01438 741177
Just take my money!
4 Likes
Oh good lord I did not need to hear this.
6 Likes
A delightful Viognier yesterday, consumed with home made chicken and mushroom pie:
A challenger for the hegemony of my usual sub tenner Viognier of choice - Grès du Trias. This Paul Mas example is textbook Viognier - peachy, honeyed with lovely floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle but with surprising freshness and even a sort of piquancy on the palate. A definite re-buy for midweek quaffing! 
Splashing out a bit this evening (eat and drink for tomorrow… etc.) with rib eye steak and sautéed spuds and this:
Château Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol 2014
Hm… jury’s out at the moment. I seem to be enjoying it a little more than the other half who seems to be left with a not very pleasant coffee bitterness on the finish which I just don’t perceive. We didn’t give it much air yet, so perhaps it just needs to relax a little.
From first glass, I love the nose - very autumnal, with damp leaves, bonfire smokiness, cedar and sweet tobacco. The fruit is starting to recede a little, with notes of prunes, figs and cassis. There’s a certain floral note too and a kick of spice.
On the palate there is at the moment a little tussle between smoothness and astringency. The fruit is as per nose - taking a bit of a back seat, though I love the prune/dried figs/cassis notes. It’s spicy with pleasant oak notes (cedar, cocoa), but there is a sort of disharmony at the core of it.
We’ll see whether it becomes a bit more integrated as the evening progresses and with the food; feels unfair to judge it unfavourably just yet…
Happy Mittwoch! 
18 Likes
Thanks for this Steve, I know you’ve got that Montbourgeau Savagnin which is pretty good. I’ll look forward to see what happens this autumn 
1 Like
When this was, confusingly, re-listed there was some discussion here as to what vintage it actually was. This was received here …
…an Alicante ‘Mares de Luz’ Monastrell / Giro 2018 from Pepe Mendoza.
An attractive red / purple colour. Ripe, dark plum and berry fruits, sweet spices, and a herbal note on the inviting nose. All of that again on tasting with a streak of liquorice running throughout the smooth in texture and deeply flavoured palate. Ripe tannins provide structure and notably fresh acidity, for this part of Spain at least, an easy drinking balance.
Super VFM at just under a tenner and as per other wines previously tried, from this exemplary producer, one that exceeded my expectations.
18 Likes
Bordeaux 2008. A 6 out of 10 vintage. With a local tasting group, who’s cellar has been built up over many decades. Chance to try wines out of my usual price comfort zone. Hint: top 5 WOTY coming up
This was the first premium tasting level £50 since Quintarelli
Bordeaux for me has been “priced in” for a long time. A land of few bargains but reliable. Some good drinking at the £20-30 level. £50-£100 has been disappointing for me due to always considering what you could get elsewhere for the same. Little experience at £100+
Chasse Spleen and Haut Batailley first up.
All in the typical Bordeaux mould. Dark fruits, pencil shavings etc etc. 2008 impact edging these two to being a touch austere with noticeable acidity. Less plush fruit
Lafon Rochet next up and I was pleased that we were drinking a wine that was a little more distinctive. A bigger more concentrated wine. Oddly the first time I’ve had a strong scent of melon on the initial nose (black fruits still dominating). More tannic presence
Kirwan next up. A step up in price and at the levels of where I’d feel some disappointment VFM wise. Still an excellent wine. Pencil shavings, graphite, smoky. In essence a non fruit driven nose. This completely misadvertised what came on the palette as this was plush and fruit driven. Slight austere ending which could be a vintage thing. Short to medium finish good
Petit village next up . A very popular wine on the night. For me can do better even in Bordeaux for cheaper. Was a good drop. Drinking now
Then just as I was reconfirming my bias that Bordeaux is overblown as a region. The next wine was a complete mic drop. Much like the Quintarelli tasting the next wine made me reevaluate the wine experience. It wasn’t an extrapolation of pleasant characteristics but £30 better etc. It was fabulous. An experience beyond its deconstructional parts
Angelus bugger this is so damn expensive. I’ve already bought some Quintarelli since being ruined by that experience. I’ve got a sinking sensation it’s happening again. Not cheap but a revelation for bordeaux. As enjoyable for me as Vega Sicilia Valbuena & Alion (high praise for me)
Such opulence in the nose. It really was like a perfume shop where they get you to smell all the different possible ingredients that can go into a perfume and then going straight to the master blend. Excellent. I’ll get one bottle. Poor kids xmas presents just got smaller to compensate. 
The last two were Clarence de Haut Brion and Haut Brion itself. It was an honour to try these wines. The Haut Brion’s first professional review was from Samuel Peeps. Both of these wines were great but then you expect so. The Haut Brion the extrapolated version of what you’d expect from a Bordeaux. The finish rolled on and it was a wine that had decades ahead of it but not a revelation
31 Likes
7 Likes
Château Musar 2001.
Actually a lot more classically styled than I was expecting. Nice quality, good value.
15 Likes
'01 is one of the stronger vintages I believe; didn’t Waitrose stock it last year?
1 Like
I got mine in Waitrose, on one of the 25% off deals. I’m not sure if they still do it, I’ve an idea that they don’t. It was on to the 2008 or ‘12 last time it was in.
2 Likes
2015 Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas
Yesterday the weather was atrocious and I needed a big, warming, bear hug of a wine. This did the trick nicely. 3rd of 6. A quick double decant. No sediment. Would say it’s open for business. Will finish off the remaining half tonight.
22 Likes
Yes, a bottle often slipped into the grocery shopping totally by accident. Only 1 left now.
2 Likes
Not seen any (certainly online) for a while at Waitrose.
Had CV booster jab midday (Pfizer?) my goodness they are efficient, only booked it yesterday & they could teach an F1 team a thing or two. I was literally in and out of the village hall within 180 seconds, and that included queuing.
So in anticipation of feeling lousy (and I am, it’s a man-flu thing) tonight’s supper is Lancashire hotpot, been cooking since 3:30.
And in the glass tonight: 2014 Ch. Dutruch Gr Poujeaux (£20). Surprisingly light, thin even, possibly needs time to open up in the glass. Elegant certainly. I’ll expand these notes in an hour or so.
https://www.thewinesociety.com/product/chateau-dutruch-grand-poujeaux-moulis-en-medoc-2014
10 Likes
One of my comments on the 2012 drunk last year was that it was a little thin and lacking in complexity. I had a worse opinion of a previously drunk bottle of 2013 but figured it was a little unfair judging only on a 2013 in Bordeaux, but the '12 still left me very unimpressed.
1 Like
And nearly two hours later: The Gr Poujeaux 2014 is … still thin, lean and elegant. I’m thinking the tannins are not resolved so perhaps needs a little more time in bottle - but only a couple of years?
More in the French style where BDX are often enjoyed younger. A very good ‘food’ wine & absolutely spot on with Lancashire Hotpot. A very good glass of wine.
Having said that… it’s not a ‘Grand Vin’ by a long chalk.
3 Likes
Grilled some fresh Hake steaks with Greek fish seasoning and this very popular and well priced TWS offering.
Perfect with spicy finish on the sauce.
Dry and warm enough ( just) for an outdoor cook down here.
15 Likes
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006.
Nearly at the bottom of the box now, and in case you all think this is rather high maintenance for a school night then yes it is but as it was £35 a bottle during one of M&S more inexplicable pricing moments then it will be opened when marking an occasion, weeknight or not.
Such a good wine, kindly and complex, airy and stubborn, suffused with contradictions and making sense of them. And it makes you happy.
28 Likes
!!!
4 Likes
Bloody hell !! What an absolute bargain !!! This is how to do a Thursday night 
7 Likes