raleighnut
Legendary Member
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- One of the 'Elite'
The Co-op do a lovely Soave at 10.5 %, one of my favourite wines, very 'fruity' and fresh.
Little ole wine drinker me (us?)
- Thread starter Joey Shabadoo
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The Co-op do a lovely Soave at 10.5 %, one of my favourite wines, very 'fruity' and fresh.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Indeed. And some much lower - to around 8% - just to attract lower duty rates.
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.
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Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
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
Veteran
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Probably worthwhile stocking up on the 12% wines before it's too late.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Nah I'll stick to the Soave
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Probably not, as weirdly the duty on 12% wines is not increasing. But stocking up on bigger wines may make sense for some.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Shame!
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
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
Legendary Member
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
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
And there I was thinking you were only drinking beer in Roma! How silly of me!
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
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!
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
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
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.
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.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
A couple of Italian whites and a Canadian interloper:
2022 Tightrope Sauvignon/Semillon, Okanagan Valley, BC 13.3% - similar to a bordeaux white blend, 85% sauvignon 15% semillon. The semillon gives it extra weight, character and richness. Very, very good indeed; not drunk a decent canadian sauvignon til this.
Secondary label has an Edith Wharton quote: "Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope." Not sure how this relates to the wine!
2023 Collavini Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia, 12.5% - ribolla is the grape variety, from the very north east, next to Slovenia Very tasty.
2022 Cantine Volpi Derthona Timorasso, 13.5% - grape is timorasso, from the Tortona district of Piedmont, in the north west. If you see Derthona on the label, it is good thing. Also very tasty.
Do not be afraid of trying different grape varieties, you might be pleasantly surprised! I had never drunk either of the Italians before these and had not even heard of timorasso. Very happy to learn something new. All retail around £12-14. (I paid a lot less at auction).
2022 Tightrope Sauvignon/Semillon, Okanagan Valley, BC 13.3% - similar to a bordeaux white blend, 85% sauvignon 15% semillon. The semillon gives it extra weight, character and richness. Very, very good indeed; not drunk a decent canadian sauvignon til this.
Secondary label has an Edith Wharton quote: "Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope." Not sure how this relates to the wine!
2023 Collavini Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia, 12.5% - ribolla is the grape variety, from the very north east, next to Slovenia Very tasty.
2022 Cantine Volpi Derthona Timorasso, 13.5% - grape is timorasso, from the Tortona district of Piedmont, in the north west. If you see Derthona on the label, it is good thing. Also very tasty.
Do not be afraid of trying different grape varieties, you might be pleasantly surprised! I had never drunk either of the Italians before these and had not even heard of timorasso. Very happy to learn something new. All retail around £12-14. (I paid a lot less at auction).
