The Wine & Whisky Thread

[Alex_UK]

Excellent Barry. I think the Berberana offer has finished at Tesco now - but fear not - Castillo San Lorenza Rioja - 2005 Reserva has taken its place as the half-price Spanish bargain (£4.99 from £9.99) and very good it is too!

(PS - your PM inbox is full, but thanks for the message, glad all is A Ok.)

[Mark Grant]

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




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

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


Enjoy!

Marco.

We bought some of this from out local Waitrose in Willerby yesterday after reading this
http://www.waitrose.com/branches/bra...s.aspx?uid=697


Took some finding as was in the area where they have 'special' wines on a posh display stand in a corner with wooden crates etc, not on the shelves with the usual budget wines

saving it for the weekend

Mark.

[Marco]

Hi Mark,

Took some finding as was in the area where they have 'special' wines on a posh display stand in a corner with wooden crates etc, not on the shelves with the usual budget wines...

Of course, old boy. Did you expect me to recommend a wine likely to be kept where the oiks and chavs go for their Lambrusco?

It'll be interesting to know what you think of it

Marco.

[Barry]

Recently quaffed this Bordeaux, bought from the Co-op for £6.50:



2008 Chateau Pierrousselle, chateau bottled 13% ABV

74.5% Merlot, 14.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc
"Situated in the Entre-Deux Mers region, the vinyard is planted with Cabernet Suvignon and Merlot grapes wich gives a rounded, supple wine with flavours of damson and blackcurrent."

"Château Pierrousselle AC 2007 is an intense dark purple red in colour. It has a complex nose giving you both spice and delicious mouthwatering black fruit aromas. The blackberry fruit notes are well rounded and the wine has a good finish.. Bottled at the Château Pierrousselle. Owner is Michel Lafon. Vineyard has 43 hectares and the vines are 25 years old (on average)."

Probably best keeping for a year or two, but can be drunk now.

Tesco have on offer at half price:

2009 Ogio Della Venizie.
100% Pinot Grigio, 12% ABV. £4.49 Offer ends 5.10.10



and

2008 Saint Joseph.
100% Syrah, 12% ABV. £6.50 Be quick - offer ends 21.09.10.


Can be drunk now or kept for up to 5 years.

[Barry]

I have recently enjoyed a bottle of 2006 Masi Costasera Amarone, a beautiful Italian red Valpolcella Classica.



I am not particularly knowledgeable about Italian reds; my tastes in red wine have been limited to those from French vineyards. In fact apart from a few bottles of Barolo and some dubious Chianti, my experience of Italian reds is lamentable. It was a forum post by Marco that drew my attention to Amarone and some of the better but lesser known reds from Italy.

This bottle was on ‘offer’ in Tesco at £23. Usually it sells for more, so I grabbed the opportunity to try it out. Running the name past Marco, assured me I hadn’t bought a ‘pig in a poke’; apparently Masi are producers of some of the finest Amarone.

I’ll quote the blurb on the bottle:

“COSTSERA: the coasts which face the sunset are the best ones in Valpolicella Classica for producing a high-quality Amarone. Here, where the day is longer, the vines, which overlook lake Garda, benefit from the reflection of its light and its milder climate. Amarone is a unique wine due to its origin, ancient grape varieties and production method (vinification of grapes that have semi-dried for 3 – 4 months on bamboo racks). The Costasera Amarone expresses a particular majesty and complexity. …”

So what’s it like? Well in short: it’s big, bold and beautiful! Oh yes, this is a big wine: full-bodied and powerful (15% ABV). It’s also beautifully balanced and structured - I’ve never tasted a wine that is so free of tannins: no need to describe this wine as "having supple tannins", it’s so obvious it doesn’t need stating. The Amarone is an intense wine with complexity and a smooth, long finish.

A wine that can be enjoyed seul but goes wonderfully well with red meats and cheese. In fact this bottle was consumed with the following:

Scottish venison steak, served with Pommes Dauphinoise, lightly sautéed mushrooms and corgettes, red cabbage, purple-sprouting broccoli, carrots, fresh garden peas (there’s something therapeutic about shelling peas) and fine beans. There might have been some asparagus there but I don’t remember.

If you have ever drunk Barolo, the Amarone is Borolo-plus, if not ‘Borolo-zilla’. Don’t expect much in the way of postprandial activity. You’ll have just about enough energy to load the dishwasher, pour yourself a cognac and pull out a few CDs to play.

It’s that good – nice one Marco!

[Alex_UK]

Great review Barry - I've yet to find an excuse for a bottle but maybe I should try harder after reading your description!

[Rare Bird]

Finca Flichman - Malbec Mendoza..

[campbell mac]

Around my neck of the woods, Wirral, there is an excellent bitter called Trappers Hat made by the Brimstage Brewery. It's not too strong but is very tasty with a good hop aftertaste. You can drink a few without getting brain damage (I drink Belgian for that).

[Marco]

Finca Flichman - Malbec Mendoza..

Wossat like then, Andre, and where do you get it from?

[Marco]

Hi Campbell,

Around my neck of the woods, Wirral, there is an excellent bitter called Trappers Hat made by the Brimstage Brewery. It's not too strong but is very tasty with a good hop aftertaste. You can drink a few without getting brain damage (I drink Belgian for that).

I'll remember that, as I have quite a few friends in the Wirral. Where's the best place to drink it? I'm in the area quite often

Marco.