I don't know if this is the wine which came top in Mel's Aussie Cab/Shiraz tasting recently, but took a punt that it was.

This is a proper Cab Shiraz. Not had one as good as this in a long while. Lovely cab nose with a hint of coconut. There is the merest hint of corroded iron (cheers Dunc) a la The Clancy. Nicely balanced black fruit. Not too sweet but easy to drink. Delicious.



Shame the offer price is not slightly more favourable but its worth the money. These flamin' duty rises are finally catching up with us

If this is the winner of your tasting Mel, then thanks for the recommendation, and if so, I'm curious as to why the second place in that tasting has beaten it to your wine of the week.

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tribs

I don't think it is the same wine. The number seventy six wasn't anywhere obvious on the label, and because the price was £1 more I had assumed it was a different wine and not added a tasting note. Of course, it could be the old "put the price up just before reducing it, so they won't notice" routine.

Most weeks I try to have one wine that is reduced in price as a WOW, often recommend the favourite wine of the tasting and sometimes just something that has come to my attention.

We tasted Chilean Rose and while we liked the Miguel Torres wine the most, it wasn't a wine I'd recommend to anyone.

I'll investigate the seventy six issue and get back to you.

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mel

The 'Seventy Six' is in a red hand writing style font on the label and might be easy to miss. There are no numbers.

This is the one

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tribs

According to WR it's a different wine.

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mel

Oh.

Looking at Penfolds own tasting notes, the Seventy Six is a probably a better match for my tastes.

I will buy more of this and also the Hardy's cork effort and compare.

Cheers

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tribs

Thanks for the Penfolds update -

I may have picked up a couple on Saturday, totally unaware of your star approval, and I would have made a wise choice. The bottle looks a little different to Penfolds usual Koonunga livery, the label is a cream colour, and a bit more busy than normal. I may take two before the offer closes. My stocks are so high at the moment - I need to be sensible
But instead I noticed these were on 20% offercould not resist, and I have some Italian air dried salty and extra hard gammon to finish

A friend bought a chunk of this gammon back from Puglia this Christmas, and it should be perfect as a posh starter, but I shall need a razor sharp knife to replicate the paper thin slices that are the traditional way of serving.

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Duncan

Waitrose are now stocking the Penfolds Koonunga Hill Autumn Riesling, currently reduced.

I will be looking for this at the weekend.

Would be interesting to compare with:

Tesco Finest* Marlborough Autumn Pick Riesling 2008

Marlborough
£8.16
54 stores
Fruity nose. Sweet palate and freshly grapey. Pretty and rather nice.

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mel

I've just returned from Waitrose and discovered I have got the wrong vintage of the Hardy's Nottage Hill. I could only find 06 so presumed this was correct. Only Mel had tasted the 07 which is also what is listed on the website. How did that happen?

On the plus side I found an 05 Guigal on the shelf.

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tribs

I saw 3 x '05 Guigal, on the Tuesday, went back on the Wednesday morning, when the offer was on - They had gone Oh yeah, the staff at my Waitrose know something bout wine, I talk to them - I talk too much. On Saturday went thru the whole stock, looking thru to the back.

Nothing round here at my local waitress on the right vintage sits on the shelf for that long - more particularly when the offers come up.

We have to be one step ahead.

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Duncan

Have a couple of these now, and also the Villa M. Pinot Grigiot. Plus more Ned and more Lindauer bubbles.

Well I have now had the 06 Nottage Hill and another of the Seventy Six. My verdict is the Nottage Hill for drinking now and the 76 for laying down. The 76 Penfolds has more extensive oak, more so than the standard Penfold Shiraz Cab and although excellent will benefit a little bit of softening.

The Nottage Hill was quite delicious, sweeter and fruitier with more subtle oak. It would probably appeal to a wider range of palates and is a little cheaper. I went back to my local WR to pick up some more but the cork version is out of stock. I did get some more of the 76 and also found a couple more 05 Guigals though .

I'm reluctant to order a case of the NH online as I have not tried the 07 which is all that is available and the offer finishes tomorrow I think. Its a shame because I could do with some more 'drink now' reds.

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tribs

I've just checked and the NH is out of stock online too.

So is the 76.

While in WR I noticed some Clancy on the offer shelf without a price tag. Should we be expecting this on offer again from Wednesday?

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tribs

Think I remember seeing the 76 on offer in this months Maj mag

Haven't got it on me as I left it at the office and there's nothing online

Sains / Ocado have it at £6.99