Classic Chablis, very citrusy, very precise, incredible acidity.

Serve as warm as you can take it. It comes across quite neutral straight from the fridge, a touch dilute even, but give it ten minutes in the glass, allow the temperature to rise and you will be rewarded. Compact and very clean, decent ripe fruit but not generous, apple blossom and a hint of sherbet- others may view this as chalky, and possibly some peach stone (I couldnt quite place it). Long, cleansing finish, persistent acidity.

I find some Chablis too intense to drink alone, my mouth begins to dry up by the time I reach the end of the second glass but it wasn’t the case with this, we finished the bottle easily before dinner, there’s a nice balance to it. It’s not perfect but it is decent and I will enjoy drinking the other eleven bottles over the next year or two.

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Yep, Im still here.

Yes,

GK, I'm prefering sub £15 2008 Chablis well ahead of the 2007 inpite of the vintage charts, these wines at domaine and generic mix level you understand.

My view is that the September drying and warmer winds for the 2008 harvest kept the lesser vineyards healthy and reduced the weight of water in the juice from the crop (better flavour, some riper fruit on the plots, which are not located on the expensive slopes)

From tasting a few now, including budget premier cru, I think at the affordable level 2008 walks all over 2007.

Discount the merchant and importer's Charts, they are certainly geared up for grand cru buyers these days.

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Duncan

How about the '06 Dunc?

Today Only, be quick if you want it.

My Chablis cup overfloweth at the mo, recognise the Producer?

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Yep, Im still here.

Of the 2008 vintage that I rate at basic level:

Domaine de Bois D'Yver Chablis 2008
Bone Dry & Mineral White Wines, France
Dry
Grape Type: Chardonnay

Producer: Domaine de Bois
Classic tasting Chablis, chardonnay grape at its best, pale yellow in colour with a greeny tinge, plenty of lovely green apple fruit on the palate and a bone fry finish. Produced to be drunk young 2 to 3 years old and is great drunk chilled, but not ice cold.

Interpolation for 2006: My experience of the '06s at budget level is rather dry for me, steely though, because of high acidity, so needs to be taken when young and fresh.
This wine may be austere, be stern and hard mouthed and needed to be drunk by now.

It is a good price, but I would not recommend it to anyone, unless they'd just stepped out of the ring wearing a gum shield .

I'm not an exponent of Chablis which is mean with a stroppy attitude.

GK - Please keep tracking 2008 Chablis offers - that would be excellent

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Duncan

The '08 is £12 to £15 in various places. Will cellar for up tp 3 yrs it says...

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Agreed, possibly tiring by now.

Say hello to my main squeeze-



Another '08 beaut, details here.

I may open another at the weekend, Im in Chablis mode.

Also in Merlot mode, I dont drink enough Merlot I think, it rarely gets a mention on here.

I had a decent enough Merlot last night, reminded me how good the grape can be.

Im not naming the Producer though

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Yep, Im still here.

I too tried a Merlot on the tasting counter at Majestic yesterday. I also had one on Sunday night, the Caliterra that was top of Mel's Chilean Merlot tasting.

The Merlot at Majestic was also Chilean and whipped the Caliterra's backside . From a familiar and well regarded producer that seems to share my love of oak. I bought a couple of bottles, but I may go back for more.

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tribs

This winter, I will be mostly drinking Merlot.

I have decided.

In fact, between Oct~March I will only drink reds that are single variety Merlot or predominantly Merlot blends.

Nothing else. Except Port.

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Yep, Im still here.

Yes
Montes Alpha Merlot 2007/2008 Curicó Valley £7.99 (x2)
There is a £5 per bottle (versus full retail) disco on this at the moment

Were you drinking the '07 ? The '08 could be a little disjointed for another 12 months or so ? Which is the better vintage for Merlot in the Curicó Valley ?

As for the whipping, may we assume that the oak was not brutal

Please qualify.

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Duncan

Well done Dunc.

Twas the 07. The oak was not brutal, but then I'm possibly not the best person to comment on that. Soft ripe fruit and then a surprising hit of oak, because it is not at all evident at first, on the decent length finish. Bear in mind that this was a brief in-store swig. Will add a full TN when I open the bottle, which will probably be fairly soon, as I am eager to try it again.

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tribs

Still a tad disjointed then, with that thwack of french oak after a soft entry. Not too soft ?

Nevertheless, more time may fix that if the fruit is as ripe as ya say. '07 it is then. I will track down a few '07s for ole time's sake - IF - Let me know, when you've had a chance to chew this one in you own lair.

The MA minty cab was the favourite "from time to time" years ago, then it went through an indifferent and lifeless patch.

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Duncan

I had a little of the 07 Merlot yesterday while hosting a family dinner.
My brother and dad who both profess not to like Merlot enjoyed it and consumed most of the bottle while I continued with some of the Renwick 08 and Vavsour 09 (quite a contrast between the 2 but both lovely in their own right)
Think it was the oak element that made it enjoyable for them both and I have have to say I found a very evident flavour of vanilla all the way through.
Not a bad wine tho, perhaps a little heat from the 14.5%. Think I prefer the Cab to the Merlot tho

I found a Merlot in the rack over the weekend Id forgotton I had.

I will keep this for when the weather turns methinks.

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Yep, Im still here.

I tried the Montes merlot over the weekend. It was not as nice as when tasted in store for some reason. No soft fruit. I wonder if the '08 was on the tasting counter. I will investigate.

Of the 07 I had, the oak was evident from the off. The fruit was spicy and tangy. It seemed a little rough. The oak finish was lovely though. Lots of vanilla.

I have another vanilla oaked merlot to try, which I have had before. Turner Road Reserve Merlot. Half price from Morrisons at £4.76 or around there.

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tribs

Tribs - Thanks for the MA merlot '07 warning.

Did you ask the manager when he opened that bottle ?

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Duncan