I have a suspicion that cheap white wines are more likely to have had excessive Sulphur Dioxide used in their production, and that this may cause some people problems with allergic reactions, or hangover effects. There's nothing wrong with the use of SO2 in principle, and it is apparently not at all easy to make good wine without using it at all.
Pretty much my rule, except that when I have had any cash, I have bought more expensive bottles and put them in the cellar for special occasions. Sadly, the cellar is very depleted now as I have been too poor to contribute to it. But a few years ago, I would reckon it was empty when it had about 100 bottles in it (not many of them ready to drink) and I felt very satisfied and rich when it had 200 bottles in it (meaning that there was plenty of everyday drinking wine). Xmas dinner's magnum came from the cellar, and I've got a stonking Châteauneuf du Pape, Clos des Papes magnum for Xmas later this year. I normally buy a replacement bottle and forget about it for a decade.
White Châteauneuf du Pape is one of my favourite white wines, but not that easy to find these days. Don't quite follow your logic though: If you got them as a gift, you should be drinking them (at the right time). If you're giving them yourself, you should make sure to give them to someone who is likely to invite you to drink them with him.
Best to stop the logic of your argument (which is entirely correct) as I may have to swap out for a perfectly acceptable cotes due Rhône....
A truly good red is a superb experience and a fruity new world red can be quite pleasant (mainly because it is full of fruity juices); too many reds however are just mediocre. I have never had the time or patience to attempt to correlate what is is good against their origin. I also missed out on at which point the grape variety as opposed to the origin came to the fore, although to those in the know it was always a given.
not a wine drinker, but has anyone tried the Scottish ones i believe you can get? Scotland and wine isn't something thing you would ever put together.
Have to agree. I had the good fortune to partake of a bottle of Château Montrose years ago (one each). At that point I was asked to order the next bottle and selected a 15 quid Merlot.... Couldn't have really split them at that point... Great night though...
It's true. I was drinking with a Scotsman and a Yorkshireman; when I was paying for the the round I dropped a £1 coin off the bar. It hit the Scotsman on the back of the head and then bounced down on to the Yorkshireman's head. What are the chances of that!
I am not quite sure how my post was "not true" or why Australia now having the Carmenere grape contradicts it. Often these days Pinot Noir, Merlot or whatever is plastered over the label and is more prominent than the origin.
Have you tried Chateau Musar? Its Lebanese and fricking awesome. By far my favourite but a bit pricey so I only get it Christams, birthdays etc.
I remember Chateau Musar from when Waitrose (always a well chosen selection in their stores) used to sell it at a very reasonable price (so long ago that it would have been less than £10, perhaps £5). Excellent stuff, but sadly now it is indeed pricey, and I'd want to taste it again before parting with over £20: Chateau Musar 2007 - Lebanon - Rest of World - By Region - Buy Wine - The Wine Society FWIW I'd heartily recommend The Wine Society as a supplier of everything from good wine at £5-6 or so to very expensive fine wines (not that I am in the habit of buying those). Their customer service is very good, and the shareholders are the members (you have to buy one share to be a member). Even without membership, their website is a source of much useful info, such as: Wine regions - Guides - Wine World & News - The Wine Society Of the other big specialist wine merchants, I've never heard much but praise for Majestic and Laithwaites; there must still be a fair few small specialists, but I imagine they have had to focus on the high-end of the market; I always rather liked the Avery's of Bristol shop when I lived in that area. In general, much as we may be impressed by the lower prices in French supermarkets (important to remember that we pay for the wine, plus £2 or so alcohol duty per bottle, PLUS 20% VAT on top of the final price), I think it is true to say that the UK has the best wine importing/distributing/retailing marketplace, partly because we don't make much of our own. I was surprised when I realised that Tesco is now the largest wine retailer in the world. It's true that the supermarkets have a lot of silly special offers (1/2 price usually means only that they charged double for a week in one store) and that they have effectively pushed a lot of the grim old off-licences out of business (Threshers and all those others). However, the supermarkets do put a lot of effort into ensuring that they buy the right wine, and it's generally not worth their while to sell anything unpleasant (assuming that the punters know what they want - personally I don't like Lambrini but some people must do). I am not so sure about Aldi and LIDL (have never bought a bottle of wine there that I felt was especially good) but I do know that I have bought plenty of disappointing bottles in French supermarkets (and their selection of imported "Vins etrangers" is usually hopeless).
Chateau Musar also do a really nice red called "Hochar" at around £13 in Majestic so I normally pick up 1 of them with 5 others £7 to £10. I tend to not go to Majestic as you have to buy 6 bottles and I drink it if its in the house.
They must be good customers! Maybe you should taste them yourself to check that they are good enough to give? You know it makes sense.
