What's your favourite red?
Discussion
everyone.Mobile Chicane said:
Château Musar. A treat since it's around £20 a bottle.
would have to agree. Visited their gaffe in Beruit which held about £4m stock bottled and ageing. Was offered either 1978 or 1985 as they're birth years from me & sis. Glad we went for the '78 - absolutely unbelievable wine. Pure bolt of flavour, so smooth. Good brown shade to the basic redness, and the 'tears' showed the alcohol content was good. Would definitely recommend, £150 for the 1978 is a bit steep though
Hmmm, how long is a piece of string?
There are so any wonderful reds out there (at all price levels, different grapes, blends, styles, countries, vintages etc) and we all have different taste. But here are a few reds I've really enjoyed recently (not of all time, because I tend to forget
):
Gran Clos Poirat - 2001 - spain. (@ £35-ish per bottle)
Big powerful wine. Imagine it'd be lovely with lamb, or even cheeses.
Isole Olena Chianti - 2006 - italy (@ 18-ish per bottle)
Very very good. In fact compared to many cheaper Chiantis, it almost doesn't taste like chianti (if that makes sense?). Was a real surprise for me.
Mouton Rothschild Pauillac - 1989 - France (bordeaux) - (I'd imagine about 190 a bottle).
Lovely Claret. Smooth. Deep. Magic. (ought to be for the price!). Still lovely fresh fruit. I reckon it'd go on for a fair few years yet.
AN Other Cote Rotie - apologies, I forget the maker and year.
Cote Rotie is at the posh end of Cote Du Rhone wine. This was a stunning wine and won the day when some mates and I got together to compare (against, '94 Corton, 2001 Pommard, 1999 Ridge Montabello - to be fair the Ridge was stunning, but needs alot longer in bottle before it reaches it's peak - imo)
As someonee else also mentioned, new Zealand reds are very very good these days. I'd agree on the Ata Rangi. Also look at Dry Gully and Felton Road Pinot Noirs.
There's so so many nice wines out there. I think one of my all time faves in terms of 'bang for buck' is an AUssie Cabernet called Thoroughbred. It was either the 1999 or 2001 which I got hold of. And wwas @ £15 per bottle. it really does show that you don't need to spend £100s on lovely quality reds. I've not managed to find any since and the maker has been taken over since and more recent vintages aren't anywhere near as good.
Find types (country/grape) you like and experiment with a few in your budget.But then don't be afraid to branch out and try other things.
I appreciate everyone has their budget/comfort level re. spending on wine. But if it's something you're getting into, it's well worth (imo) to every now and then, save up and try something a bit more pricey, just to see what the fuss is all about.
There are so any wonderful reds out there (at all price levels, different grapes, blends, styles, countries, vintages etc) and we all have different taste. But here are a few reds I've really enjoyed recently (not of all time, because I tend to forget
):Gran Clos Poirat - 2001 - spain. (@ £35-ish per bottle)
Big powerful wine. Imagine it'd be lovely with lamb, or even cheeses.
Isole Olena Chianti - 2006 - italy (@ 18-ish per bottle)
Very very good. In fact compared to many cheaper Chiantis, it almost doesn't taste like chianti (if that makes sense?). Was a real surprise for me.
Mouton Rothschild Pauillac - 1989 - France (bordeaux) - (I'd imagine about 190 a bottle).
Lovely Claret. Smooth. Deep. Magic. (ought to be for the price!). Still lovely fresh fruit. I reckon it'd go on for a fair few years yet.
AN Other Cote Rotie - apologies, I forget the maker and year.
Cote Rotie is at the posh end of Cote Du Rhone wine. This was a stunning wine and won the day when some mates and I got together to compare (against, '94 Corton, 2001 Pommard, 1999 Ridge Montabello - to be fair the Ridge was stunning, but needs alot longer in bottle before it reaches it's peak - imo)
As someonee else also mentioned, new Zealand reds are very very good these days. I'd agree on the Ata Rangi. Also look at Dry Gully and Felton Road Pinot Noirs.
There's so so many nice wines out there
. I think one of my all time faves in terms of 'bang for buck' is an AUssie Cabernet called Thoroughbred. It was either the 1999 or 2001 which I got hold of. And wwas @ £15 per bottle. it really does show that you don't need to spend £100s on lovely quality reds. I've not managed to find any since and the maker has been taken over since and more recent vintages aren't anywhere near as good.Find types (country/grape) you like and experiment with a few in your budget.But then don't be afraid to branch out and try other things.
I appreciate everyone has their budget/comfort level re. spending on wine. But if it's something you're getting into, it's well worth (imo) to every now and then, save up and try something a bit more pricey, just to see what the fuss is all about.
tomw2000 said:
Hmmm, how long is a piece of string?
Exactly but leaving out the grand cru classées there are some notable memories:Chateau d'Arsac 1990. wasnt an AC Margaux at the time but this was fabulous. Considering there were also a few bottles of Ch Margaux 88 on the table, this wine was not out of its depth.
Peyres Nobles (Corbières) 2008. Unpretentious but complex mix of flavours. I cannot imagine doing a BBQ without a few of these now.
Carruades de Lafite 2000. A second wine that comes so close to the real thing at a fraction of the price.
Chateau d'Aydie 1988. Probably the best Madiran ever. Such depth and complexity that it is almost impossible to find a dish that it wont overpower - Daube de Sanglier might be possible...
Anything from Bellingham would get my vote.
Smooth, full and lingering South African.
http://www.sawinesonline.co.uk/Bellingham%20Estate...
Smooth, full and lingering South African.
http://www.sawinesonline.co.uk/Bellingham%20Estate...
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