Little ole wine drinker me (us?)

[raleighnut]

I've been caught out by this recently- as a self described connoisseur of cheap wine, also a fan of old fashioned french wine, I'm quite keen on reasonably low alcohol wines- by which I mean, 12-12.5%. The 11% wines creeping in to the supermarkets that I've tried have tasted more like low/zero substitutions. It's such a slight shift though - on the face of it - and still fairly high in alcohol, so I can't account for the clear difference - perhaps some fining or processing is happening to account for it?

The Co-op do a lovely Soave at 10.5 %, one of my favourite wines, very 'fruity' and fresh.

 

[Shadow]

11% wines creeping in to the supermarkets that I've tried have tasted more like low/zero substitutions

Indeed. And some much lower - to around 8% - just to attract lower duty rates.

perhaps some fining or processing is happening to account for it?

It wont be fining.
It could be grapes being harvested earlier or fermentation being deliberately stopped. Both methods have drawbacks.
Or more likely, some other techy manufacturing process to strip alcohol out. Which also strips out flavour.

Read labels carefully!


Edited for clarification.

 

[Shadow]

The Co-op do a lovely Soave at 10.5 %, one of my favourite wines, very 'fruity' and fresh.

Go down to your local Sainsburys, Morrisons or Waitrose and grab a bottle of Torres' Viña Sol 8%. And then come back and let us know what you think. It is supposed to be very fruity and fresh.

 

[Gwylan]

Probably worthwhile stocking up on the 12% wines before it's too late.

 

[Adam4868]

Last of my Xmas pressies ☹️

 

[raleighnut]

Go down to your local Sainsburys, Morrisons or Waitrose and grab a bottle of Torres' Viña Sol 8%. And then come back and let us know what you think. It is supposed to be very fruity and fresh.

Nah I'll stick to the Soave

 

[Shadow]

Probably worthwhile stocking up on the 12% wines before it's too late.

Probably not, as weirdly the duty on 12% wines is not increasing. But stocking up on bigger wines may make sense for some.

 

[Shadow]

Nah I'll stick to the Soave

Shame!

 

[Shadow]

Last of my Xmas pressies

Oh dear, a trip to the offie beckons?
The one on the far left looks interesting - am guessing you enjoyed that one the best? Anything to report on any of them?

 

[Adam4868]

Oh dear, a trip to the offie beckons?
The one on the far left looks interesting - am guessing you enjoyed that one the best? Anything to report on any of them?

Only drunk the Bordeaux the other three haven't been opened...was a bit heavy for me but saying that still drank it !
Been in Rome for four days so it's been a heavy start to the year for wine consumption 😁
I'll let you know when I've tried them.

 

[Shadow]

Been in Rome for four days so it's been a heavy start to the year for wine consumption 😁

And there I was thinking you were only drinking beer in Roma! How silly of me!

 

[raleighnut]

Shame!

The Soave is probably the nicest wine the Co-op sells.

 

[Shadow]

The first bottles from a case of Canadian Pinot Noir

All from 2020, so very similar, no? No.

One is from Okanagan Valley, BC (far west canada), one is from Niagara (ON) and the other also from ON., but 300 km to the east in Prince Edward County.
All well-made quality pinot, all good upfront fruit as I would expect. My favourite was Gray Monk 12.4% abv and least favourite but far from being unlovely, was Sandbanks 13%. The J-T had 13.5%. Not quite the order I might have guessed, as the best pinots I've drunk have been from PEC! All very tasty and happily worth the less than £17 that I paid for them.

There was another from See Ya Later Winery in BC which I did not overly enjoy and gave the second bottle to a friend who would appreciate it more, so no picture was taken to record the event!

 

[Shadow]

Aaah, vinous bliss!

1988 Gérard Bertrand Rivesaltes: made from grenache in Roussillon, SW France. Fortified, very similar to Banyuls and Maury. And vintage port (which I think is overrated and over priced - I much prefer tawny port). 16% abv. Was wonderful with a fruity, nutty, sticky, chocolate fridge bake. Only one bottle left to drink from last century, also a dessert wine.
Useless info: Bertrand was a professional rugby player and took over the estate at about 30 years old when his father died.

2012 Schmelzer Weissburgunder TBA: from Burgenland, Austria. Weissburgunder is Austrian for the Pinot Blanc grape. Intensely sweet, nectar. TBA is the highest level of sweetness in Germany/Austria. So easy to drink. And at 11%, why not? Better than dessert - although this was consumed with tarte au citron.