The Wine Thread

[Jaydog]

Too expensive at that price.

Think I paid around £55 a bottle but that would have been for a box of 6.

Btw re Evan recommendation of Bedrock Winery above
2 cuvées available at:
https://www.vinvm.co.uk/search?search=bedrock

[Victor_OTT_17]

I’m not even sure it is wine.
The process involved in making cheap wine is dubious to say the least.

It's not: it's alcoholic jam residue

[Evan R]

Just ordered the book “Stalins wine cellar”.
Supposed to be a great read.
He was an avid collector with a penchant for dessert wines.
40,000 bottles in a cellar in Georgia. Some ancient vintages of Chateau d’Yquem and many more.
The stock list is mind blowing.
About the Aussie chap that originally tried to track it down with a view to buying it.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 85906.html

Any other good wine reads? This is my all time favorite. The one that gave me "the bug" https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/adventure ... on=2374277

[Jaydog]

Any other good wine reads? This is my all time favorite. The one that gave me "the bug" https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/adventure ... on=2374277

Yes I have that . It’s probably the best book on wine I would say.
I have read all the Alice Feiring books which are entertaining.
I suppose it depends what you want from a wine book.
I prefer the ones like Kermit Lynch. The Stalin book is an incredible story. A lot of intrigue and dodgy/dangerous people. Its now being catalogued for sale and the proceeds will build a wine school in Georgia which is to some the birthplace of wine.

[Evan R]

Yes I have that . It’s probably the best book on wine I would say.
I have read all the Alice Feiring books which are entertaining.
I suppose it depends what you want from a wine book.
I prefer the ones like Kermit Lynch. The Stalin book is an incredible story. A lot of intrigue and dodgy/dangerous people. Its now being catalogued for sale and the proceeds will build a wine school in Georgia which is to some the birthplace of wine.

I will definitely be checking out the Stalin book. Sounds fascinating!

[Jammy 07]

As always with wine, there's the consideration of price range and preference, so a lot of my recommendations will be ones that I like/drink (mostly reds) and in the $30-50 range.

Oregon Pinot Noir

Arterberry Maresh, Evesham Wood, Ken Wright Cellars, Adelsheim, Patricia Green, Drouhin. These are some of my favorite producers, but honestly anything you can find from Willamette Valley, and ideally Dundee Hills AVA, will give you a good sense of the style and region. They tend to drink like younger burgundies. All those producers will have their entry level, usually around $20-25 and then their nicer vineyard bottlings in the $40-50 range.

California Reds

This is obviously a massive grouping, and really could be split into several regions with their own specialties. But for the sake of starting somewhere, I'd start with the classics which would be Cab Sauv and Merlot from Napa Valley, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County. Often you will see red blends, and varying ratios of the main Bordeux grapes- Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, some Petit Verdot. There are so many big producers, and frankly they are a bit overpriced. But they are also excellent wines. La Jota, Duckhorn, Stag's Leap, Shafer, Freemark Abbey, to name a few. There are just so many. But I think to start, I might seek out Duckhorn as it is very representative of the style and usually around $50-70 range. Which sadly, is pretty much the entry point for a solid Napa Cab these days. Occasionally you can find some around $35-40 that punch above their weight.

There's so many more to explore in California, of course. But I'd probably start there. If you happen to be able to track down anything from Bedrock Wine Company, they are wonderful and amazing QPR. Their Old Vine Zinfandel is an amazing wine for about $25. I usually get a case of it each year around the holidays. They also make really nice Syrahs, but those get into the $50 plus range.

If you are a Pinot lover- California also has excellent regions for pinot, but again the higher price tags. Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Santa Rita Hills are all really nice areas for Pinot. Williams Selyem, Paul Hobbs, Kistler, Liquid Farm some of my favorite producers there. These tend to be $50+, unfortunately.

Washington State Reds

Excellent value Cabernets, but I'd imagine they may be hard to track down in the UK. Columbia Valley, specifically, is what you want here. Walla Walla AVA if you can find it, even better. Gramercy Cellars is one of my favorites, usually around $30-40 range. L'Ecole, Woodward Canyon, Matthews Winery a few others. The word is slowly getting out there, so they aren't quite the value they were a decade ago, but still- for $30-40 they can be superior to Napa Cabs that are twice that price.

Hope this helps to start! Please feel free to reach out with questions, specific bottles etc. Will be interested to see what all you can track down over there. I'd imagine London would have a decent bit since it's such a large city, but wonder what sort of options are closer your way.

I'm thinking of maybe starting off with a pinot noir so I've found some Resonance Vineyard Yamhill-Carleton 2013 which is an Oregon wine. Would have to buy six @ £55 a bottle so any input you might have would be greatly appreciated. The 2014 vintage @ £47 a bottle is also available from the same supplier but again only as a case of six.

It sounds like decent stuff but I'd need to do some more research before ordering.

[Finnatic]

Even the homeless don't drink Jamshed in England

Oi!

[Evan R]

I'm thinking of maybe starting off with a pinot noir so I've found some Resonance Vineyard Yamhill-Carleton 2013 which is an Oregon wine. Would have to buy six @ £55 a bottle so any input you might have would be greatly appreciated. The 2014 vintage @ £47 a bottle is also available from the same supplier but again only as a case of six.

It sounds like decent stuff but I'd need to do some more research before ordering.

I've not had that producer before. The cellartracker reviews are pretty hit or miss so I might be leery committing to 6 bottles.

[Jaydog]

Wanted to try an American wine that was easily obtainable. From Fat Tesco.
Highly recommended by Matt Jukes a well known wine writer.
£15.50
13.5%
Hopefully not the buxom style or “well titted out” as a friend used to say.
Will report back later….

[Evan R]

IMG_4417.jpeg


Wanted to try an American wine that was easily obtainable. From Fat Tesco.
Highly recommended by Matt Jukes a well known wine writer.
£15.50
13.5%
Hopefully not the buxom style or “well titted out” as a friend used to say.
Will report back later….

Will be interested to hear how it is. I've never been a big fan of Cali Chards. I love white Burgs and Chablis, though. "Well titted out" got a good chuckle out of me

[Jaydog]

Will be interested to hear how it is. I've never been a big fan of Cali Chards. I love white Burgs and Chablis, though. "Well titted out" got a good chuckle out of me

Well you wouldn’t mistake it for an old world Chardonnay!
Classic ripe new world fruit. Not bad and tbh at the price you can’t expect GC Burgundy.
Even decent village level Burg is £40 these days.
I’m leaning more & more towards Spain for white these days. So much innovative winemaking going on.

[Jammy 07]

Well you wouldn’t mistake it for an old world Chardonnay!
Classic ripe new world fruit. Not bad and tbh at the price you can’t expect GC Burgundy.
Even decent village level Burg is £40 these days.
I’m leaning more & more towards Spain for white these days. So much innovative winemaking going on.

The only Chardonnay I'm keen on used to be on Footballers Wives I think

Will have to up my game on the whites I think as usually when I'm on holiday I'll veer towards a Provence rose and something like a Domaine Ott Chateau Romassan or the Le Clos Mireille which are lovely when it's scorchio. Both are around the £40 mark in the UK.

[Jaydog]

The only Chardonnay I'm keen on used to be on Footballers Wives I think

Will have to up my game on the whites I think as usually when I'm on holiday I'll veer towards a Provence rose and something like a Domaine Ott Chateau Romassan or the Le Clos Mireille which are lovely when it's scorchio. Both are around the £40 mark in the UK.

Never watched it so I’m guessing thats a woman

My tips.
Canary Island whites from Tenerife, Lanzarote & La Palma. From Rioja & Valencia.
Some brilliant white wines & not expensive by Burgundy standards.

Join the Wine Society if you haven’t already.

For Spanish wines also try :
https://ultracomida.co.uk/

& for all sorts of fantastic stuff plus some older vintages of Bordeaux, Burg, Rhone etc try:
https://blastvintners.com/

He has loads of stock of Chateau Pradeaux rosé.
Thats proper rosé
Highly recommended.

[Evan R]

Never watched it so I’m guessing thats a woman

My tips.
Canary Island whites from Tenerife, Lanzarote & La Palma. From Rioja & Valencia.
Some brilliant white wines & not expensive by Burgundy standards.

Join the Wine Society if you haven’t already.

For Spanish wines also try :
https://ultracomida.co.uk/

& for all sorts of fantastic stuff plus some older vintages of Bordeaux, Burg, Rhone etc try:
https://blastvintners.com/

He has loads of stock of Chateau Pradeaux rosé.
Thats proper rosé
Highly recommended.

That has become my go to now that I'm priced out of Tempier, sadly

[Jaydog]

That has become my go to now that I'm priced out of Tempier, sadly

Yes Tempier is mega bucks.
£22 for the 2024 Pradeaux from Blast. Bargain!
As you know its proper rose not namby pamby Provencal rose
Have you tried the reds from Pradeaux Evan?
Majestic & age worthy. Probably 10 years minimum from vintage.
Have the 2015 out back.
Love Mouvèdre.
Blast hold 16 19 & 21 vintages.
19 supposedly fantastic right now.

[Jaydog]

That has become my go to now that I'm priced out of Tempier, sadly

Yes Tempier is mega bucks.
£22 for the 2024 Pradeaux from Blast. Bargain!
As you know its proper rose not namby pamby Provencal rose
Have you tried the reds from Pradeaux Evan?
Majestic & age worthy. Probably 10 years minimum from vintage.
Have the 2015 out back.
Love Mouvèdre.
Blast hold 16 19 & 21 vintages.
19 supposedly fantastic right now.

[Evan R]

Yes Tempier is mega bucks.
£22 for the 2024 Pradeaux from Blast. Bargain!
As you know its proper rose not namby pamby Provencal rose
Have you tried the reds from Pradeaux Evan?
Majestic & age worthy. Probably 10 years minimum from vintage.
Have the 2015 out back.
Love Mouvèdre.
Blast hold 16 19 & 21 vintages.
19 supposedly fantastic right now.

Oh yes. Love Mouvedre also. We still splurge for a Tempier Rouge usually once a year so. But I agree, the Pradeaux is also wonderful and sometimes half the cost. Problem I have is no patience to age them I need to get a proper cellar going.

[Jaydog]

Oh yes. Love Mouvedre also. We still splurge for a Tempier Rouge usually once a year so. But I agree, the Pradeaux is also wonderful and sometimes half the cost. Problem I have is no patience to age them I need to get a proper cellar going.

Yeah I know what you mean re ageing.
And it can be brutally tannic when young.
Thats why I buy from places like Blast who hold older vintages and also buy at auction.

[Victor_OTT_17]

I am revisiting this one this weekend! It's $19 Canadian (around £10). It's from 2019 and is really very good...

[Evan R]

I am revisiting this one this weekend! It's $19 Canadian (around £10). It's from 2019 and is really very good...

I picked up the Gran Reserva of this one for $19 USD. Will report back!