze touched my lips :)
Aye, now you just take it intravenously - saves on glasses! :eyebrows:
Bazza, I've not had the Margaux yet, but will do today with Sunday lunch. It should wash down nicely some local Welsh lamb cutlets, marinated in olive oil, garlic, rosemary and lemon, then grilled to perfection and served with whatever fresh vegetables Del decides to make! :)
Nice idea on the Cerestin La Lande. However, at the moment, we're clearing room on the wine racks for our forthcoming trip to France and Italy, where the car will be heaving on the way back with vino, so bad timing, muchacho...
Ask me that question again nearer Christmas, and if you've found something nice, we'll go halfers on a case! :cheers:
Marco.
Barry, we had the Margaux yesterday - very nice indeed... Typical of the breed: a very classy slurp! :cheers:
Marco.
Glad you enjoyed it Marco. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with my (last) bottle. Very little nose, despite being opened and decanted an hour before drinking.
It was a 2007 and "favours early drinking - but will respond well to a few years cellaring". Perhaps six years was a bit too long. :scratch:
See what I can come up with for the AoS show. (By the way when are we getting confirmation of the venue - I want to book a room.)
ATB
To celebrate both the return of the ‘New Look’ Forum and the start of summer, you might be interested in a rather tasty Chablis:
2010 Chablis Premier Cru, Domaine Brocard.
(Sorry, can’t find an image for the label)
Chardonnay grape. 12.5% ABV Bottled by Domaines Brocard.
“… offers a palate of mouth-watering citrus fruit and minerality underpinned by a long dry finish.”
Normally sells for £14.99 a bottle. On offer in the Co-op at £12.99 a bottle.
Excellent, Barry - will check that out! :cheers:
Btw, I've deleted your thread, showing the above, in Abstract Chat. As you've now realised yourself, here is where it should've been posted ;)
Marco.
Here's one to look out for (and possibly lay down):
2011 Château Constance, Corbières vieilles vignes
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage
“Picture rough, rugged, mountainous Corbières where wild boar outnumber people and ravens circle the craggy peaks. Wine-wise, its range of microclimates give vine growers plenty to play with and make it one of the few places where the Carignan grape can really shine. When yields are kept low, this characterful variety adds bags of colour and a savoury depth to the flavours of its fruitier fellow grapes, such as the raspberry rich Grenache. Consultant winemaker at the property is Saint Emilion trained Claude Gros, who really knows how to make the most of the 'vieilles vignes' grapes. Dark, smoky berry fruit enhanced by notes of the surrounding garrigue, this rich, weighty red makes an ideal match with lamb, a robust cassoulet or duck.”
Carignan and Grenache grape 13.5% ABV.
Laithwaite’s, £8.99 a bottle.
I’ve half a mind to invest in a case. Decanting is advisable. I’m enjoying this with a beef ragu with Mafaldine pasta, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, red peppers, and spinach.
That looks really good, Barry! If you can hang on until we've polished off some of the stuff Del and I will be bringing back from France and Italy, I'll go halfers with you on a case :cheers:
Marco.
That's very kind of you, Barry, and appreciated. Hold onto them, though, until after we've come back from holiday, as right now we're in clearance, rather than collecting mode! :)
Marco.
2008 Pouilly-Fuissé, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Magnin-Gonon
http://img.morrisonscellar.com/Image...TIVEIMAGE1CROP
Well summer is at last here, so whilst watching Wimbledon or lazing around in the garden, why not take advantage of a rather nice little Maconnais white Burgundy?
Lovely citrus notes with just a little mineral – more subdued than you find with say a Pouilly Fumé, which can often taste a bit too much of flint.
13% ABV, available from the Co-op at £7 a bottle.
Last night I enjoyed a bottle with oven baked wild salmon, done in a spinach, cheese and white wine sauce topped with potato and a cheese gratin and served with Jersey Royal potatoes, steamed asparagus tips, broccoli, red pepper and fresh garden peas.
Strewth - 7 quid for a decent Pouilly Fuisse??
I know where I'm going tomorrow! :thumbsup:
I have drunk better - but at a much higher price! Even so, I can see me returning for a few more bottles.
You might be interested in the 2010 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi available from M&S at £7.49.
http://winicjatywa.pl/wp-content/upl...pr-522x584.jpg
This is well worth the extra over the Tesco version (at £4.80 a bottle)
http://img.tesco.com/wine/UIAssets/p...ot_150x300.jpg
However if you want to push the boat out a little, I can thoroughly recommend an Austrian white: Gruner Veldliner.
http://img.tesco.com/wine/UIAssets/p...ot_150x300.jpg
Available from Tesco at £7.49 a bottle.
Further to the above post, Co-op have on offer a 2010 Chablis Premier Cru, Domaines Brocard.
Chardonnay grape, 12.5% ABV. Normally £13.99 a bottle, now reduced to £10.99.
Sadly for me Barry, the Pouilly Fuisse was 13.99 at my local Co-op! :(
That's a shame Julian. It seems that various branches of supermarkets have some autonomy when it comes to offers.
Alex (Alex_UK) some time ago posted about a very attractively priced Margaux seen at his Aldi. Sadly it was not available at my local branch.
Lol - and quite right, too. It's rather lovely stuff... Enjoy! :cheers:
Marco.
Forgive me if its been mentioned .. But Toro Loco from Aldi.
Unbelievable at £3.69
If you can get any when it comes in that is.
Hi Steve
I bought a couple bottles of Cheap Red for dinner, from Aldi on my way home from the carboot today: Grapevine Merlot, that was around £3 a bottle, im shocked how good it is, in fact i could sup this all the time..
We should be shocked how much the big supermarkets charge us for some of the wines they stock. Aldi an Lidl got the price versus quality about right. The Lidl Prosecco is absolutely fab at £7.99. It used to be about half that one time, but once the word got out it shot up in price.
When supermarkets run so-called 'half price' offers on wine, all they are doing is offering the wine at the correct price with very little mark up. At all other times they simply make a massive profit.
Having said that, it is unreasonable to expect to be able to buy a decent white for less than about £5.
http://pintsandpubs.files.wordpress....nglish-ale.jpg
Greene King’s Tolly English Ale crowned World’s Best
11 October, 2012
Bury St Edmunds brewer Greene King’s Tolly English Ale has been voted the greatest low strength beer in the world!
The 2.8% ABV brew triumphed in the World’s Best Low Strength Beer category after three tough rounds of judging at the World Beer Awards this week.
Popular with after-work drinkers and those looking to cut down on their alcohol intake, Tolly was given the honour by a panel of experts that included some of the most renowned beer aficionados on the planet.
More than 600 entries from 32 countries were blind tasted before category winners, including Tolly, were announced.
Bought a delicious Touraine Sauv Blanc for £6.59 in Waitrose ... Great value. Took a gamble as most of their discounted wines I have bought in the past turned out to be utter rubbish.
Very refreshing, pronounced gooseberry flavours ...
http://www.waitrose.com/shop/Product...aine+Sauvignon
Tescos now stock this, I like Guiness anyway but this is delicious
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps3d4bff61.jpg
Some reds enjoyed over the last month or so:
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage http://www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk...ype=largeImage
Left to right, they are:
2008 Chateau Les Vallees, Bordeaux
Though the 2008 Bordeaux vintage was released without the fanfare of 2005 or 2009, it was, for the discerning few, cause for celebration. The wines were not super ripe and ready for immediate consumption, but classically structured and elegant, with the potential to evolve gracefully over the years.The 11th century Château Les Vallées once belonged to the Duke of Epernon, Chief Admiral of France under Henry III. These days it's run by Justin Onclin, the owner of Parker rated Château Branas Poujeaux and winemaker for Margaux's Cru Classé Prieuré Lichine. Add to that the expertise of the world renowned Stéphane Derenoncourt and you can understand why this claret is so delicious. Soft and supple, this 2008 is perfect with roast lamb or beef.
70% Merlot 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% ABV £10 a bottle
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/Still_R...es/prod4513004
2009 Chateau Cap D’Or, Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion
Châteaux in the tiny outlying village of Saint Georges may use the Montagne Saint Emilion appellation for their wines but a number continue to assert their own identity, taking pride in their excellent terroir. Typically for this part of Bordeaux, Château Cap d'Or grows mostly Merlot, which is well suited to the clay rich soils, and produces lush, ripe, plummy flavours. That's just what you'll find in this wine, plus a gentle wrap of oak.Like many properties, the estate crafted one of its finest clarets to date in 2009 - "perhaps the greatest vintage Bordeaux has ever produced" (Steven Spurrier). To enjoy the wine at its best, open an hour beforehand and decant to let it breathe. Delicious with red meats - roasted, casseroled or grilled.
Gold Medal Winner Vignerons Independantes Concours 2011
80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% ABV £15 a bottle
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/Still_R...Or/prod4512828
2010 Chateau Rollin, Haut-Médoc
Blessed with ideal conditions for growing vines, the Médoc is the world's largest top quality wine region, and its fine wines have been enjoyed in the UK for centuries. Château Rollin lies in the Haut-Médoc, where the famous 'communes' (including Margaux and Pauillac) are located. It is owned jointly by the Martin and Tiffon families, fourth generation growers who are extremely conscientious about managing their vineyard. Planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, their 10 hectares of precious, 40 year old vines lie in the commune of Saint Sauveur.It's definitely worth decanting this vibrant, modern style claret to bring out its full fantail of fine aromas before serving with duck breast, rack of lamb or a hearty stew.
50% Merlot 48% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV £14.40 a bottle
http://www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk...23&tab=reviews
Also
2009 Chateau De Frimont – Bordeaux
… with aromas of blackberries, blackcurrents, prunes and hints of roses and grilled almonds. …silky smooth, persistent and elegant, with good cellaring potential.
Medaille d’Or, Recolte 2009 and Médaille d’Or Concours de Bordeaux Vins d’Aquitaine 2010.
Bottle 100116/ No. 13179
85% Merlot 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% About £ 9.50 a bottle
Image can be found in http://www.icbcasia.com/eng/20120629...er_Wine_EN.pdf
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/...ype=largeImage
2011 Chateau Le Coin, Bordeaux
We've worked with Ludovic Roussillon at Château Le Coin now for a number of vintages, helping him to make modern, fruit rich clarets exclusively for our customers. The soil on his immaculately tended estate in the Entre Deux Mers is pure limestone and very rocky, so the vines are kept well drained and the grapes concentrated.Ludovic is very open to new ideas, and our own Bordeaux specialist Jean-Marc Sauboua helped him get the most from his grapes in 2011 - a vintage that proved trickier than the two preceeding ones. With measures in place to reduce yields and keep the bunches in top health, quality didn't suffer. Made mostly from Merlot with just a touch of both Cabernets, Château Le Coin is ideal for your Sunday roast or a tasty stew.
80% Merlot 15% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV £9 a bottle.
Not quite as good as the 2009, but pretty close!
http://www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk...Id=prod4615684
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/Still_R...in/prod4615683
I got totally rat arsed yesterday on Sneck Lifter it's so yummy :D
I was rat arsed on this yesterday. The brewery is a 5 min walk from our house :eyebrows: 4% It's a light beer but tastes nice. £1.80 a pint is dead right.
http://www.chantrybrewery.co.uk/contact.html
I'd have had that short measure topped up...