In vino veritas - what wine are you drinking?

Aldi. Excellent for €7.50.

Smooth, solid fruits, lovely bit of spice and pepper.

Buddy97mm wrote: »

Had a superb bottle of Valpolicella with bank holiday Monday dinner, a Valpolicella Superiore Zenato, which we got as a present some months ago. Beautifully smooth, velvety, luscious and fruity, the nicest wine I have had in some time.

Their Rpiassa is very good too. Bit pricer at aprox 25e

Buddy97mm wrote: »

They used to do this some years ago, but I haven't seen it for quite a while, today my local Tesco had maybe a dozen or so differing wines (red primarily) all reduced by about 40% - wines as diverse as Medoc, St. Chinian, Rioja....and others. I can't vouch for their quality, but do believe it to be genuine value, and the types could differ from store to store. I bought a Medoc to try, reduced from €12 to €7.20.

Sounds like the Tesco Finest range of wines.
I've heard good reviews about the St Chinian and for the others I'd say Tesco are a bit fussier about what they put into a 'Finest' range than some of their fake chateau etc brands.

It doesn't seem to be a general thing or maybe it's in store only.
Online the prices are still showing up as €12.

There does seem to be a lot of cabernets showing up as half price online - I think I'll pick up a bottle of the Ian Botham series.
I've only sampled it at a tasting but I remember it packing a punch - like the man himself

So a Tesco wine again, but not one of the bin end bargains

It is on offer at €9 down from €12 and that's probably a more realistic price tbf.
Piccini's Chianti - not going to win(e) any awards, but comes into its own as a food friendly wine.
Its acidity paired well with slow cooked pork shanks* - and would work well with similar dishes such as pork shoulder, neck* or lamb.
* Available at bargain prices in your local Polo store.

Interesting article in Decanter magazine...
From cocktails and wine to coffee and ice cream, some restaurants in the Italian city of Florence have reopened centuries-old ‘wine windows’ to serve customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the city’s Wine Windows Association, the move has taken us ‘back in time’ by reviving a method of socially distanced wine selling seen during outbreaks of bubonic plague in the city in the 17th century.
An Italian academic at that time, Francesco Rondinelli, wrote of how wine windows in the city’s palaces were used during the plague between 1630 and 1633; seemingly to help prevent contagion. Wine producers ‘passed the flask of wine through the window to the client but did not receive payment directly into their hands’, wrote Diletta Corsini in a recent article on the Wine Windows Association’s website.
‘Instead, they passed a metal pallet to the client, who placed the coins on it, and then the seller disinfected them with vinegar,’ wrote Corsini, who cofounded the association in October 2015.

https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/wine-windows-italy-covid-19-442211/

ctlsleh wrote: »

Love Zenato, their Ripasso is amazing....

Yeah it's one of the better ones you can get in Ireland. imho



If it was a bit cheaper it'd be my daily tipple.

odyssey06 wrote: »

BBC4 will be repeating wine documentary Chateau Chunder tonight. Tells the story of the rise of popularity of Australian wine in the 1980s and features contributions from Oz Clarke and Jancis Robinson.
Terrible name I know but so little wine documentaries on TV.

It was great. If you haven’t already watch Spur Grapes and Somm on Netflix.
There is also Somm Into The Bottle which is excellent but I don’t think it’s on Netflix anymore.

Tried around 50 wines this weekend. Some very good, some not good. Most are probably not readily available in Ireland.
But there was a very good Chanti in the restaurant. That I later found out was from Aldi. Not sure if Irish Aldi is same stock, but might be.
Corte Carista Chianti Superiore

ciaran76 wrote: »

Sorry slightly off topic:

Has anyone seen a wine advent calendar available in Ireland?

I remember ALDI having one in previous years but I didn't get it, think it was about 40% red, 40% white and 20% sparkling or rose. Cost about 60-70 euros for 20 miniatures iirc.

In UK stores from November 4th so might be similar here.
https://www.aldi.us/en/products/advent-calendars/

Buddy97mm wrote: »

Having abstained from drink for most of October, my intention had always been to treat myself this weekend, and I opened a Dao I had bought a few weeks ago in Aldi. I can't actually recall how much it cost but think it was in the 7 to 8 euro bracket.

It's been a while since I last had some Dao, but memories treat it very favourably, and this bottle certainly lived up to those memories. Immensely smooth and fruity, with a beautiful long finish, this really impressed me. An elegant, well structured wine, a steal at the price point. Perhaps abstinence had added to the pleasure, nonetheless this is one I'll be buying again.

Which Dao did you buy?

Buddy97mm wrote: »

To be honest, it was the only Dao I saw in the shop. On looking closer at label, it's a 2018 Dao from Carlos Lucas, "From the winemakers private selection".

Thanks. The wife happens to love Dao

A premium offering from a big brand - Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon.
I think Casillero Diablo is pretty reliable as big brands go for parties etc but this is a step up in quality.

I picked it up on offer at €10 in Supervalu and at that price it's definitely worth picking up - rrp is €15.

I'll crib some tasting notes:
Strong smell of tobacco and oak. Definitely tastes like a Chilean cab in that it has a spicy front notes and a smooth finish.

Circumstances conspired at the Supervalu off licence, a large queue and a shortfall for a spend and save voucher...
So I ended up going home with a bottle of Mateus Rose as it was within arm's reach.
(Thoiugh given the need for social distancing at present I would prefer if they didn't use their floor space as storage space...)

I haven't been converted but I can see why it was so popular back in its heydey as one of the first big selling wine brands in the UK... easy drinking, refreshing, slightly sweet, slightly fizzy... it's halfway towards a sprizter.
Would be vey popular served at a BBQ or welcome drink at a function.

The bottle shape is so decorative, I thought twice before throwing it out, I suspect someone more creative than me could repurpose it...

Mateus' success can be put down to its popularity amongst US military in Europe after WWII.
I was once told that the bottle shape was chosen as it was the same as the Franconian wine bottles that the US military would have been familiar with in Germany.

In LIDL it is hard to look beyond their 6 for €40 special if you are picking up a few bottles.
https://www.lidl.ie/en/p/christmas-drinks/festive-wine-deal/p53743

But they have some interesting once off wines in for Christmas.

I had heard good things about the Barbera d'Asti Superiore but all sold out

So I went for the Domaine Eole Fitou for €8.99 which is a very nice example of this good value appellation from south west of France. I think Fitou wines usually retail for €12 - €15 so this is a great price. If you like warming reds from the likes of Gerard Bertrand this will fit the bill with subtle notes of spice and savouriness.

A bit of a belated Thanksgiving, early taste of Christmas dinner with a pairing of slow roasted duck and Californian Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir was MacMurray Russian River Valley Sonoma 2016, €20.99 from Molloys.

Quoting the tasting notes I'd concur with:
Flavors of dark cherry, pomegranate and vanilla. This luscious wine has a silky mouthfeel, framed by subtle hints of oak from barrel aging

Recommended for fans of pinot noir, although you do seem to pay a premium for pinot noir over wines of similar quality I find.

td2008 wrote: »

Any free standing wine rack recommendations? Looking to get one as a present

Also, found a link on twitter for 15% off Vivino for new customers which may be useful to some

https://www.talkable.com/x/Vd9GqS

Can't see that link but, in my opinion, small wine racks that hold less than, say, a dozen or so bottles, are merely a waste of space. They tend to just make a few bottles of wine take up more space than they would otherwise.
Unless you are ageing wine, I don't see the point of wine racks - just put it in a cupboard.

mikep wrote: »

Hi folks
I know this is off topic but does anyone know of a good wineshop for wines from older vintages, I'm thinking mature Bordeaux or Burgundy..
I usually buy online from abroad but looking closer to home.
Would need a one that does delivery..

Thanks

Mitchells Wine

Celtic Whiskey Shop too and OBriens have a limited selection but some nice stuff there. Grand Crus, Pauillacs et al.

odyssey06 wrote: »

Online retailer Wines of the World (based in Cork) have a sale on some older vintages from Burgundy... dunno how good those vintages were mind.

Judging by their "Fat Bastard Pinot Noir" and "Sir Ian Botham Cabernet Sauvignon" I wouldn't hold out too much hope.

Try Wines Direct. They supply the trade also, so have a good range.

Thanks for the suggestions folks.

Order placed today with Mitchels

Didn't have the cash to go too mad though.

Tesco Barolo? That’s a surprising one. It’s generally a premium variety.
Which Penfolds was it out of curiosity? Koonunga Hill or one of the bins?

Mellor wrote: »

Tesco Barolo? That’s a surprising one. It’s generally a premium variety.
Which Penfolds was it out of curiosity? Koonunga Hill or one of the bins?

I have gotten it before when it came from Ascheri and was as nice as the starting Ascheri Barolo in OBriens which is 30-35.
Different producer now Fratelli Martini, Tesco rrp 20.

The Penfolds is Koonunga Hill.
RRP 18 down to 14 and 25% off that.