Fine wine thread (Read 136573 times)

Sloper · February 04, 2008, 09:06:52 am

I don't usually do requests but ne'er mind. Yosser and Soapy of course should feel free to comment, I'm told Yosser has a particularly fine collection of Black Tower.

Anyway here are some suggestions to get you through the weeks and months ahead.

Starting in deepest Argentina Cassa Weinert (probably run by ex ss types) do a couple of really solid wines at keen prices. The 100% cab sauv however needs a good few years to knock the edges off.

Moving on who likes a bit of red leb? Well Hochar and Musar seem to have lost the plot but luckily Massaya Classic seems to be one for the future, again outstandingly good value.

Yossarian · February 04, 2008, 02:08:16 pm

Just hijacking for a second... I was sorry to see Bill Baker in the Times obituaries this morning. An amazing and enormous man. Three years ago I was at a tasting, and suddenly, over my shoulder and into a spittoon came a flow of liquid of such narrowness and accuracy that I swear it was like having a marksman standing on a pedestal peeing past me. I looked around to see Mr Baker already tucking into another glass... The same tasting is taking place next Tuesday, and it will be a pity not to see him there. His contempt for Robert Parker will be much missed I think.

slackline · February 04, 2008, 02:13:34 pm

Houdini · February 04, 2008, 03:18:57 pm

Cheers Tam, my liver is keen to detoxify your suggestions.

(Can a moderator move this to Culture?)

Houdini · February 04, 2008, 03:52:36 pm

http://www.argentinewines.com/ing/ (not the best resource, actually)

http://www.winezap.com/search/browse.cfm/categoryID/7704 seems to have it covered (but it's US)

Does anyone have any suggestions for UK wine dealers in particular those w/ a great website w/ all their products?

Yossarian · February 04, 2008, 04:17:58 pm

a pleasant little discovery at lunchtime.

Casale Bevagna 'Te Deum Laudamus' Salice Salentino 2001

a red from puglia. i don't recall trying any pugliese wine recently, and this was really nice. not quite sure where you get any from (this bottle was a gift from an italian supplier) but it does pop up here and there if you google it.

and another charming obit - http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/20080128_4

Houdini · February 04, 2008, 04:26:24 pm

I like the movie of him. Comes across as quite a cad. Though (as an aside) I've never understood why gastronomes are mostly obese - for every rich meal or bottle of wine I have to myself I insist on training it away in some form.

http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/20080129_2

Would be a shame if his eating / drinking habits and clear lack of exercise finished him . . . He was young.

Monolith · February 04, 2008, 04:29:45 pm

Anyone care to educate me in Beaujolais-recommendations etc? Am I right in thinking the aforementioned would complement my juicy bass fillet?

Sloper · February 04, 2008, 05:31:51 pm

Rather than a gamay wine try a red cabernet franc from the loire, I think the 'pencil shavings' would complement the flavvour of a bass.

Monolith · February 04, 2008, 05:37:09 pm

Cheers Sloper, nice one. I have no idea what pencil shavings are but I'll try not to spill any in my bass/wine combo. (Guessing its wino lingo 'notes' an all?)

Sloper · February 04, 2008, 06:29:52 pm

It's one of the flavours you should get in a Samur champigny (expect to pay about £10 for one in a 1/2 decent independent wine merchant)

Houdini · February 04, 2008, 06:58:10 pm

Ain't European wine prices just the bee's knees?!

Pity you poor UK sods who must pay through the asshole in taxation . . . I wonder how much of that 10 quid is lost to the tax man?

Houdini · February 04, 2008, 07:27:08 pm

Slopes - how much on average would one expect to pay for that Taste Vinage Pinot Noir in the UK? Ball park.

It's €5.75 in Font. €8.99 in Hamburg. Yes it must travel & that costs but I've always been interested in non-linear relationships between cost & taste.

We both agree fine wine need not be and often isn't expensive.

Houdini · February 04, 2008, 11:54:43 pm

I'm particularly enjoying Corsican wine at the moment.

Nothing too fancy, €5 a bottle - it's not that spicy, but full of berried richness.

Mis en boutille au Chateau - just how important is that? Bearing in mind that sometimes it can be rank wine . . .

Houdini · February 05, 2008, 12:38:37 am

From The Times obit' on Baker

He was equally scathing about the American wine guru Robert Parker, whom he referred to as that “bloody American wine critic” and his “absurd scoring system”. These comments were published and they were noticed. They earned him a vitriolic letter from the man himself.

~Que?~

Don't worry - I've researched this.

Houdini · February 05, 2008, 09:29:46 pm

I see it's just me here . . . ?

Tonite I have done something I have only done with Rallo Marsala . . . bought wine w/ a screwtop*. Obviously this might put someone's back up though I cannot understand why? Does the cork contribute to flavour across the board? Does it fuck.

Recoil further, snob! It cost €2.50 from LIDL you pinstripe-wearing filthpig! 2006 appellation controlee of an utterly random anonymous nature - I've enjoyed it's rich tannins greatly. I wish €6 wine could always be this reasonable on the palette.

*If I buy & wine a find it to have a plastic cork I won't buy it again as I despise plastic. Rather screwtop than plastic in my book.

chicane · February 06, 2008, 09:01:57 am

Tis true LIDL do a cracking red called Spring Valley (South African) cabernet I think - I always buy a few bottles it's under £2.90 and is easily as good as wines costing 3 times as much....

Matt

Sloper · February 06, 2008, 03:13:53 pm

I really doubt it, no actually I mean you'd have to be

to believe a £3 bot from Lidl would be anything close ot a £9 bot from an independent wine merchant.

Screw tops are fine for wines that will be drunk young.

I wouldn't want to try and keep wine 15 or 20 years with one though (then again a really cheap shit cork won't last long either)

Houdini · February 06, 2008, 03:31:39 pm

No way is a LIDL wine that cost so little gonna taste a w e s o m e, no way - drinkable and reasonably tasty but no great shakes. However, I would recommend you visit ALDI, just down the street from me they have French reds @ €20 a bottle. I know you'd have a problem w/ being seen in such an establishment Slopes (ain't Waitrose is it?) but if ALDI are selling wine @ €20 / 14 quid a bottle I wouldn't judge the shop too harshly now . . . Could be a very competitive bargain . . .

Houdini · February 06, 2008, 06:55:28 pm

Tonites tipple - having bored of sour LIDL fare

Cool your boots man! This wine is valued @ €8.75!

It's German as you can see, and these Krauts are excedingly clever - as they export very little of what they like. It's better than

Valued @ €6, which is a very worthwhile bottle, but the real Kraut has more presence than the annexed wine. I dearly regret buying only one bottle - but tomorrow is another day. Still pity you UK fools . . .

Paul B · February 06, 2008, 07:30:49 pm

I love Domus Aurea

Houdini · February 06, 2008, 07:32:51 pm

Need more info Paul_

Even google is vague. Bottle piccy?

Sloper · February 06, 2008, 11:21:42 pm

I've shopped in Lidl on the continent and found it quite reasonable, when I tried the same in the UK I barely made it out of the shop with my RP intact.

In the uk per bottle of wine you'll be paying about £1.40 duty and tax. Add the cost of the bottle, distribution, retailer and middle argins and I doubt from a £3 bot you're paying more than about 60p or 1 euro for the wine.

Houdini · February 06, 2008, 11:54:52 pm

Man that's madness!

I gotta say that €9 pinot noir was delicious. I felt like I was tasting every cent.

*drool*

Paul B · February 07, 2008, 11:54:03 am

Quote from: Houdini on February 06, 2008, 07:32:51 pm

Need more info Paul_

Even google is vague. Bottle piccy?

sorry

http://www.oddbins.com/products/productDetail.asp?productcode=89241