The Wine Thread

[frankstero]

Quite a few to catch up on:

Love, Love me Dão: 2 fantastic Portuguese blends

[frankstero]

The best Riesling in the world outside Alsace? Grosset Polish Hill Riesling

[frankstero]

The Frankly Wines & Friends Wine & Music Series #13 – Sharon L

[frankstero]

The Frankly Wines & Friends Wine & Music Series #14 – Lee Isaacs including The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter and Domaine Jones Fitou

[frankstero]

The Frankly Wines & Friends Wine & Music Series #15 – Liam Mycroft featuring Eric Clapton's Bad Love and Bodega Garzón Albariño

[frankstero]

New post up this morning: Dynamic Douro Duo

[frankstero]

Two very different wines from "The Baron of the Barossa": Peter Lehmann Shiraz & Botryitis Semillon

[frankstero]

Five Festive Flagons (OK, OK the alliteration is getting a big much...)

[Blackmac]

I am no wine expert but have been a member of Virgin Wines for the last couple of years. I've got a couple of hundred quid in the account and was planning spending it on a reasonably decent self selected case for xmas. I would just rely purely on their star rating so I am just wondering if you have ever had a look at their selection and would recommend anything in particular.

[Bimbowomxn]

I am no wine expert but have been a member of Virgin Wines for the last couple of years. I've got a couple of hundred quid in the account and was planning spending it on a reasonably decent self selected case for xmas. I would just rely purely on their star rating so I am just wondering if you have ever had a look at their selection and would recommend anything in particular.

Volume or quality as a priority?

Because the £200 ish luxury box is bloody excellent and excellent value.

[frankstero]

The Frankly Wines & Friends Wine & Music Series #16 – Brad Horne featuring Champagne Supernova and Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling

[Blackmac]

I am no wine expert but have been a member of Virgin Wines for the last couple of years. I've got a couple of hundred quid in the account and was planning spending it on a reasonably decent self selected case for xmas. I would just rely purely on their star rating so I am just wondering if you have ever had a look at their selection and would recommend anything in particular.

Volume or quality as a priority?

Because the £200 ish luxury box is bloody excellent and excellent value.

Quality. Obviously you have to buy minimum of 12 so looking to get the nicest self mixed case I can for about £200 to £240. Neither of us like Chardonnay or any really heavy reds.

[frankstero]

The Frankly Wines & Friends Wine & Music Series #17 – Mitchell Young featuring the Manic Street Preachers' "Motorcycle Emptiness" and Domaine Montirius "Garrigues" Vacqueyras

[Globus]

Dear Frankster et al.

Recommend a stunner for goose on Christmas Day. Pinot Noir looks the obvious bet (and I have some good ones). Maybe go off piste for a bit of fun.

Budget, say less than £50.

[Insane_Homer]

http://content.email.thewinesociety.com ... iew_online

[SaintK]

Dear Frankster et al.

Recommend a stunner for goose on Christmas Day. Pinot Noir looks the obvious bet (and I have some good ones). Maybe go off piste for a bit of fun.

Budget, say less than £50.

Had goose every Christmas for the last 20 years or so.
It really depends on the trimmings and accompaniments you're having, red cabbage and apple sauce and fruit based stuffings can be killers.
Pinot Noir is fine, wouldn't neccessarily match with any fine Burgundy though. The best we've had is the Otago Felton Rd Pinot and a Russian River US Pinot whose name escapes me. Barolo and Barbaresco also go well
Though I reckon the best we matched was an off dry Grand Cru Alsace Riesling/ and a Pinot Gris A Gewurtztraminer can also handle the richness of goose
Frankie's your man for most wines, but Alsace in particular

[Bimbowomxn]

I am no wine expert but have been a member of Virgin Wines for the last couple of years. I've got a couple of hundred quid in the account and was planning spending it on a reasonably decent self selected case for xmas. I would just rely purely on their star rating so I am just wondering if you have ever had a look at their selection and would recommend anything in particular.

Volume or quality as a priority?

Because the £200 ish luxury box is bloody excellent and excellent value.

Quality. Obviously you have to buy minimum of 12 so looking to get the nicest self mixed case I can for about £200 to £240. Neither of us like Chardonnay or any really heavy reds.

https://www.virginwines.co.uk/wine/Z385 ... ir-Reserve


A good start on the reds.

[Bimbowomxn]

Dear Frankster et al.

Recommend a stunner for goose on Christmas Day. Pinot Noir looks the obvious bet (and I have some good ones). Maybe go off piste for a bit of fun.

Budget, say less than £50.

Had goose every Christmas for the last 20 years or so.
It really depends on the trimmings and accompaniments you're having, red cabbage and apple sauce and fruit based stuffings can be killers.
Pinot Noir is fine, wouldn't neccessarily match with any fine Burgundy though. The best we've had is the Otago Felton Rd Pinot and a Russian River US Pinot whose name escapes me. Barolo and Barbaresco also go well
Though I reckon the best we matched was an off dry Grand Cru Alsace Riesling/ and a Pinot Gris A Gewurtztraminer can also handle the richness of goose
Frankie's your man for most wines, but Alsace in particular

Or if you’re spending champagne matches with goose as well.

[Blackmac]

Ideal Bimbo. If you see any more, feel free to stick them up.

[Bimbowomxn]

Ideal Bimbo. If you see any more, feel free to stick them up.

What grape do you like for whites ? Yes / no to oak.

[Blackmac]

Ideal Bimbo. If you see any more, feel free to stick them up.

What grape do you like for whites ? Yes / no to oak.

We mainly stick to Sauvignon, Semillon, Pinot Gris. Definitely not keen on oaky chardonnays.

[Bimbowomxn]

Not wine , but sherry however this is cracking value.

https://www.virginwines.co.uk/wine/Z370 ... Manzanilla


I’ve drunk and love this.

https://www.virginwines.co.uk/wine/Z358 ... erre-Silex


Hopefully Frankie can help you out with Alsace whites and other grapes.

I’m a burgundy white O phile so not much Help


That sherry btw served ice cold with slices of Ham or even chorizo I’d fucking wonderful.

[SaintK]

Dear Frankster et al.

Recommend a stunner for goose on Christmas Day. Pinot Noir looks the obvious bet (and I have some good ones). Maybe go off piste for a bit of fun.

Budget, say less than £50.

Had goose every Christmas for the last 20 years or so.
It really depends on the trimmings and accompaniments you're having, red cabbage and apple sauce and fruit based stuffings can be killers.
Pinot Noir is fine, wouldn't neccessarily match with any fine Burgundy though. The best we've had is the Otago Felton Rd Pinot and a Russian River US Pinot whose name escapes me. Barolo and Barbaresco also go well
Though I reckon the best we matched was an off dry Grand Cru Alsace Riesling/ and a Pinot Gris A Gewurtztraminer can also handle the richness of goose
Frankie's your man for most wines, but Alsace in particular

Or if you’re spending champagne matches with goose as well.

Demi-sec, Rose?

[Bimbowomxn]

Biscuity ——- Bolly grand Anne would he kick arse.

[SaintK]

Biscuity ——- Bolly grand Anne would he kick arse.

Yes righty ho! I bet it would
I'm not a huge champagne fan but I reckon my missus would be into that big time

[Bimbowomxn]

Biscuity ——- Bolly grand Anne would he kick arse.

Yes righty ho! I bet it would
I'm not a huge champagne fan but I reckon my missus would be into that big time

You’re right though Goose is a nightmare with Xmas trimming.


I’ve got to actually buy some of the Alsace stuff recommended here.

[frankstero]

My take on six wines from the @lidl_ireland Xmas 2020 collection

[frankstero]

The Frankly Wines & Friends Wine & Music Series #18 – David Crossley

featuring Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere

[frankstero]

Time to catch up on a few wine posts!

SuperValu Ireland Xmas part 1

SuperValu Ireland Xmas part 2

Offley Drinkable Port

[frankstero]

Some of the short articles I did on GrapeCircus wines:

- Champagne Laherte Frères

- Whites From Off The Beaten Track

- Fresh Italian Reds

[Globus]

Laherte Frères is just across the valley from La Maquerie, the home of the Taittinger family, where we had a lovely meal. Courtesy of our local wine shop - Amps.

The family always have their marriage there.

Philip has always promoted them.

[Globus]

And here it is. Lovely facade but it is very narrow. Unoccupied.

[Globus]

Correction. It's La Marquetterie

[Glaston]

Xmas sparkling is from Lidl

Clairette de Die

Bought it because
Mid 70's on the way back from S of France trip we stopped for lunch and aged mid teens I was allowed a glass or 2.
Its always stuck in my mind.

Hope it lives up to my memory.

[Random1]

What do you think of the ratings on vivino frankster?

They a decent indicator or a load of shit?

[frankstero]

What do you think of the ratings on vivino frankster?

They a decent indicator or a load of shit?

TBQFH I've not read much of them at all. I'd expect them to be very broadly ok, but different people rate wines on different criteria.

If you find a reviewer on there whose tastes appear to match your own, then that person's scores might be a good guide

[laurent]

Scored some Pol Roger for the cellar :D

[frankstero]

After a rest for January, I've just posted my first wine review of 2021:

Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay

[Random1]

Found a cracker for anyone that wants a big red.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/wines/mayu-c ... ento-39407

Not going to try and get all frankster on this, as I don’t have the ability, so I’ll just say this; this wine tickles the side of my tongue. In a nice way.

Strongly recommend.

[frankstero]

Found a cracker for anyone that wants a big red.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/wines/mayu-c ... ento-39407

Not going to try and get all frankster on this, as I don’t have the ability, so I’ll just say this; this wine tickles the side of my tongue. In a nice way.

Strongly recommend.

Interesting wine! Does it have any green bell pepper notes? Somewhat sweet?