Where can I get half bottles of really good wine?
Discussion
The OH doesn't drink. I don't drink a lot. I love great wine with my food but don't want to open a good bottle and only drink half as the second half is never as good by the time I come to drink it, particularly in the case of red. Ideally, therefore, I need some really good half bottles. I used to browse the French and Italian stuff at my local Oddbins and take chances, which paid off more and more as my knowledge improved... but that was when there was an Oddbins and I lived with my ex who I'd share the wine with. Both are long gone now. I want to get back to that experience (the wine, not the ex), but there's no Oddbins and no one to share a full size bottle with! Where can I get really good wine in half bottles from?
Thanks, I'll investigate.
Of course, it depends on our relative perceptions of 'very good'. I've had some fantastic bottles of French red for £6 from Oddbins. Buy one... try it out... go back and buy a case if it's any good. I regularly used to stock up on stuff that was soon selling for two to three times as much per bottle as I'd initially paid, such was my talent for picking good ones!
I have a vac-u-vin, which is generally good, though I still find that red, in my experience, deteriorates quickly. The deterioration is more noticeable the better the wine. Also, I don't often have chance to drink the second half the following day, so half bottles are the way to go I think.
Of course, it depends on our relative perceptions of 'very good'. I've had some fantastic bottles of French red for £6 from Oddbins. Buy one... try it out... go back and buy a case if it's any good. I regularly used to stock up on stuff that was soon selling for two to three times as much per bottle as I'd initially paid, such was my talent for picking good ones!
I have a vac-u-vin, which is generally good, though I still find that red, in my experience, deteriorates quickly. The deterioration is more noticeable the better the wine. Also, I don't often have chance to drink the second half the following day, so half bottles are the way to go I think.
Have you thought of joining the Wine society?
They currently do more than 60 wines in half bottles including some of their own Rhone , Claret etc.
I've had numerous wines from them since joining and with one possible exception all punched way above their price line.
Highly recommended by just a very satisfied customer
www.thewinesociety.com/
They currently do more than 60 wines in half bottles including some of their own Rhone , Claret etc.
I've had numerous wines from them since joining and with one possible exception all punched way above their price line.
Highly recommended by just a very satisfied customer
www.thewinesociety.com/
Try FRW http://www.frw.co.uk and use the detailed search to look for half bottles.
I'm in the same boat.
I have no problem in polishing off a whole bottle on my own but should just stick to a half.
Berry Bros do their Good Ordinary Claret in half bottles which is very nice.
Also as said above the Wine Society.
Quite a good range at Laithwaites as well.
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/jsp/searchbrow...
I have no problem in polishing off a whole bottle on my own but should just stick to a half.
Berry Bros do their Good Ordinary Claret in half bottles which is very nice.
Also as said above the Wine Society.
Quite a good range at Laithwaites as well.
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/DWBase/jsp/searchbrow...
Well for you guys who only want a glass or two from a full bottle, I present to you - the future of wine drinking.
http://mashable.com/2013/07/31/coravin-wine/
http://mashable.com/2013/07/31/coravin-wine/
Decant the remainder into a small bottle and cork. Keep in the fridge (get it out a couple of hours before you drink it to bring the temp up).
If you Vac the air out dissolved gas is sucked out of the wine by the vacuum and so spoils it - you sometimes observe bubbles rising when doing this.
Better to decant into a smaller container with smaller void to slow oxidisation.
If you Vac the air out dissolved gas is sucked out of the wine by the vacuum and so spoils it - you sometimes observe bubbles rising when doing this.
Better to decant into a smaller container with smaller void to slow oxidisation.
WTD said:
Well for you guys who only want a glass or two from a full bottle, I present to you - the future of wine drinking.
http://mashable.com/2013/07/31/coravin-wine/
I love that!http://mashable.com/2013/07/31/coravin-wine/
I have a real thing for corkscrews and wine gadgets but it's a bit pricey at $299.
Thanks again for all the great responses - plenty to go on there 
Davey S2 said:
I have no problem in polishing off a whole bottle on my own but should just stick to a half.
I can't even drink a whole bottle... Well, I can drink a whole bottle of rosé as it lacks the acidity of white (which gives me heartburn) and the heaviness of red (which gives me a stinking headache), but I really don't have a desire to drink that much wine. I'd be on the floor these days!was8v said:
Decant the remainder into a small bottle and cork. Keep in the fridge (get it out a couple of hours before you drink it to bring the temp up).
If you Vac the air out dissolved gas is sucked out of the wine by the vacuum and so spoils it - you sometimes observe bubbles rising when doing this.
Better to decant into a smaller container with smaller void to slow oxidisation.
Fabulous - I'll try that. I have a lovely bottle of Pomerol which had been lying down for quite a few years now, waiting to be enjoyed.If you Vac the air out dissolved gas is sucked out of the wine by the vacuum and so spoils it - you sometimes observe bubbles rising when doing this.
Better to decant into a smaller container with smaller void to slow oxidisation.
OldJohnnyYen said:
Marks and spencer do chatuexnerf dupape by the half bottle, £6.99, it's good stuff too.
I love Chateauneuf du Pape. I'll keep an eye out for that next time I bob into M&S.
was8v said:
Decant the remainder into a small bottle and cork. Keep in the fridge (get it out a couple of hours before you drink it to bring the temp up).
If you Vac the air out dissolved gas is sucked out of the wine by the vacuum and so spoils it - you sometimes observe bubbles rising when doing this.
Better to decant into a smaller container with smaller void to slow oxidisation.
These will helpIf you Vac the air out dissolved gas is sucked out of the wine by the vacuum and so spoils it - you sometimes observe bubbles rising when doing this.
Better to decant into a smaller container with smaller void to slow oxidisation.
http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/25_Re...
I know it's been mentioned already, but The Wine Society are really good for halves.
Berrys also do a good range in halves: http://www.bbr.com/browse-wine#?bottle_code_from%5...
But, if you want "really good" then this is one of the areas in with en primeur* still works - you can usually choose your bottling size - but you do need to be able to keep your hands off them for a few years.
*=ordering the wines before it's been bottled. Both Wine Society and Berrys are good for this.
Berrys also do a good range in halves: http://www.bbr.com/browse-wine#?bottle_code_from%5...
But, if you want "really good" then this is one of the areas in with en primeur* still works - you can usually choose your bottling size - but you do need to be able to keep your hands off them for a few years.
*=ordering the wines before it's been bottled. Both Wine Society and Berrys are good for this.
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