Of the left bank whites, Smith Haute Lafite is bloody lovely, but much more money ! So is La Louviere, I drunk 2 x 1990's in 2000 and they were heaven as well. These wines are not nowt else But are serious dosh these days.


Goose, I have drunk many of the Rouge left bank and right bank famous names on quite a few occasions over the years. They are not wines which I need to discover or do any real learning. If one goes back to the 70's and early 80's they were very much more affordable. I was looking at David Peppercorns wines of Bordeaux, a guide that all the critics plaguerise these days, when doing their word bites. Looking at the Margaux section, I have bought and drunk 23 out of the 32 listed, including the house red La Pavillion Rouge on 4 or so occasions but never the grand vin. I must have sampled all the Lucien Lurton Margaux's, Marks & Spencer use to sell Chat Desmirail for £14 only a few years ago for heavens sake - a bargain for 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002 then I think they stopped doing it. Brane-Cantenac 1982, Lascombes 1988 and the 1975, these are memories of what use to be affordable for a special occasion.

More recently, I've been doing the Cote d'Or rouge as you know, and due to your generousity with time, learning something about SB's

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Duncan

Well, I too am hoping to use Goose's (and Mel's) experience in the world of SB to discover a few good quaffers.

Being a fan of white Burgundy, the sound of the Sancerre Goosegogs had (and didn't like) that was sweet and peachy like a St Aubin sounds right up my street.

But as far as Malborough SB I'm still stying to decide whether gooseberrys,cats and nettles are my thing (dont grab the pickforks and torches just yet) When the mood takes me I'll easily enjoy a glass of SB

Just trying to discover whether I 'll enjoy NZ SB more than the likes of say Albarino or Riesling as I've only really just started drinking (and enjoying) these being fairly new to the game and having prodominantly drunk red in the past.

Sounds like I'm going to have to have a few home tastings with friends

Think my problem is there is just too much to try and not enough days in my life to get through them all

Actually, I do rather love the Dourthe No 1. I also like oaked sauvignon, but I can equally love pure, flinty Sancerre.

I'm just very pleased you boys are playing together so nicely.

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mel

I hope you've all been watching Wine on BBC 4 on Monday nights. Fascinating stuff and far better than Oz and James banging on about whiskey, cider, stout and vodka.

Shezza, stick a tasting note up for the Te Koko when you open it. Ta.

If I can find an oaked white Bordeaux with a few years bottle age I will try one.

Graves or Pessac Leognan.....something like that. ( I had to Google )

Any tips for a really good one under £20

It's a good programme, the Greek hieress of Margaux is a very charming women, without artificial aires and graces, and this, in stark contrast to the left bank buyer for BBR who came across in my opinion, as a wide-boy know-it-all, with an uncultured personality. Perhaps it's just me.

OK Mr G, Mel has covered some of the bench mark Bordelais Sauvignon's with Andre Lurton owned chateau's - Couhins-Lurton the smaller half of Couhins should be drunk at 3-4 years. Chateau Rochemorin is also very nice and 2006 is judged to be exactly the right vintage for this property.

Everthing nice is now bigger money, particularly since 2000. Don't buy 2003 even if heavily discounted because it is not your style at all. You want Sauvignon dominated Pessac - but many of them are Semillion dominated, so be carefull.

1) Espirit de Chevalier 2006 2nd wine of the grand vin at Domaine Chevalier, when I had it ( not 2006) is was very elegant with well integrated oak and very Pessac. Dont buy 2003, 2005 may be too easy drinking for you.
2) Clos Floridene Blanc 2006 is wonderful but may be too floral for you, but I really like this style, serve well chilled, I had the 2002 and 1996.
3) Chateau de Cruzeau 2006 - a few notches down from La Louviere and good value - flint may come thru in the end 5- 10 years. I've drunk the 88, 96 and 98. I remember 1996 was best
4) Chateau La Garde Blanc 2006 can't remember, but has a reasonable reputation.
5)Chateau de France 2006 from Waitrose - Ask Mel, I've not tried this wine in the £10 bracket - but it could be good.
6) Laithwaite Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - save £9 on your budget and discover why there are many folks who are raving about this wine for this vintage. I've not tried it, but I have tried the 2006 which I thought, was very good value.

My favourite - Chateau La Louviere 1990 for sheer quality and value, 2nd favourite Smith Haut Laffite 1988, which has now overtaken the opposition, and out of my budget range for a Pessac Leognan

As I said G, I drunk the prestigeous ones when they were more affordable compared to my income. I discovered Clos Floridene 18 years ago along with a load of other wine critics, it's price doubled in the following 3 years.
I have to say that white Graves are much better value in French supermarkets in the mid October 'Foire aux Vins' each year, when they have their annual promotions and cellar clearance - But now Sterling has gone down the plug hole with everything else here, That sort of fun is now ruined for many years, I believe.

Actually the 2005 and 2006 stocks in UK Wine merchants could now be good value versus European prices today - although there was a UK shippers wholesale price increase mid January I'm told.

Mel, have you got a few more up your sleeve ?

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Duncan

Can't say I have any experience in this field but feel I should share any offers I come across in my searches on the net and this one seems relevant:

Chateau Loudenne Blanc Bordeaux (Medoc) - 2005
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon (75%/25%)
Description: A splendid light yellow coloured wine with glints of gold. A complex bouquet combining hints of peach and citrus fruits gives way to surprising fullness in the mouth. The aromas develop abundantly before a finish which is perfectly supple and round.
(taken from everywine site)

£12.95 at most UK based retailer I've found so far but Barrels and Bottles have it in their buy 2 and get 50% off order page so can be picked up for just £6.50 a bottle if 2+ bottles bought:

http://www.barrelsandbottles.co.uk/acat ... wines.html

Not been able to come across much in the way of reviews but here's a fairly descriptive page:
http://www.mmdusa.net/BrandKit.php?Brand=36

I had the Montana SB '08 last weekend, lovely stuff. I usually prefer the reserve but have noticed the %alc creeping up on this, me no likey whites with high alc. - 14.5% for an SB! there should be a law against this, I decree.

Gave the standard SB a go, lots of tinned pineapple with elderflower, nice and bright, clean, good acidity and grip.

Also, The Ned '08 is back on form, not quite Sancerre but plenty of white pepper and herbs. Possibly my fave Supermarket Savvy-B.

Am also enjoying the Wine show on BBC 4, come the revolution you will find me in the cellar at BBR.

Shezza - you may have stumbled across something rather good here, and only £6.50 per bottle.
Loudenne was owned by Gilbey Vinters Ltd in the 70's and 80's and when the shippers were taken over by Peter Dominic ? I think, they must have sold to the new owners. Why the Owners painted this modest but lovely chateau bright pink, Lord only knows. Maybe the new owners thought of running a dual business for guests / hotel / Medoc walkers etecetera.

Loudenne if this is the one was awarded Cru Grand Bourgeois in 1978 for the rouge, which because of the gravel, is far less clumsy than the stoic Medocs on clay and lime marl.
One other change is to the cuvee, which was 50% Sem and 50% Sauv. Is it the same wine ????
The orininal cuvee was fermented in stainless steel, and not shown any oak, but aged well because of the high proportion of Semillion. The original was celebrated for it's perfume and easy elegance soon after bottling, but the mix allowed ageing as well.

The 2005, which did produce sufficient acid, will be still good now till end 2009 or plus a bit more or so. I wonder why they are discounting 50% already ?

This Loudenne is for Mel and me, rather than Goose. I dont think it is dramatic and acidic and pungent and minerally enough for him, this was a Graves look-alike in the more gentle, easy / delicious / floral style.

You've certainly found a good'un if the wine is still of the 80's quality.

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Duncan

Wow !!

Ta for the replies. I wonder if I shall discover something new and wonderful. I've printed off the wines listed and will report back when i've managed to sample a few.

I must say that I have always been put off Bordeaux by the unoaked sauvignon/semillon non entities that Sainsbury seem to sell by the dozen.

Glad you liked the 2008 Montana basic GK. The 2008 Montana Reserve is 13.5 not 14.5. Still, I agree that it's too high. 13 should be the limit for unoaked sauvs. I notice Leyda Valley wines from Chile start at 13.5 and move up to as high as 15. Any reason for this, Mel ?

Seems nuts to me and is a bit off putting which is a shame as Leyda Valley is obviously South America's top place for sb. The Tesco Finest Los Nogales is really quite Marlborough like.

Thanks again, folks !

I was referring to earlier vintages, the 2007 in particular-
'Creeping' adjective, Developing gradually over a period of time..

I forgive you

The Elqui Valley in Chile is one to watch for SB.

Cheers GK, so I looked it up, and was sorry that the YouTube video had expired.

Still here is a precise of the Elqui:

Volunteering Abroad in Elqui Valley Chile: The Elqui Valley is a fertile and magical place in northern Chile, located in the middle of the Andes Mountains. This is a 150-mile-long oasis surrounded by arid mountains that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Argentine border. The Valley's ideal climate has made it Chile's premier travel destination; sun worshippers love its average of over 300 sunny days a year, astronomy buffs come for its night sky, and New Age folks swear by its mystic energy. The most famous product in the Elqui Valley is the pisco, Chile's national alcohol. The valley's unique location and temperature make it an ideal place for growing grapes, and vineyards can be seen everywhere.

Going out from La Serena the landscape changes and emerges green lush vineyards and breathtaking mountains. The Valley is dotted with tiny and impossibly picturesque villages – Vicuña, Montegrande, Pisco Elqui - most of them built in adobe, with dusty roads and old churches.

The most famous product in the Elqui Valley is the pisco, Chile's national alcohol. So, is there anyone here who wants to illuminate morons like me and describe Pisco !

Sounds like the lethal "Eau de Vie" , BTW, I'll join you in the cellar at BBR, if I may ? We'll have to chain Sir Fred Goodwin to the railings outside, that should distract attention for quite a while

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Duncan

Pisco? Its where Rab C Nesbit buys his grog.