[Oli]

Houdini, could you give me a heads up on what I should expect from my first bottle of white port (always drunk ruby or tawny before)? I'll find out what it is in a minute.

[Houdini]

Er . . .

I've only drunk one bottle of white which was Do Noval.  Actually I enjoyed it more than I imagined I would.  I thought it was kinda like drinking white wine:  something I'd not normally want to be seen doing, but if you spend enough to get a  great white you'll realise that it is, in fact, awesome stuff.

It's tawny I can't be bothered w/.  Especially Warres 

[moose]

a heads-up....

Sainbury's are flogging Dow's Trademark Finest Reserve Port at half-price (£6 from £12).  Probably no great shakes to a learned palate but it's a nice enough accompanyment to cakes and Match of the Day (and the little Decanter Gold medal sticker almost convinces me that I'm a "connoisseur" rather than a trainee wino).

[Andy B]

good call Moose. I tried some Dows at obi wan's last week. Thought it was very nice. I'll get stocked up.

[Houdini]

www.casasantaeufemia.com

Alas, as the only pisskopf in kamp the port fund doth nicht runneth over, so single quintas and vintages won't make the Christmas table (I've a Ferriera 94 in the cellar which is too young to waste on curiosity - another decade methinks) so it's an ordinary ruby, but from a new firm to me and one that came recommended from a dealer w/ a great Portugese section.

[Houdini]

The above turned out to be fabulous.  Recommended highly.  Slept through Christmas like a drunk baby.

[Jaspersharpe]

a heads-up....

Sainbury's are flogging Dow's Trademark Finest Reserve Port at half-price (£6 from £12).  Probably no great shakes to a learned palate but it's a nice enough accompanyment to cakes and Match of the Day (and the little Decanter Gold medal sticker almost convinces me that I'm a "connoisseur" rather than a trainee wino).

Boshed a few bottles of this myself over the xmas period. I'm also no expert but it went down very nicely indeed.

[Monolith]

Moi aussi.  Long live the recession and it's retro prices! Can't see any downside to it to be honest.

Also, OT and maybe mentioned elsewhere here but I read that Wetherspoons are going all 1983 on us and doing some of their pints at 99p. Margaret fucking Thatcher!

[Jaspersharpe]

Yeah pints of IPA and bottles of San Miguel for 99p. I suspect they've probably been wanting to do something headline grabbing like this for ages but were worried about upsetting the "ban cheap booze" brigade. Now they have the perfect excuse, which is fine by me.

 

[Houdini]

Bought a half bottle of Australian D' Arenberg 05 fortified Shiraz/Chambourcin for €15.  It's weak for port @ 17.5%.



I don't expect great things as it's reasonably priced (and even young port can be shocking) but I'm really looking forward to tasting it.  Will save till Xmas.

[Houdini]

Anyone have anything interesting lined up for Crimbo/New Year?

I'll have to try a Quita Do Vesuvio this year if there's any left in Mövenpick (they sold so quickly last year).

[Joepicalli]

Anyone have anything interesting lined up for Crimbo/New Year?

I'll have to try a Quita Do Vesuvio this year if there's any left in Mövenpick (they sold so quickly last year).

have you seen the third pic on their web site's slideshow Houds men in cheap tartan shirts and blue shorts up to their knees in grape juice. Disturbing, even by your high standards.

[andy popp]

No port for gouty old me this Xmas 

[Joepicalli]

No port for gouty old me this Xmas 

Awwwww, Andy, mate  You must come over when you're all better, to get worse again to future

[Houdini]

I think the connection of port to gout has always been tenuous,  non?

[GCW]

It's an old Port and Cheese theory, based upon the higher rates of gout in priveleged classes.  It's all about purines, darling.

[Houdini]

Yeah I'm well-read on Gout, I founded Gout Club North Wales

The first rule of Gout Club:  drink everything 

[GCW]

That was my point, alcohol ain't got many purines in it.  And the stronger the  less it has.  As you well know P, my cure for most things involves C2H5OH 

[Houdini]

Australian D' Arenberg 05 fortified Shiraz/Chambourcin

This is completely delicious,  great nose, bags of fruit: instantly recognizable as strong Oz Shiraz.  Working well w/ some hard Italian Bergkäse, the now.  Definitely buying more.