Wine Reviews

[JoeyGunz]

That Argie Malbec sounds delicious. Will add the store to my London to-do list along with the pizzeria recommendation from JG.

Is a bit outside of London but let me know when you're London bound and I'll ferry some up for you!

[Simon-JG-hr]

That Argie Malbec sounds delicious. Will add the store to my London to-do list along with the pizzeria recommendation from JG.

[Simon G]

Good man!

[JoeyGunz]

Yeah I just stuck a couple of each in my basket!

[Simon G]

Grab one of each of the ones I mentioned. Seriously bud - you won't be disappointed
Would love to hear your feedback too on 'em.
If you love your Red, you'll love this trio…
Ordered earlier today 24 bottles total of this trio. 18 bottles are the Agoston

[JoeyGunz]

I'll call in Simon, it's only 5 minutes from my work!

[Simon G]

Highly HIGHLY recommend the ones I've listed

[tommy]

Great thread!
Here are a couple that I HIGHLY recommend?
Honestly, for wine lovers out there, you will NOT be disappointed with these recommendations.
I ordered from this shop over in West London. Ideal if you can pop in, however I had to order online,
and they only deliver in batches of 12 - which is a bit of a bummer, but never mind:

Agoston Red 2009 (Spain) ?5.49

http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk/store/red-wine/-agoston-red-/

Review: Very fruity, full of flavour, EXCELLENT value.

Grant Burge Benchmark 2012 (South Australia) ?7.49

http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk/store/red-wine/grant-burge-benchmark-shiraz/

Familia Schroeder Alpataco 2012 (Argentina) ?9.99

http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk/store/red-wine/familia-schroeder--alpataco--malbec/

Review: A hearty 14% malbec. Smooth. Hints of coffee and espresso. Divine.

Store: http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk

Bought a batch to try, the list above is what I am about to REORDER

The Grant Burge is a good drop, can't go far wrong with an ozzy red really.

[Simon-JG-hr]

The wine sounds wonderful and I adore sourdough. Just had a look at their menu - that wine list is perfect, like a real Italian trattoria, nothing fancy, just nice pleasant food wines. I think that a lunch at a Franco Manca has just jumped to the top of my list for when I'm next in London.

[JoeyGunz]

Sadly no cigar for me today. However, in the closest I will likely come to breaking my unstinting indifference towards the World Cup, I am currently knocking back some lovely and unusual Italian wine in honour of this evening's opponents.

Graci Etna Rosso 2011

This is a very interesting 'natural' wine made with Nerello Mascales grapes. There is no added sulphur, the fermentation is not temperature controlled, and only natural yeasts (found on the skin of the grapes) are used. The aroma is floral and fruity, and at the same very reminiscent of some of the more unusual porters I have drunk. Flavour is rounded - lots of berries and red fruit, with a nicely balanced acidity and soft tannins. There are notes of mint, and even - proving how offbeat and quirky this wine is - something which brings bananas to mind (yet somehow it works).

Jolly nice. I'd highly recommend it if you're into wines that challenge you to think a little.

Reminds me of a drop I had in Franco Manca's a little while back, these places are well worth the visit should you be passing, beautiful sour dough pizza and unbelievably good value!

anyway here's the blurb;

OTTAVIO RUBE’S ORGANIC WINE
This is the full organic experience, wines made with little
or no sulphur and without the aid of temperature control
or selected yeasts. They are minerally driven and the soil
has the upper hand over the fruit content.
ROSSO
(Barbera)
or
BIANCO

(Cortese)

http://www.francomanca.co.uk/

[Simon G]

Great thread!
Here are a couple that I HIGHLY recommend…
Honestly, for wine lovers out there, you will NOT be disappointed with these recommendations.
I ordered from this shop over in West London. Ideal if you can pop in, however I had to order online,
and they only deliver in batches of 12 - which is a bit of a bummer, but never mind:

Agoston Red 2009 (Spain) ?5.49

http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk/store/red-wine/-agoston-red-/

Review: Very fruity, full of flavour, EXCELLENT value.

Grant Burge Benchmark 2012 (South Australia) ?7.49

http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk/store/red-wine/grant-burge-benchmark-shiraz/

Familia Schroeder Alpataco 2012 (Argentina) ?9.99

http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk/store/red-wine/familia-schroeder--alpataco--malbec/

Review: A hearty 14% malbec. Smooth. Hints of coffee and espresso. Divine.

Store: http://www.thewinereserve.co.uk

Bought a batch to try, the list above is what I am about to REORDER

[Budgie Smuggler]

I buy my wine from http://www.nakedwines.com

I'm no wine buff and find the reviews helpful, as is the "Angels" scheme that let's you lay money away every month until you decide to either spend it, or ask for it to be refunded to you.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Basics for storage:

• 10-15 C is ideal. Exact temperature is actually less important than one might expect - the primary consideration for temperature should be consistency and the avoidance of extremes. If the wine gets too warm or too cold then it can affect certain compounds, but the temperature swings is most likely to cause issues. Stasis is the best thing to aim for with wine - in much the same way as cigars.
• Store the bottles on their sides if they're being stored for any length of time. This ensures that the cork does not dry out, thus keeping a tight seal. Obviously not such an issue for bottles with stelvin caps (screw-tops).
• If possible, and essential for long-term storage, is the reduction of light. Light can severely damage wine over time.

A good article by Jancis Robinson on wine storage, which expands on some of these points: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/20061126_1

As for wine shops, I think that's a great idea! I'll copy and paste suggestions into the first post of the thread for a reference. I would go with Oeno in Cirencester (as previously mentioned). Nick who owns the shop sources more unusual wines - small producers, interesting stories, natural approaches etc. There is a distinct preference for the old world, but a few creep in from elsewhere. A couple of really interesting wines I've had from their recently include - the Etna Rosso above, a Cab Franc red from the Loire, and a Hungarian red from Sopron region on the Austrian border. (The shop is also one of only a couple of places one can pick up cigars in Ciren). http://shop.oeno.co.uk/

[ValeTudoGuy]

Would it be possible to make a list of well thought of wine retailers? I am interested to start exploring wine more properly.

Also is there any good information about storing of wine some one could point me towards? I always tend to buy one or two bottles and move on, but I'm starting to think about buying cases when I find something I like.

Heres two retailers I like:

http://www.dbyrne-finewines.co.uk

http://thewhalleywineshop.wordpress.com

[Simon-JG-hr]

Please do - always interested to find out how other people find these left field field finds. I actually first tried this at a tasting I arranged, it was one which everyone liked, but certainly provoked some interesting discussions!