The Wine & Whisky Thread

[StanleyB]

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.

[Barry]

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.

[Ulysses]

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.

[julesd68]

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

[Roy S]

Tescos now stock this, I like Guiness anyway but this is delicious

[Barry]

Some reds enjoyed over the last month or so:



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



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

[Rare Bird]

I got totally rat arsed yesterday on Sneck Lifter it's so yummy

[Barry]

I got totally rat arsed yesterday on Sneck Lifter it's so yummy

5.1% - that's strong. About the same as 'Old Speckled Hen'; and two of those is enough for me!

[Rare Bird]

I was rat arsed on this yesterday. The brewery is a 5 min walk from our house 4% It's a light beer but tastes nice. £1.80 a pint is dead right.

http://www.chantrybrewery.co.uk/contact.html

[keiths]

I'd have had that short measure topped up...