Much of it from reserves but some lovely drinking for the warmer weather I’ve started to feel today (either side of a torrential downpour at least).
Was at work for the delivery, but MrsB was working from home. Unfortunately she was walking the dog when the always wonderful Nic arrived and my neighbours had to take it in. Shouldn’t complain but they told MrsB I’d maybe overdone it this time!!
Guess who I’ll be giving the silent treatment to at the unavoidable coronation street party on Sunday…
I had one of their regular Pinot noirs from 2018 last year. It was good but so much acidity it felt a little unbalanced at that point. Unfortunately I left the second bottle at my friend’s where we drank it so can’t check in and see how it’s going at any point.
I wasn’t planning to open any of these bottles this weekend. However, apart from the slurs on my wine-buying addiction I really couldn’t wish for more lovely neighbours - a more friendly and tolerant couple you’d be hard-pressed to find in the UK. I’d happily give them any bottle from the wine cupboard as they must put up with so much ‘noise’ from either the kids or our frustration with the kids…
Nice selection - a few I’ve got waiting or been contemplating so I’ll watch out for your notes… Mind you I’ve already started my 2020 Oncle Vincents and very nice they are too.
Would be interested to know whether you’re planning to open the Costamagna any time soon. I have some of the 2014 and we are staying there in a few weeks’ time, so will be looking to pick up some other vintages…and other producers of course, budget permitting
I don’t know how the 2014 is, but I guzzled my second (and last) 2015 at some point last year. It was delicious. Definitely going to open one of the 2017s this year, but I’m too much of a skinflint to pay the withdrawal fee so unless it’s utterly irresistible I’ll have to find somewhere to hide the other two for a bit.
Staying there sounds amazing, would love hear how you get on.
The colder months have seen our on-site stocks of red severely depleted, so shipped in a case from reserves, as well as a couple of mature Rhone bottles from the list:
General opinion seem to be that the Lirac & Medoc are good to go, so 3 of each to see. The Barbera & Exhibition Xin are the sort of thing that suit a lot of the food we eat, and as both were on offer I stuck a half case of each into reserves until there was some room here. These won’t last long…
The Carianne is a JLL 4* wine, and looked worth a punt at <£15 for a wine from a great vintage with 7 years of age, so I added a couple of bottles to the same delivery.
A German mixed 8 case based upon the recent TWS walkaround Sheffield - I missed the tasting so my choices were informed by community comments. Looking forward to opening a bottle !
Mostly mid-week drinkers following Monday’s Italian Growers Walk Around
Pinot Grigio, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Castel Pietra 2022
The Society’s Pinot Grigio 2022
2 x Alpha Zeta Rosato Veronese 2022
The Society’s Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2019
The Society’s Exhibition Soave 2021
Chianti Classico Riecine 2021
Brindisi Rosato Vigna Flaminio, Vallone 2022
Society’s Sicilian Organic White 2021
2 x Isola della Fiamma, Nero d’Avola Sicilia, Cantine Rallo 2021
La Segreta Il Bianco, Planeta, Sicilia 2022
Edit: It’s not something we’ve discussed, but I found the Italian Walk Around to be very high hit rate in terms of quality across the board at all price points*, even the wines I didn’t like were nearly all because they were not to my taste rather than because they were bad. The Pieropan wines were clearly a cut above with the Soave La Rocca being the best white and their Amarone being the best red, which you’d hope at £28 and £54 a bottle respectively!
*Except that the Nebbiolo were all too young/not decanted, as is the issue with any Nebbiolo at this kind of tasting.
They were Exhibition Langhe Nebbiolo, the Rizzi Riccio Barbaresco 2020, the Exhibition Barolo 2018 and the Silvano Bolmida Barolo Le Coste di Monforte 2013. All on the list already.
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