MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
Little ole wine drinker me (us?)
- Thread starter Joey Shabadoo
- Start date
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MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
i was planning on getting another case... we had some in stock yesterday... but i had to bail work early because my hernia was getting sore, and it wouldn't have looked very good leaving work early with half a dozen bottles of wine
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Should have posted these a while ago. First up , the Italians:
2021 San Felo Lampo Morellino di Scansano, Toscana, 14% - oh my goodness, this was superb. Never drunk this before, have been missing out, very similar to a very good chianti but fuller bodied. I do not know if this usual or indeed the abv.
2020 San Felo Pinot Nero, Toscana, 12.5% - never had Tuscan pinot noir before and would not again based on this example. Not a 'typical' pinot, dry, lacked fruit, lacking enchanting perfume.
2019 Fattoria La Vialla Riserva Chianti 14.5% - very happy with this, good chianti, would never have guessed high abv. Back label shows it was bottled in march 2023. I like this; meaning it had been resting for 42 months
2021 Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico 13.5% - again, happy with this. Both chiantis are organic, not that this necessarily implies quality but often does. All 4 at under £8.50 at auction.
2021 San Felo Lampo Morellino di Scansano, Toscana, 14% - oh my goodness, this was superb. Never drunk this before, have been missing out, very similar to a very good chianti but fuller bodied. I do not know if this usual or indeed the abv.
2020 San Felo Pinot Nero, Toscana, 12.5% - never had Tuscan pinot noir before and would not again based on this example. Not a 'typical' pinot, dry, lacked fruit, lacking enchanting perfume.
2019 Fattoria La Vialla Riserva Chianti 14.5% - very happy with this, good chianti, would never have guessed high abv. Back label shows it was bottled in march 2023. I like this; meaning it had been resting for 42 months
2021 Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico 13.5% - again, happy with this. Both chiantis are organic, not that this necessarily implies quality but often does. All 4 at under £8.50 at auction.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Following on from post #197, some more verdejo from Rueda, Spain:
All of these were ok/fine examples of verdejo, fruity and tasty. The 2022 Lan Verdejo 13.5% was excellent. Superb fruit, great length and more-ish. Would happily pay full RRP for this, whatever it may be! Not bad for £7.40.
All of these were ok/fine examples of verdejo, fruity and tasty. The 2022 Lan Verdejo 13.5% was excellent. Superb fruit, great length and more-ish. Would happily pay full RRP for this, whatever it may be! Not bad for £7.40.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Opened a few weeks back, finished yesterday:
1999 Domaine Cauhapé Quintessence de Petit Manseng, Jurançon 14% - oh wow. Another fantastic dessert wine. Yes very sweet, also full, rich, fresh and refreshing and so, so long. Again, would never think its 14%. Lovely with tarte tatin. Petit manseng is the grape, found in SW France (Jurançon is just outside Pau), used for both dry and sweet wines. Purchased from the winery many years ago, not cheaply. Wanted to show colour in the glass but the bottle and glass were emptied too quickly, even though savoured. At 25 years old, it was showing no sign of going downhill, could last another 5 years easily. My only bottle, it was worth the wait.
1999 Domaine Cauhapé Quintessence de Petit Manseng, Jurançon 14% - oh wow. Another fantastic dessert wine. Yes very sweet, also full, rich, fresh and refreshing and so, so long. Again, would never think its 14%. Lovely with tarte tatin. Petit manseng is the grape, found in SW France (Jurançon is just outside Pau), used for both dry and sweet wines. Purchased from the winery many years ago, not cheaply. Wanted to show colour in the glass but the bottle and glass were emptied too quickly, even though savoured. At 25 years old, it was showing no sign of going downhill, could last another 5 years easily. My only bottle, it was worth the wait.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
For those of you who gorged on Aldi's Specially Selected Cairanne loss leader might be interested to know that from 27 december, Aldi will be selling another loss leader, the Specially Selected Crémant de Loire for a fiver. Not quite the bargain as the Cairanne but not shabby either. Bad news is only 2 bottles per customer.
(N.B. It will be more in scotland and wales.)
(N.B. It will be more in scotland and wales.)
Adam4868
Legendary Member
I've a large family 😁
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
So get them down to Aldi with you!
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Christmas Tipples:
A friend who was coming for lunch called to say she could not make it due to feeling unwell. Only one thing to do then at 11:00 while prepping veg, was to open the german riesling. It is one of the wine world's great pleasures to drink something so intensely flavourful and refreshing with only 9% abv that you do not feeling like you are drinking. Until later.
2020 Willi Haag Juffer Brauneberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 9% - amazing, lovely. Off dry, very refreshing, super apero. Went on to finish the bottle - oops - with parmigiana drops (biscuits).
2016 Court Garden Classic Cuvée, E Sussex 12% - mentioned this before. Really showing its age now, glad this is the last bottle. Fine with smokes salmon and herb roulade.
2018 Chateau Cana Les Cabires Rouge, Lebanon 14% - a heady, powerful blend of cabernet sauvignon, grenache, syrah and cinsault. Only Lebanese tastes like this. Rich, full-bodied, smoky, earthy, layered and long. Superb with roasted rib of beef.
A friend who was coming for lunch called to say she could not make it due to feeling unwell. Only one thing to do then at 11:00 while prepping veg, was to open the german riesling. It is one of the wine world's great pleasures to drink something so intensely flavourful and refreshing with only 9% abv that you do not feeling like you are drinking. Until later.
2020 Willi Haag Juffer Brauneberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 9% - amazing, lovely. Off dry, very refreshing, super apero. Went on to finish the bottle - oops - with parmigiana drops (biscuits).
2016 Court Garden Classic Cuvée, E Sussex 12% - mentioned this before. Really showing its age now, glad this is the last bottle. Fine with smokes salmon and herb roulade.
2018 Chateau Cana Les Cabires Rouge, Lebanon 14% - a heady, powerful blend of cabernet sauvignon, grenache, syrah and cinsault. Only Lebanese tastes like this. Rich, full-bodied, smoky, earthy, layered and long. Superb with roasted rib of beef.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Also been drinking over the last few days:
2021 Hidden Bench Chardonnay, ON, Ca. 13% - as good as I had expected; fresh, loads of depth, no overt oak or fruit, perfect with food.
2020 Cabriz Encruzado Reserva, Dao, Pt. 13% - "fruity, complex, persistent", "aged in oak", "potential to cellar". Helpfully lifted from back label in 3 languages, portuguese, english and french. If you like subtle chardonnay, like the Hidden Bench, you would enjoy this. Wonderful with the roulade.
2020 Toni Jost Weissburgunder Rheingau, De. 13% - this was a very pleasant surprise. Weissburgunder translates as white burgundy, which I imagine to be chardonnay but is in fact Pinot Blanc, mostly found in Alsace these days. Similar to decent chablis. Acquired a couple of years ago for £9. Current vintage is 2022 available at the Wine Society for £13.95 - fair value IMO.
2021 Hidden Bench Chardonnay, ON, Ca. 13% - as good as I had expected; fresh, loads of depth, no overt oak or fruit, perfect with food.
2020 Cabriz Encruzado Reserva, Dao, Pt. 13% - "fruity, complex, persistent", "aged in oak", "potential to cellar". Helpfully lifted from back label in 3 languages, portuguese, english and french. If you like subtle chardonnay, like the Hidden Bench, you would enjoy this. Wonderful with the roulade.
2020 Toni Jost Weissburgunder Rheingau, De. 13% - this was a very pleasant surprise. Weissburgunder translates as white burgundy, which I imagine to be chardonnay but is in fact Pinot Blanc, mostly found in Alsace these days. Similar to decent chablis. Acquired a couple of years ago for £9. Current vintage is 2022 available at the Wine Society for £13.95 - fair value IMO.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Happy New Year to all imbibers in this thread! This is a Public Service Announcement.
On 1 february, the UK will be subject to the latest hikes in duty on booze. Nothing new in that you may say. Unfortunately, this government has decided to continue with changes introduced by the previous lot. We are going to see a major revamp of duty on wine. In the past, almost all wine had the same duty rate, currently £2.67 per bottle (ex-vat).
Most wine we buy comes in at 12% to 14.5% abv. From february, all these wines will fall into 5 new different bands, effectively escalating by each increase of 0.5% abv. Table below shows new rates, including VAT. (Yes, that is a tax on a tax, outrageous IMO).
For those of you who enjoy the few wines at 9% abv, there is still an inflationary increase of 3.65% in duty. And for those of you who enjoy sherry or port, sadly the increase will be even greater.
The full ramifications of this will not be clear for a while. Although one that has already begun is the introduction of wine manufactured to have an abv of 11%. Be wary of such products.
For those who enjoy wines with an abv of 14% or more, you may want to consider stocking up!
On 1 february, the UK will be subject to the latest hikes in duty on booze. Nothing new in that you may say. Unfortunately, this government has decided to continue with changes introduced by the previous lot. We are going to see a major revamp of duty on wine. In the past, almost all wine had the same duty rate, currently £2.67 per bottle (ex-vat).
Most wine we buy comes in at 12% to 14.5% abv. From february, all these wines will fall into 5 new different bands, effectively escalating by each increase of 0.5% abv. Table below shows new rates, including VAT. (Yes, that is a tax on a tax, outrageous IMO).
| abv | current duty (inc vat) | duty effective 1 feb (inc vat) | increase |
| 12.5 | £3.20 | £3.32 | £0.12 |
| 13 | £3.20 | £3.46 | £0.25 |
| 13.5 | £3.20 | £3.59 | £0.39 |
| 14 | £3.20 | £3.72 | £0.52 |
| 14.5 | £3.20 | £3.85 | £0.65 |
For those of you who enjoy the few wines at 9% abv, there is still an inflationary increase of 3.65% in duty. And for those of you who enjoy sherry or port, sadly the increase will be even greater.
The full ramifications of this will not be clear for a while. Although one that has already begun is the introduction of wine manufactured to have an abv of 11%. Be wary of such products.
For those who enjoy wines with an abv of 14% or more, you may want to consider stocking up!
Gwylan
Veteran
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Does depend a bit on what they use to reduce the alcohol content and maintain the flavour
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
How do you think alcohol is reduced while maintaining favour? Do you think it feasible?
lostinthought
Regular
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?
