The Wine & Whisky Thread

[Marco]

That looks like a belter, Barry! I think I'll buy a couple of bottles and put them aside for after Lent

Marco.

[Theotherlarryb]

I love the old real ale and if you get the chance I recommend Hepworths from the lovely town of Horsham. They brew the Sussex ale for M&S and also do a blond lager (called, brilliantly, "blond") which is perfect for a summer's day. Assuming one ever arrives.

[Barry]

Following on from my notification of the 2008 Marqués de Valido Rioja Reserva the Co-op have have on half price offer, I may have appeared to be a little too enthusiastic. Certainly this rioja is not worth the full price of £10.99 a bottle but at £5.49 it's not too bad.

I certainly found the bottle I tried to be very drinkable: smooth with good complexity, if far from being full-bodied. It does have to be served at 18C, and allowed to breath.

The reason I am posting this, is because I have just spent the afternoon listening to a friends audio system, and by way of conversation, the Co-op rioja came up. He too had tried a bottle (from the same store) and found it, in his words, "harsh, coarse and un-drinkable". So much so, he finished the bottle by adding sparkling lemonade (?) to make a spritzer.

Now he may have had the misfortune to buy a 'bad' bottle, but I feel I had to bring this to your attention. Caveat emptor.



[I believe Aldi are selling some good rioja at the moment on offer. Will investegate and report back.]

[Alex_UK]

Funnily enough Barry, we've just polished off a bottle and "Certainly this rioja is not worth the full price of £10.99 a bottle but at £5.49 it's not too bad." was almost exactly what I said. Not enough oak or vanilla for my taste, but certainly acceptable. I had no need to reach for the lemonade, though!

[Barry]

Funnily enough Barry, we've just polished off a bottle and "Certainly this rioja is not worth the full price of £10.99 a bottle but at £5.49 it's not too bad." was almost exactly what I said. Not enough oak or vanilla for my taste, but certainly acceptable. I had no need to reach for the lemonade, though!

Glad I didn't recommend a total "pup", but I have drunk far better riojas for only a very little more. I won't be buying any more of the 2008 Marqués de Valido Rioja Reserva, but will investigate those Aldi have on offer at the moment.

[Alex_UK]

Now this is more like it co-op - from Bodegas Luis Alegre - Simo Rioja Crianza 2007. Technically, a Crianza shouldn't be as good as the last recommendation of a Rioja Reserva, but this one is a cracker! All that lovely oakiness and vanilla - one of the nicest Riojas I have tried in a long time.



Not such a bargain as last time, though - down £2 from £8.99 to £6.99 - but I'd be happy with it even at the full price - in fact better than most £10-12 Riojas if you love them the way I do.

[DSJR]

No wonder your wine bill for a WEEK was the same as my fuel bill for the month!

[Alex_UK]

No wonder your wine bill for a WEEK was the same as my fuel bill for the month!

True, but you don't get out much, and I stay in a lot, so it probably evens itself out!

[Barry]

Now this is more like it co-op - from Bodegas Luis Alegre - Simo Rioja Crianza 2007. Technically, a Crianza shouldn't be as good as the last recommendation of a Rioja Reserva, but this one is a cracker! All that lovely oakiness and vanilla - one of the nicest Riojas I have tried in a long time.



Not such a bargain as last time, though - down £2 from £8.99 to £6.99 - but I'd be happy with it even at the full price - in fact better than most £10-12 Riojas if you love them the way I do.

Alex - was this bought from your local Co-op? I couldn't find it in mine.

[Alex_UK]

Yes it was, Barry - sorry you couldn't find it at yours.