Recommendations!

[JH02JLH]

It's been ages since I posted anything of any use on this part of the forum, but my interest in wine hasn't waned...:lol

On Thursday I was lucky enough to go to the International Wine & Spirits Fair at Excel in London for a day of wine tasting.

I tasted just over 50 wines and champagnes in the course of the day and I can say now, it was hard work!!!

My boss wanted us to visit certain stands and taste new vintages of current wines we stock, but although enjoyable, I found a lot of the wines quite predictable.

So, today I was in M&S and decided to try and find something a bit different.

I chose a Southern French red called "Old Vines Grenache Noir". It was £5.49 and the vintage was 2004. It was also a whopping 14.5% alcohol!:eek

I don't often come across Grenache and it can often be blended with other grape varieties so I was interested to find out how it tasted.

It was very dark in colour and smelled very fruity. It reminded me of Turkish Delight. On tasting I was reminded of blackcurrant jam or jelly and there was lots and lots of fruit there, too.

It's very easy drinking and hopefully will go well with our beef casserole tonight!

If anyone has any recommendations for wines, then please post them here. Lengthy tasting notes are not required, just a simple reason why you liked it. It would help if the wine was widely available.

Thanks, in anticipation...

Jane


Just an update:

The wine did go well with the beef...and also I meant to add for all PP residents - if there are any recommendations that are available in local PP supermarkets for holiday drinking - please let us know!

 

[klad1]

www.maciabatle.com/


We had the white at Son Brull. I couldnt describe the exact taste now but we liked it enough to track it down. We could only find the white at Ensenat in the old town (about 8 euros ) but the red was available at Caprabo and SYP, also very good.

Worth a trip to the cellars I think.

 

[JH02JLH]

Hi Klad!

So many of my posts disappeared in the Great Hack and I'm sure I've recommended Macia Batle on here somewhere.

I agree with you...it's great to visit some Mallorcan vineyards and buy some wine to take home as Mallorcan wine is very very difficult to find in the UK.

Thanks for the reply and we'll certainly be visiting some cellars when we're next out.

Jane

Ooops - meant to say that Ensenat is great for wines - a huge choice of Mallorcan and Spanish plus a wonderful delicatessen.

 

[sandy]

I'd love to visit a Mallorcan vineyard. Which would you recommend for starters?

 

[JH02JLH]

Hi Sandy,

You're spoilt for choice for vineyards to visit in Mallorca.

Perhaps the nearest is Ca'n Vidalet just outside Pollensa Old Town. Belladonna visited last year (I think) and wrote a great account of her visit further down this page. Their website is

www.canvidalet.com

There's also Jose Ferrer based in Binissalem. We went there for a tasting and I'm sure it's open most days. It's a very commercialised winery but they are geared up for visitors.

www.vinosferrer.com

In Petra, tucked away down a side street is Miquel Oliver. We happened upon them one day and although we never got to taste any of the wines, you are able to buy there. I would recommend their Aia which is delicious. I'm sure I've written a post about it somewhere on here.


www.miqueloliver.com

I would think that vineyards may be closed during normal siesta hours and I would phone ahead in September/October in case they are busy harvesting.

Have a great time!
Jane

 

[sandy]

Thanks Jane. Looking forward to trying some!

 

[JH02JLH]

Tesco Sicilian Red Wine

There's a long story attached to this wine, but I finally got to try it yesterday (and today) after receiving it as a present from a friend here on the forum (and given to me in person which made it all the more special...)

OK, I've been told this is a "cheapo" wine, but I think it's great. Very fruity, soft and easy-drinking. It would be perfect with pasta, pizza or barbeques.

I'm not sure of the price (it was a pressie, remember) but it won't break the bank. At 12.5% it's gluggable and a light red wine ideal for summer drinking when the heavy reds are just too much to cope with.

Cheers!
Jane

 

[Snowy]

I know how to win a girl over see guys at £2.99 what a bargain the way to a girls heart is though the wine. Its easy make sure she had some good stuff first.

Enjoy

Snowy

 

[debz1]

...and Jane wasn't the only one who was given one..a bottle of Sicilian red

I also had a couple of glasses last night and about to polish off the rest this evening..its very good! Thank you Snowy

TTFN!

 

[JH02JLH]

Aaaah! We had a good time yesterday!

And the very friendly South African Maitre D' (think that's what he was) was very accepting of the Sicilian, placing it on the table with great reverence!

But we didn't drink it there and then! It wasn't, like the chatroom, a BYO!

We had a very elegant and delicious Californian red - Painter's Bridge Zinfandel which went down very well. If anyone manages to track this wine down in the UK (retailer) then please let me know.

I'd just like to say thank you to Snowy & his good lady and Debs and Chelseadons for making Sunday lunch a wonderful experience.

There's a lot to be said for meeting fellow members face to face...

Cheers!
Jane

 

[jiggy]

Snowy
You are a smoothy
glad you had a nice afternoon
jiggy

 

[Belladonna]

Opened one of our last bottles of C'an Vidalet last night only to find it had changed its taste! We brought it home last October so now know that we have to drink it all very quickly - such a hardship - to get the best from it. I am looking forward to going to the vinyard again and seeing how far they have come to completion of their cava. I think its next year that it will be finished ferementation though, so will make do with the white (the 2004 was superb but we bought home the last half dozen!)

 

[JH02JLH]

Woodhaven Shiraz Rose 2005 - California M&S £4.39

I bought this wine today to drink in the garden while hubby barbecued.

It's beautifully refreshing with lots of raspberry flavours and a deep cerise colour. Very pretty label, too!

Enjoy with grilled chicken, salmon steaks, sushi :eek or lightly spiced Thai dishes. I drank as an aperitif and loved every drop!

Cheers!

Jane

 

[Jimbo the Jambo]

Jane,

Why did you barbecue your hubby? Did he drink all the wine?

That's what i try to do, then blame it on the guests.

regards

Jimbo

ps I have tried to add phots to posts without success..can you advise please..thanks

 

[JH02JLH]

:rollin

Jimbo,

I'd finally had enough of the World Cup so decided to make use of the new roasting spit we bought in B&Q...

:smokin

Jimbo, see post by Pollensa on photo thread about inserting pictures. Far better than I could ever explain!

Jane:b

 

[Snowy]

Jane glad to see your broken arms better. :eek

:lol :lol

 

[jiggy]

I have been keeping this bargain to myself, cos i didnt want you all to run out and get it, leaving none for me:eek (although i did tell jane about it, in the chat room. i think she got me drunk & it just slipped out:eek ) But i've decided to let you all in on it know (thats the kind of guy i am :lol :lol ) anyway, i've cleared the shelves of it here in liverpool!:lol

Rosemount Estate shiraz cab from Sommerfields.
normally £7.99, now £4.49 , absolute bargain, and its lovely .
It displays lifted spice & ripe berry aromas. it's rich in lively fruit flavours of blackberries & dark plums.the spiciness of the shiraz is complemented by the blackcurrent flavours of the cab sav filling the finish. mmmmmmmmmmm

Impressed jane? you shouldnt be, i copied that bit from the back of the empty bottle!:rollin
but it does taste nice, mmmmmmmmmm
Go and get some now, but remember, leave some for me

jiggy

 

[JH02JLH]

Hello jiggy!

Glad to see you shared your info with us all at last!

I knew you'd copied the blurb from the back of the bottle. Someone as genuine as you wouldn't come up with:

"...lifted spice and ripe berry aromas." What's "lifted" spice?

:eek

Maybe we should all hunt out the daftest wine descriptions we can find and post them on here. My current favourite is a wine described as being "fruit-driven". I have images of grapes squashed inside a car and speeding off down the motorway...

Oh well!

Jane