The Wine & Whisky Thread

[Marco]

I've twice poured it back and forth and I think it is nice and aerated now... it's a lovely drop of red... but as you say Marco it has to be with some food... it's not an idle sipper..

Once is usually enough, Bev, as you don't want to 'agitate' the wine too much. Totally agree about it not being an "idle sipper". For me, that's the case with the majority of red wine, but I guess that's just the way I've been brought up.

You'll rarely see Italians eating without wine featuring somewhere in the equation, and when the food eating stops, usually the wine drinking does too...

Consequently, the only wine I can really sip on its own is dessert wine. With what one could call 'table wine', I always feel that something is missing without food - even if it's simply nibbling on some nuts!

Down Grant, yer chuckies are safe....

Marco.

[struth]

Picked this up in Aldi . £4.99

[Barry]

2005 Château Castelbruck, Margaux Médoc, Bordeaux



12% ABV, ~ £23 a bottle



As close to Château Margaux as I am ever going to get. I bought a case of the 2005 a few years ago and I’m down to the last two bottles! 2005 was never the best vintage for Château Castelbruck and it now needs drinking up.

Still it accompanied the fine meal I had cooked: grilled venison steak, with braised fennel, boiled potatoes, glazed carrots, leeks, cabbage and sweetcorn.

(My guest had no complaints about the food or the wine! )

[Marco]

Excellent! Now when are you going to pop along to Lidl and grab that Fronsac?

Marco.

[struth]

Picked this up in Aldi . £4.99

A little info on this type

Carignan – Syrah is a blend of two dark-skinned grape varieties that is used in France, Spain and South Africa. The blend is somewhat uncommon in that it is usually augmented by the addition of other, more expressive grapes, such as Grenache or other Southern Rhone varieties.

Syrah (also known as Shiraz) is the more prestigious of the two partners in the blend. It is a variety that has berry clusters that are looser, more resistant to wet weather and which are earlier to ripen than those of Carignan. However Carignan (also known as Cariñena or Mazuelo in Spain) adds more astringency, tannins and deep color to the mix. Wine made from Syrah and Carignan frequently have dark-berry flavors, often with a savory or smoky twist.

The blend is permitted in the dynamic Priorat DOCa of Spain but is mostly produced in southern France.

[Oddball]

Tonight I have mainly been drinking Battlefield Gold and some Green King IPA


Burp

[johnB]

Ok guys,

Just a 'heads up' if you weren't aware of the above. There are some top-notch wines available at very good prices. Knowing Italian wines (and others) in depth, here are my recommendations - indeed I have just returned from Lidl and bought these myself:

Italian (white) :

Roero Arnesis, Cascina Valentino 2013 - £7.99.

This wine is from the Piedmont area of Italy, using a rather unusual grape variety, and is superb served chilled with some chicken dishes, fish and seafood. Very unusual to see it in this country!

Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Corte alle Mura 2013 - £5.99.

This wine is a Tuscan classic, beautifully fruity and flavourful. Gorgeous, served chilled, even as an aperitif! Also, very nice with risotto, veal, grilled chicken or pork dishes.

Italian (red) :

Fortezza dei Colli, Chianti Classico D.O.C.G Riserva, 2009 - £6.99. This is big, bold, juicy, fruity lusciousness to the max, and probably one of the best Chiantis you can drink south of £25.00 a bottle! This is a MEGA BARGAIN, folks and should be snapped up immediately!!

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2011 - £7.99. Another mega bargain. Think Brunello di Montalcino on the cheap: big, powerful and jammy, but instead of £20-30 a bottle, you're getting it for £7.99 Awesome with all red meats and strong cheeses!

French (refreshing rosé for summer) :

Corbières Rosé, 2014 - £4.99.
Côtes du Rhône Rosé, 2014 - £5.49. This one will be a little more full-bodied and 'intense' than the Corbières.
Cabernet d'Anjou Rosé, Domaine de Terrebrune 2014 - £5.99. The driest of the three, but still nicely fruity. Great with pan-fried scallops!

French (red) :

One for Barry... An outstanding Bordeaux (Fronsac), Les Sources du Château de la Riviére, 2012 - £7.99. Should be up there with some of the nicest Médoc you've had, but at around half the price you'll pay per bottle from Laithwaites!

Enjoy, folks

Marco.

Managed to bag half a dozen bottles of the Fortezza dei Colli yesterday, I will sample on Friday. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Marco]

Yer welcome, John. Let us know how she slurps when you pop the cork!

Marco.

[struth]

Managed to bag half a dozen bottles of the Fortezza dei Colli yesterday, I will sample on Friday. Thanks for the recommendation.

its very nice even without food...i polished off the bottle in 2 sessions. had a chilli with one glass the rest just slurping

[Marco]

Apparently, it goes great with deep-fried Mars bars...

Marco.