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Thread: The Wine & Whisky Thread

  1. #41
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

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    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Indeed, Mike. The point I was making was that if you were paying 200 Euros per bottle direct from a farm in Spain then it would have to be bloody good stuff!!

    Whereas in a restaurant there is usually a 100-200% mark-up, so wine priced at 200 Euros a bottle has a true value of only a fraction of that amount.

    I love Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, Amarone, and the best Chianti, but when I'm in Italy I never order it at a restaurant. Instead I go to a vineyard in the area of production and buy direct - fortunately there are quite a few where our house is in Tuscany

    Or we make our own cheap (but very drinkable) table wine from the small vineyard in our grounds.

    The car is always overflowing with bottles of wine, bought in both Italy and France, on the journey back home to the UK!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

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    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

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    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

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  2. #42
    Join Date: Jul 2008

    Location: La Coruña, Spain

    Posts: 33

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    As I´ve told you before: "Don´t waste money in Vega Sicilias".

    I think you will pay from 120 to 150 € for a Vega in a store.

    I doubt it can be sold directly from the winemaker.

    My experience advices me to look for the so called "cheaper" wines and really good ones you´ll find. I mean for "cheaper" no more than 5€ for a Ribera del Duero. There is too much competition due to production in the wine world.
    Last edited by Daniel; 21-08-2008 at 16:54.

  3. #43
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    I doubt it can be sold directly from the winemaker.
    Of course you can if you're willing to buy a few cases. And if it's anything like in Italy you can even buy small barrels of wine (say Barolo) from farms in the local wine producing area, or something almost identical which doesn't have a 'prestige' label

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  4. #44
    Join Date: Jun 2008

    Location: Paris, France

    Posts: 790
    I'm Peter.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Daniel View Post
    The cheapest Vega Sicilia can be found in a spanish restaurant for not less 200€. Instead, Alión could be worth 60€.
    200€ is too rich for me! But I'll look for Alion at a Bodega.

    Thanks for the tip!
    Intel NUC/Chevron Audio NDF16 dac/Amptastic Mini-1/Audium Comp 5
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  5. #45
    Join Date: Jul 2008

    Location: La Coruña, Spain

    Posts: 33

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    something almost identical which doesn't have a 'prestige' label
    It might be possible. But you´ll never get a Vega direct from the winemaker, it´s like wanting to buy a Mercedes direct from the factory.

    But I'll look for Alion at a Bodega
    As I gave restaurant price for Alion I believe it´s possible to get one for 35 € in a store.

    One more tip: Pago de Carraovejas, a "boutique" Ribera. Small quantities production. A fashion wine in Spain. It´s not what I like, too hard to swallow. It´s like you are being challenged by the wine instead of enjoying it slowly, piece by piece. Price: a little bit more than Alión.

    Finally, I´m greatly surprised that all of you are very conscious when spending money on wine.You know, in wine are too many fashions -and fiascos- as in, let´s say, the audio industry. In the end is only wine, it´s not an elixir for eternal life or to stop losing hair. I put into practice the same assesment method when buying audio gear: it´s only audio gear and it can´t cost as much as a car for instance.

    I´m sorry that this: "Hello from..." took the road of the wine market.

    Now, I´m going to drink a Cinzano Rosso with Bombay Saphire with lots sof ice and keep enjoying Steely Dan.

    Maybe, I´ll open a new thread on pure malt whiskies. I´m sure you have some precious tips to give.
    Last edited by Daniel; 22-08-2008 at 19:31.

  6. #46
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: North East UK

    Posts: 6,358
    I'm InSpace.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Daniel View Post
    I´m sorry that this: "Hello from..." took to road of the wine market.

    Maybe, I´ll open a new thread on pure malt whiskies. I´m sure you have some precious tips to give.
    There's actually a wine & beer thread round here somewhere!

    As for single malt, try 'The Balvenie - Founders Reserve'. http://www.thebalvenie.com/

    Lovely stuff.
    Shian7
    --------------------------------------------------------

    Kudakutemo
    kudakutemo

    ari mizu-no tsuki

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    broken again - still it's there:
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  7. #47
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    It might be possible. But you´ll never get a Vega direct from the winemaker, it´s like wanting to buy a Mercedes direct from the factory.
    That's interesting, Daniel. I won't argue because you're much more familiar with Spanish wines (and Spain!) than I am

    However in France and Italy, where I have lots of wine buying experience, it is possible to buy any wine (no matter how famous/prestigious the label) direct from the grower if you're willing to buy in bulk and can speak the language, although sometimes contacts and special introductions are useful or necessary.

    If you're clever though you can obtain 'as near as damn it' the same quality of wine (minus the 'famous label') from small lesser known makers in the region of production and save an absolute fortune. This is certainly true, for example, in the St Émilion/Bordeaux area of France.

    I like fine wine but I *HATE* (and won't) pay inflated prices!

    Marco
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  8. #48
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: Boddam Aberdeenshire

    Posts: 272

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shian7 View Post
    There's actually a wine & beer thread round here somewhere!

    As for single malt, try 'The Balvenie - Founders Reserve'. http://www.thebalvenie.com/

    Lovely stuff.
    Agreed, one of my favourites as well. Amazing to think that this is distilled literally next door to Glenfiddich, by the same company!
    "Always carry a large flagon of whisky, in case of snake bite and, furthermore, always carry a small snake."


    Kevin

  9. #49
    Join Date: Jul 2008

    Location: La Coruña, Spain

    Posts: 33

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    I like fine wine but I *HATE* (and won't) pay inflated prices!
    I fully agree.

    Today, I bought a "cabernet sauvignon", made in "El Penedés", Cataluña, for 6 €. Cabernet sauvignon is a kind of wine that I used to like a lot while living in Uruguay. The best cabernet sauvignon wines in that area are made by Chile, Uruguay and Argentina (in that "personal" order). In the other hand, they are not as popular in Spain as a Rioja. I´ll let your know how good or bad is this wine.

    As for single malt, try 'The Balvenie - Founders Reserve'
    I´ll try to find "The Balvenie" in Spain.

    I really like "The Macallan". I love the delicate taste of wood -BTW casks made with spanish wood, I think oak, but not sure.

  10. #50
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: Boddam Aberdeenshire

    Posts: 272

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    Quote Originally Posted by Daniel View Post



    I´ll try to find "The Balvenie" in Spain.

    I really like "The Macallan". I love the delicate taste of wood -BTW casks made with spanish wood, I think oak, but not sure.
    The Macallan is matured in sherry casks, they are made from oak, as is usual for for whisky maturation. Scotch whisky is usually matured in casks that have beeen used before, most commonly Bourbon (U.S. law prevents distillers using casks more than once, so it suits both Scottish and U.S. distilleries), though some use has been made of new wood. Other sources of casks have included Port, Madeira and various other wines, with varying results.
    In the case of Balvenie, the Founders Reserve 10 year old has been discontinued, though it is still widely available (at least in the U.K.). This is a great shame, as it is superior to the 12 year old Doublewood (in my opinion), which is now the basic version.
    "Always carry a large flagon of whisky, in case of snake bite and, furthermore, always carry a small snake."


    Kevin

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