The Wine & Whisky Thread

I've been meaning to start a thread on this for a while but kept forgetting to do it, so here it is! It will be updated regularly (by me at least!) and made into a sticky to form an effective reference point for anyone looking for a decent bottle of plonk or some quality real ale :cool:

I'm sure there are many of us here who enjoy real ale or a glass or three of vino, so let's hear your recommendations. I've deliberately mentioned real ale and not simply beer because this is a thread for connoisseurs, not for lager louts or Lambrini drinkers! :lol:

So which wines or ales have you enjoyed recently that were superb and offered excellent value for money?

Please include the name of the beer or wine, its price, and a brief description of how it tastes, or even food you've enjoyed with it and consider as a good accompaniment.

Which wines would you recommend for a special occasion?

Where do you normally buy your wine or real ale?

I'll start the ball rolling with a recommendation for a superb St-Émilion Grand Cru which Aldi are selling at the moment for £7.99 a bottle. Yes that's right - it's a total bargain and a wine of this quality would normally cost in the region of £18 per bottle in somewhere like Oddbins.

The relevant details are...

Name: Chateau Grand-Pey-Lescours.

Type: St-Émilion Grand Cru (Appellation Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Controlée).

Grapes: 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc.

Alcohol content: 13% vol.

Price: £7.99

Importers description:

From a family-owned estate since 1924, located in the foothills of Saint-Émilion known for creating wines with mellow, silky, tannins, red berry flavours and spicy notes. 75% has been barrel-aged for 20 months to make it a perfect match for grilled meat, duck or lamb.

My comments:

We enjoyed this wine recently and it has all the hallmarks of good claret at a very affordable price. Buy now before stocks run out! :glug: :cheers:

Also from Aldi I bought six bottles of Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen (yeast and wheat beer), 5% vol, and it's superb! Anyone who likes quality Weissbier (e.g. Stevie boy) will love it. I forget how much it was but it certainly wasn't expensive.

Right, who's next with a wine or beer recommendation? :smoking:

Marco.

Real Ale always reminds me of the water left after doing the washing up.

You heathen! :lol:

And there was me thinking you had class ;)

Marco.

I do, that's why I don't drink working man's gunk. :lol:

I'm not really good with wines to be honest, although I always enjoy wine regardless of price. I'm quite a fan of Rosé in particular, always seems very drinkable and enjoyable, my favourite is Gallo White Grenache.

Not really a wine pro as you can tell. :)

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I do, that's why I don't drink working man's gunk.

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Is that a subtle euphemism? :lol:

I enjoy a chilled rosé in the summer, and there are some decent ones available these days.

Basically, avoid the low-grade 'blush' crap at around 8% vol, which is like diluted Ribena, and go for something with a decent alcohol content (say 11 or 12% vol) over £5 per bottle, particularly New World varieties, and you should have a pretty decent rosé. Don't over-chill it, though, or you will kill the flavour. That's the mistake most people make with white and rosé wines. I've even seen some people put ice in their wine!! :mental:

If you like white Grenache, oops that a bit 'blushy' :eyebrows:, you should try some Viognier or Orvieto. Both are gently fruity like white Grenache, but slightly drier and obviously are full-blown whites.

I'm much more of a red man myself, especially the 'big' full-bodied variety!

But then I'm really into nice food, which red wine goes exceptionally well with, and you're not :)

Marco.

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Real Ale always reminds me of the water left after doing the washing up.

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I guess you have never looked at a properly kept and presented pint of real ale then?

Nick,

Wait until Steve comes along, he's the member of admin with a refined and knowledgeable palette for real ale :cool:

Marco.

Hi All,

20th Chester Charity Beer Festival at the Vicar's Cross Rugby Club!

15th to 17th May. I'll be going on the Sat! You've just reminded me to get to the Mill Hotel and get my tickets! :cool:

Fave beers? Struggling Monkey, Dent Aviator. Titanic Iceberg. Enville White. Most of the stuff that the Harker's in Chester have on!

Cheers,
Tony

Here's a good excuse to try many a real ale and stuff yer face with lots of nice food: :eyebrows:

http://www.whitbyfolk.co.uk/


Cheers,
Mike.

Currently reverted to being a lager lout -kronenbourg - as the giving up drinking didn't seem to be working. Just no wine now!
Previously i was mostly drinking Italian Rose at 1.75€ plus tva for 2 Litres.
Pretty much any decent bordeaux from 1995 or 2000 should be good for special occasions - my faves -Pomerol, Lallande de Pomerol amd Fronsac.
For a good white try Chateau haut Smith -no really - it's the chateau that oz clark? and that geezer off topgeer stopped at in france and did the Spa thingy.
Dunno what you'll pay in the UK tho'.