The Wine & Whisky Thread

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Originally Posted by Marco

The wine in question is Rustenberg John X Merriman 2007 Stellenbosch from South Africa (2005 vintage shown below):


http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/1862/1040571x.jpg

Info here: http://www.rustenberg.co.za/

UK availability here: http://www.waitrosewine.com/230404972/Product.aspx


Marco.

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This was a while ago :) We tried two bottles from waitrose . :cool:

I really liked it, Tracey not too keen on it, (too accustomed to Supermarket offer Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon etc :lol: )

I am no wine expert (although I do try) but I would say slightly spicy, fruity, Tannins are soft but evident and a soft finish that is sort of 'fresh' if that makes sense.

I prefer a longer finish ideally.

I would buy it again but there are so many to try....

Mark.

Hahaha.... Speak for yourself! :eyebrows:

Btw, did you get around to trying that Amarone and the other red I got (I forget what it was now - a Chianti-type, I think)? :)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Hahaha.... Speak for yourself! :eyebrows:

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:lol::eyebrows::eek:

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Btw, did you get around to trying that Amarone and the other red I got (I forget what it was now - a Chianti-type, I think)? :)

Marco.

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Picture of the actual bottle tried, the other one is in the wine cellar* :)


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/...f8afdcec_b.jpg
Amarone 2006 by Mark G. in England, on Flickr

We tried try the Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Bolla 2006, fantastic !

Even the father in law that was visting that night who is a bit sceptical about some of my more expenisve wines was suprised.

Fist few sips not too impressive even after an hour or so of breathing, almost a dissapointment after the expectation, then it hits you on the next mouthfull. :eek: :cool:

Rich, full bodied, various intense fruity flavours, something spicy happening and then such a long and elegant finish :cool:

Without doubt the best wine we have ever tried, even my wife agreed :)

So thanks Marco :):)

Seen some online here:
http://www.thepurveyor.com/amarone-d...mpaign=product


( * = our wine cellar is just a cuboard)

Mark.

Excellent, Mark - glad it hit the spot!

What was the other one again. Maybe you could ask the butler to bring it from the cellar and take a picture of it? ;)

It was a Chianti-type, I'm sure, but I forget which one....

The problem with buying Italian wine in the UK is that the really good stuff is very hard to find, and only really available in specialist shops. Now and again though the better supermarkets get hold of some of it, which is where I obtained the Amarone (Bolla is about the best you can get).

Another rare gem to find in the UK is Morellino di Scansano, which is what is often referred to as a 'Super Tuscan'. It's a medium-bodied red, made mainly of Sangiovese grapes, so Chianti-like in style, but with bags more depth and finesse.

We're just about to enjoy a bottle of this with some home-made spinach crespelle with a fresh tomato and basil sauce, accompanied by garlic and rosemary infused toasted ciabatta, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil - yum yum! :)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5...discansano.jpg

We got it from one of our favourite wine shops, Gales, in Llangollen: http://www.galesofllangollen.co.uk/wineshop.htm

It has a good selection of quality Italian wine:


http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/5795/wspic1.jpg


:cheers: :cocktail:

Marco.

We're just about to slurp a bottle of this Médoc with Sunday lunch (roast rib of Welsh beef from our local butcher, hung and matured, served with a rich red wine and redcurrent jus, home-made Yorkshire puddings, red cabbage, asparagus, celeriac mash and purple sprouting broccoli):


http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6024/product130.jpg


More info here: http://www.lafragette.com/uk/chateau-loudenne/

Much later, chaps! :cheers:

Marco.

Neither wine nor real ale, but a crackin' drop of stuff all the same, I've just broken the seal on one of these.

http://www.lfw.co.uk/acatalog/aberlour_16.jpg

It's an Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask single malt. Bought as a Christmas snifter - I had to check that it was at least drinkable, hence the glass in front of me now!

If you're lucky enough to live anywhere near a Booth's supermarket, then this is £22 at the moment (normal price £44).

Have just returned from a visit to Tunisia, and am pleased to report I drank some very good red and white wines there.

http://spokengrape.typepad.com/.a/6a...0efe970b-320wi

Vieux Magon 2002, produced within the appellation Mornag, Tunisia.

“Raised in barrels this wine is full of fruit with a lovely ripe nose, probably just past it’s best, but still drinkable. It feels more alcoholic than the 13.5% on the bottle, coming through the palette with lovely warmth, bringing to mind warm, hot summers. The tannins are slight with most of the body coming from the ripe core of fruit, splattered with hints of chocolate and plums. Within the glass you can pick up ripe blackcurrants, vanilla and a touch of toffee.” (Locally ~ £13 a 75cl bottle)

For about 1/4 less, at £10 a bottle, there is the 2006 Magon Grand Vin de Mornag. Not quite as good as the 2002, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Ce vin rend hommageau célèbre agronome carthaginos Magon, auter au VIIIeme avant J.C. d’un traité sur agronomie, la vinticulture et la vinification don’t certains préciptes sont encore utilises de nos jours. Il est issu d’un Assemblage de cépages nobles la Syrah et le Merlot qui ont été cuillis manuellement et vinifés selon la method tradittionelle. La robe est rubis peu soutenu, brilliant,avec des notes d’évolution. Les arômes de fuites rouges (framboise, cerise) côtoient ceux de fleures (lias, violette) et des d’eucalyptus, annoyance d’une bouche fraîet fine, aux tannins soyeux.

For white, there was the Ugni Blanc, light and crisp.


About a couple of months ago I was in Turkey where again there are some excellent wines. Buzbag is still being made from the Bogazkere grape, but the highlights for me were:

Kavaklidere Angora Red
http://www.tasteturkey.com/images/AngoraLargeWeb.jpg

Grape: Sauvignon, Merlot, Carignan, Alicante
Colour: Lively, bright ruby
Aroma: Intense red fruits, cherries, plum
Flavour: Round, well balanced, with long lasting red fruit flavours and soft tannins

Angora Red is the blend of Carignan, Alicante, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes grown in Aegean region.

And:

Villa Doluca Red
A full-bodied red wine, with strong character made from Cinsault and Karasakiz grapes grown in the Marmara region. A certain amount of Bogazkere grape from eastern Anatolia is added to make it more rich and robust.

Polished off today with our Christmas lunch of Gravadlax and fresh langoustines, accompanied with a light salad of rocket, tossed in lemon juice and fresh mint, to start, followed by roast goose (sourced locally) wrapped in organic streaky bacon in a light port and red wine jus, with free-range pork sausagemeat, sage, apricot, pistachio and chorizo stuffing, chipolatas, roast potatoes, boiled potatoes with butter and fresh parsley, peas, broad beans, French beans and savoy cabbage in a mint butter sauce, red cabbage with raisins and apple, Brussels sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts, cauliflower and broccoli with a wholegrain mustard glaze, and honey-coated carrots and parsnips (yes, Del is a veggie and likes a nice selection of veg!!):


http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/32/img01831.jpg


Now just about to have Warre 1977 vintage port with some local cheeses and biscuits....

Merry Christmas, everyone!! :cheers: :drunk:


Marco.

It's a good job i have already eaten or i'd get pretty hungry just thinking about that meal you ate earlier Marco Attachment 3311

I opened & polished off a nice bottle of Ernest & Julio Gallo - Sycamore Canyon Brut sparkling wine earlier with a touch of Orange juice, it went down a treat :cheers: I might just get another bottle :eyebrows:

Meal to follow was an Indian - chicken Madras & Pilau rice :scratch: Tbh i'm more impressed with my home made efforts, much more flavour & consistency :)

Meal tomorrow will be Sirloin steak, fried onions, potatos, steamed vegetables including cualiflower, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, sprouts, sliced peppers & mushrooms, petits pois & green beans :hmm: I'm not a veggie but i also like a variety ;)


:beer: Onto the hard stuff again now, snakebite :doh: :eyebrows:

Enjoy the remains of the day :cool:

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Originally Posted by Marco

Polished off today with our Christmas lunch of Gravadlax and fresh langoustines, accompanied with a light salad of rocket, tossed in lemon juice and fresh mint, to start, followed by roast goose (sourced locally) wrapped in organic streaky bacon in a light port and red wine jus, with free-range pork sausagemeat, sage, apricot, pistachio and chorizo stuffing, chipolatas, roast potatoes, boiled potatoes with butter and fresh parsley, peas, broad beans, French beans and savoy cabbage in a mint butter sauce, red cabbage with raisins and apple, Brussels sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts, cauliflower and broccoli with a wholegrain mustard glaze, and honey-coated carrots and parsnips (yes, Del is a veggie and likes a nice selection of veg!!):


http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/32/img01831.jpg


Now just about to have Warre 1977 vintage port with some local cheeses and biscuits....

Merry Christmas, everyone!! :cheers: :drunk:


Marco.

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...And there's only two of you as well :lol:

Lol - no, Del's dad also lives with us, and he eats like a horse! ;)

Besides, we've only eaten about half of it - the rest will be polished off tomorrow. Nothing goes to waste in our house! :)

Marco.

nice drop of plonk Marco, you can't go wrong with St Emillion, try the cotes de religious, not the right spelling probably but you get the idea

Hi Jon,

Nice one - I'll check it out :)

Yep, St Émilion is one of our favourites, along with (Haut) Médoc and Pomerol. It also goes very well with goose!

The Bandol rosé was also rather nice - probably one of the best rosé wines I've had. It had bags of finesse and lacked the overtly acidic edge of some rosés - very palatable indeed! :cheers:

Some info on Bandol for those who haven't tried it:

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The pretty fishing village of Bandol, south of Marseille, makes fragrant dry rosé wine regarded as the best of Provence and perhaps of all France. The delicate salmon pink is achieved by the saignée method of 'bleeding' the fermenting juice of Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre grapes.

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It really is a truly top-notch rosé!

We've got some nice stuff in this year, wine-wise, and managed to keep quite a lot of the better wine we bought in France in March without guzzling it (willpower or what? :eyebrows:), so will post a few pics of the bottles as we quaff it all over the next week or so :cool:

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Yep, St Émilion is one of our favourites, along with (Haut) Médoc and Pomerol.

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Hi Marco,

Yes i can go along with that in my limited knowledge, much better than the hyped up Neuf de Pape stuff,

I'm only just getting into rose as i can't take red so much nowadays due to it giving me indegestion and a major headache the next day, so i'm just starting to play about with various Rose's including Rose De Anjou which is only made up the road from us in France, but will look out for your suggestions :cool:

:(

Hi Jon,

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I'm only just getting into rose as i can't take red so much nowadays due to it giving me indegestion and a major headache the next day, so i'm just starting to play about with various Rose's including Rose De Anjou which is only made up the road from us in France, but will look out for your suggestions

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Yes, a lot of people feel that way after drinking red wine. I think it's something to do with the tannins released from the skins of the grapes. The other thing too is the effect of the chemicals put into wine these days in order to preserve it.

A major revelation (if you ever get a chance to experience it) is trying red wine (or indeed any wine) direct from the vineyard, which is free from any chemicals - it's a totally different ball game, I can tell you! :)

The best rosé wine in France tends to come from Provence, as the warmer climate gives the wine less acidity and a smoother finish on the palate. Also, try rosé wines from 'New World' countries, such as Chile and South Africa, as again they will generally have a fuller flavour and not be quite so acidic - although much depends on the grape variety.

Anyway, dude, enjoy! :cheers:

Marco.

P.S Why the sad face, Andre?

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Originally Posted by Marco

P.S Why the sad face, Andre?

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I can't drink till the 31st, been working all christmas non stop :(

Ah... Gotcha! Don't worry, time soon flies, and so yer fave plonk will taste even sweeter after the wait! :)

Marco.

Tell ya mate i'm fuming beyond belief, others can have crimbo off but not us silly c*nts...couple friggin days off after crimbo, what kinda bender am i suppose to have off in that time :(

Mmmm... Tricky one, dude. I'm afraid it's part and parcel of being in the care industry.

There are lots of folks who have to work through Christmas.

Ever thought of starting up your own business as a carpenter or something that better rewards your undoubted creative skills? :)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Mmmm... Tricky one, dude. I'm afraid it's part and parcel of being in the care industry.

There are lots of folks who have to work through Christmas.

Ever thought of starting up your own business as a carpenter or something that better rewards your undoubted creative skills? :)

Marco.

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Yeh but i bet they don't work days, afternoons, & nights solid one after each other all the way to new year, hopefully i'll be out of care work this year.My (Ex mate) i look after has back stabbed me so much i aint bothered anymore tbh, It's his problem not mine, he wonders why he can keep staff for more than a month at a time!.

Cabinet making is my trade but it's all dead imho, people would rather got to flat pack these days.Seems quality doesnt matter anymore.

:mental:

There's a market for quality cabinet making, mate, just as there is for quality hi-fi - you don't target the mass market! ;)

But if you want to start your own business, you have to be passionate, determined, and totally focussed to make it happen. It ain't just gonna land on your lap....

Anyway, this is a discussion for another thread :)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

There's a market for quality cabinet making, mate, just as there is for quality hi-fi - you don't target the mass market! ;)

But if you want to start your own business, you have to be passionate, determined, and totally focussed to make it happen. It ain't just gonna land on your lap....

Anyway, this is a discussion for another thread :)

Marco.

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Aye had my own cabinet making buisness, a certain person destroyed that outright..Wouldnt even go there again, couldnt infact..I think i have to face the fact i'm a wasted individual thats in reality a complete looser.Sorry for moaning dude.Do you think i could get a job on that 'Grumpy Old Men' thing on TV?

What about making bespoke Hi Fi racks where the top rack is plinth made specifically for the customers personal turntable?
Just a thought. If i had shit loads of money id buy one.
And dont think there isnt anybody to buy it. I live in central London and i see crazy spending in town. Some people have got money and lots of it.

Im a bit cheap when it comes to wine but i had an expensive Australian Shiraz the ohter night and it was the best bit of plonk ive tested.
Im spending tomorrow with Jools Holland ( on my todd ) and it would make it that much better with some quality plonk.
Any one recommend a shiraz? My nearest offy is a Odbins.

I have to say, I normally drink , well, not quite the cheapest.. but carefully.

However, discovered Sainsbury's do their own Amerone. It is now my favourite wine. Its also sodding £15 a bottle.

Luckily now we have xmas out the way, I only have to wait another 4 weeks till my birthday, then Fiona's birthday a couple of weeks later. Then I'll have to find some more birthdays to celebrate.

I would rather have one bottle of this than 3 ordinary ones.... well maybe not every week, but you know what I mean.

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Originally Posted by colinB

What about making bespoke Hi Fi racks where the top rack is plinth made specifically for the customers personal turntable?
Just a thought. If i had shit loads of money id buy one.
And dont think there isnt anybody to buy it. I live in central London and i see crazy spending in town. Some people have got money and lots of it.

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I do have fresh designs for high end Thorens turntable surrounds in solid English Oak but can't get it off the ground yet. Can anyone find an advert in the back of HiFi World about 4/5 years ago under Dragonfly Audio for me.

Good luck with that Andre.

Can you describe the advert a little more Andre?
I may be able to help

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Originally Posted by The Grand Wazoo

Can you describe the advert a little more Andre?
I may be able to help

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:lolsign: Thats it i can't remember, i was only small in the back..

If you can scout out i'd be most appreciative

3 x bottles 14% Australian Shiraz no fancy names with me ;)

Nowt wrong with a nice Shiraz, (or Syrah) in French. Enjoy! :)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Nowt wrong with a nice Shiraz, (or Syrah) in French. Enjoy! :)

Marco.

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I like it, easy to drink...God it's like heaven after ann heavy Bitter sesh

Just bought a bottle of Fermoy geographe Australian shiraz 12 quid from Oddbins. Ok but got that metalic blood edge i dont like.
Not a patch on Albamore i got for xmas. Half price at virgin wines £ 8.25.

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Originally Posted by colinB

Just bought a bottle of Fermoy geographe Australian shiraz 12 quid from Oddbins. Ok but got that metalic blood edge i dont like.
Not a patch on Albamore i got for xmas. Half price at virgin wines £ 8.25.

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Get a cheap arse manufacturer to make a cartridge with a name like that & you'll make a mint :)

6 pints of Guinness and half a dozen goldies.

Perfect night out.

Does anyone suffer soower froowert after drinking red wine? :scratch:

Could you translate that please for southern members of the forum ;)

A sore throat, perhaps?

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Andre

Does anyone suffer soower froowert after drinking red wine? :scratch:

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No idea, how about an english translation :scratch:

My mate was having a friends do at a Wetherspoons and the only red they had was Blossom Hill. She had a bitch of a hangover and a migraine the next day.
Few days later shes at NYE party with some posh mates of hers and theyre chuffing back some pricey red and she felt fine the next day.
I suspect there is a lot of chemical shit in the cheap stuff.

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Originally Posted by Reid Malenfant

No idea, how about an english translation :scratch:

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You foreigners :lol: Soower = Sore, Froowert = Throat.. Roverum language :)

Colin: It wernt cheap thats the thing.

Sorry Andr'e... Try honey m8 :) It's good for a sore throat ;)

If any of you guys like Spanish wine, I can highly recomend Albali Gran Reserva 2001, it's 100% Tempranillo the classic Spanish variety, and is from the valdepenas region.

Now most people only think of Rioja when they think of quality Spanish wine, but honestly that is not the case anymore, and Albali is proof of that, you can get it from Tesco i think. I brought my own supply with me when i moved back from Spain, but the last time i bought it over here Tesco and CoOp was where i got it.

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Originally Posted by Andre

You foreigners :lol: Soower = Sore, Froowert = Throat.. Roverum language :)

Colin: It wernt cheap thats the thing.

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Ive read that sulphites can cause sore throats. Hard to avoid unless you try organic wines.

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Originally Posted by colinB

Ive read that sulphites can cause sore throats. Hard to avoid unless you try organic wines.

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Sulphites are in cider too, look Andre comes from Yorkshire so the following is true. Brown beer, black pudding, flat caps and tighter than a ducks arse where money is concerned :lolsign:

*Sorry Andre I couldn't resist*

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Originally Posted by Jac Hawk

Sulphites are in cider too, look Andre comes from Yorkshire so the following is true. Brown beer, black pudding, flat caps and tighter than a ducks arse where money is concerned :lolsign:

*Sorry Andre I couldn't resist*

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black pudding - Lancashire
flat caps - Lancashire
tighter than a ducks arse where money is concerned - Scots

Lancashire & Yorkshire are very simular in their ways so it's an easy mistake.

;)

Sex Gods with big cocks - Yarkshire :eyebrows:

;)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Sex Gods with big cocks - Yarkshire :eyebrows:

;)

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:eyebrows: