Wine Tasting, 2nd round. A bottle of Chinon from Green and Blue.

[Ant]

Time's getting short - we need an answer!

[Michael Palaeologus]

Oooh bugger, I shouldnt make these commitments until I check my diary.

I am in Cardiff, at a conference and am staying with friends over the weekend - BUT

We intend to make a purchase from Sainsbos do a group taste test and put our thoughts on the forum - probably Saturday. He that is OK.

Sorry.

[Michael Palaeologus]

OK - here we go. A taste test of 2 similar wines from opposite sides of the planet.

New Zaland - Montana. East Coast Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - its notes say "achieves a mellow balance between fruit sweetness and savoury tannins, leading to a silky finish with intense darfruit characters" - ?6.99 - Sainsbos

France - Calvet Reserve Bordeaux, Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - its notes say "generous blackberry and raspberry flavours emphasise its long, fruity and scy finish" - ?6.99 - Sainsbos

So, there you have it. Two Merlot/Cab Sauvs - one new and one old world.

We l be tasting tonight with food and I will post our thoughts tomorrow morning.

Sorry for the delay, sometimes life just gets in the way.

Cheers.

[Asset]

Not gonna make this weeks tasting now, no chance to get to sainsbos and out to lunch tomorrow. Have to be next week.

I will be interested to hear your thoughts on the old v new wines though Mr Paleontologist.

who's choosing next week?

(only about 5 of us doing this - yet to catch on it seems)

[Michael Palaeologus]

Oh come on - somebody has to take part! We have tasted:

New Zealand Montana - Weak nose on opening bottle. Taste - some tannin but not overly harsh, flavours = vanilla, damsons, but over all a bit thin. However we then left the wine for some 45 minutes resting in the glass and found it somewhat improved. The nose developed into a more fruity and satisfying experience with a bouquet redolent of dark summer fruits with plummy overtones. Given a further 30 minutes the nasal passages dedected chocolate overtones and "serious vanilla stuff and brighter fruit in the mouth - possibly even cherries - morello perchance". Great legs and colour. If you are a dusky leg man/woman this is for you.

French - Calvet Reserve - Nose on opening = strong and fruity, damsons, plums. First taste was all tannin, overly dry and rather thin. Left for 45 minutes - nose had disappeared, the tannin taste had softened but the taste was lacking in structure. Being good English folk we gave this wine a further 30 minutes to redeem itself. The nose returned. The mouth experience was softer with some improvement in flavour but still disppointing.

Overall - both wines benefit from time and possibly decanting (which we didnt do) and certainly need to be allowed to breathe for an couple of hours. Could well benefit from serving with food. We prefered the New Zealand.

[Ant]

Sorry - I won't have a chance to join in either.

[Michael Palaeologus]

To be fare Sainsbos is open for other 3 days....

Surely its not that far to trek?

[Asset]

I'm going out today all day and would go in on the way to get them but Sainsbury's on a sunday is a no go area as it seems to be a popular family day out for some reason and is to be avoided at all costs.

Gosh, that was a long sentence, should have had some punctuation.

sorry, we'll be back on for next week.

[Michael Palaeologus]

I am going to the Quiet Room to sulk.

[dulwichmum]

Poor, poor Michael!

I shall buy a bottle of the white tomorrow, and poison my liver in your name dear heart.

I gave it up for the children - just tell them ...their mother... I loved them.

Friends? Well you can choose your friends, God just dishes you out your children, you don't get to choose them. Michael, just tell them I looked great in white jeans, and I tried my best - (sob)...

I shall dig my old corscrew out of the back of the knife drawer, and blow the dust off it just for you...

[Michael Palaeologus]

Both wines are red. I am still sulking.

[dulwichmum]

Sorry Michael, I couldn't touch red, but you know in my heart I am supporting you. Red gives me a dreadful head the next morning, and it stains my teeth...

[Asset]

How about you choose again Michael P. I'll definitely do it this weekend.

Sainsbury's is closing on Wednesday this week until the 28th so we either must buy elsewhere or go in next couple of days for the wine.

Actually I was thinking about giving up alcohol altogether for the sake of my liver after quite a heavy weekend on the sauce. But maybe I could just try to ration myself, 2 glasses max.

[Michael Palaeologus]

I hate it when life gets in the way of a good time! I am in Estonia all of next week and so this week is a bit banjaxed.

Anybody else want to take up the banner?

[SeanMacGabhann]

Me no here either (and haven't made any effort with the wine so far either - I'm a disgrace)

[peckham_perkster]

I haven't been able to get to Sainsbo's for the wine but will make a concerted effort after this weekend to buy the wines. Thing is I've never tasted a damson so won't be able to comment on that bit.

Please don't sulk Galapagos.

I'm happy to find something for next weekend if you like.

[Asset]

Sainsbury's closing today - have to be somewhere on LL

[Asset]

OK - If anyone is interested in resurrecting this, I've just bought a rioja from Sainsbo's. I've never bought it before.

It is called 'Era Costana' Rioja, 2001 and is reduced from 8.99 to 4.99.

[dulwichmum]

Dear Asset,

I would love to do this again, but I am really no good with reds - it gives me a dreadful head. Any white suggestions for the white wine drinkers to?

DM

[Asset]

I did buy a white as well but it's a cheapy one. Sainsbury's own white burgundy Bourgogne 2005 about 4.99 I think.

My fave white at the moment (not a huge white drinker) is a Sainsbury's 'Taste the Difference' Muscadet. Slips down a treat.

[mockney piers]

So are you tessa backwards then?

[dulwichmum]

I shall send the au pair to buy some white Burgundy forthwith.

Thank you.

[Asset]

Have you got a new one then DM now Ana has been packed off for her confinement? I trust she is not a looker.

[peckham_perkster]

I'm off to visit the folks so what wine should I be drinking with the fambilee?

[dulwichmum]

Dear Asset,

I am allowing Ana to remain in my home for the time being while I consider her situation. I must admit I am feeling broody, and I may even do the charitable thing (in the manner of Angelina/Madonna et al) and adopt the sproglet before Ana returns home - in order to preserve her honour you understand. I would hate for her to suffer, for having a child out of wedlock, and I am curious to find the paternity of this child. If it looks like Mr Papapdopalopagus - I may compel him to provide financial support, if it looks like anyone closer to home - hell hath no fury like a dulwichmum...

I am rather warming to the idea of a new baby in the house, I just would not be prepared to put my pelvic floor through the trauma of giving birth myself again.

For the time being I allow Ana to do only light household chores - you know, dusting, painting the guttering, digging our new swimming pool (we would have destroyed so many established plants if we had tried to get a digger in the back garden).

DM