The label is so girly and pathetic it could put you off.

But this is typical Spanish grenache rose...dry, crisp with wonderfully refreshing acidity and a long finish of err..strawberry ( sorry Mel ) and a hint of raspberry to keep it dry.

13% so plenty of body....fantastic value.

I must admit though that i'm worried that i'll lose any credibility that I may have here by recommending this wine to you...but I like it.

So there !!

am running off at lunchtime to stock up on food at Tesco but also the Marques de la Concordia Rioja Reserva, which is reduced from £9.99 to £4.99 in my branch. Have a feeling that last time they did this I posted a note and found that it was just a few individual branches. Will get a bottle of the girly rose as well, since you appear to have immaculate taste. Will get back to you with my own opinion.

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mel

Like the label. There's only a slight whiff of fruit on the nose. It's full bodied and tasty, but for me the alcohol is just a little hot.

However, for £2.99, it's really quite OK and, as you say, not too sweet and strawberry tasting. There is a hint of strawberry, but it's real fruit, rather than strawberry effect as found in Angel Whip, squash, jelly, etc.

Actually, the girly label is frighteningly similar to the new front page of QO. Damn it!

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mel

Grenache rose can be very hot. Some even have 14% alcohol.

Which is nuts !

But I didn't detect any heat with the Crucillon but I was only really judging it as a good value for money quaffer.

Btw...I 've just opened a bottle of Montana...I can smell the blackcurrent leaves and the capsium, again.

Lovely !

Relieved Goosegogs

Have you thought about being a wine writer. I can smell the wine, just reading your post. You clearly have passion about it. Of course, you'll have to keep up the day job because it doesn't pay much.

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mel

Ahhh look, its not even spring yet and romance is in the air.

" Have you thought about being a wine writer "

I'd love nothing better to drink wine AND get paid for it....even if it was just a sideline and the pay only covered the cost of the wine that we drink at home.

Trouble is, i'd be expected to review all types of wine and, if i'm honest, I couldn't tell a £300 red Burgundy* from a £3 Romanian Merlot**.

If I was sent to an Oddbins wine tasting i'd head straight for the Clifford Bay and not be seen again i'd finished the last of the Sancerre.

My tasting notes for their £77 per bottle Château Cos d'Estournel 2eme Cru Classé Bordeaux would probably read

" It's red...but that can't be helped "

G
* I wouldn't mind trying a really farmyardy Burgundy just to see how farmyardy Pinot Noir really is...nothing too expensive though..any recommendations ?
** Or whatever it is that the Romanians make

Will work on the farmyardy Burgundy, but what about the Rhone - Ch de Beaucastel, Chateauneuf, made from S Rhone grapes so grenache, syrah, mourvedre and others. Absolutely heaving with Brettanomyces, which is technically a fault, but I love it. It's a wild yeast that does slightly imply less than perfect hygiene in the winery. Smells of, well, horse shit, really, mixed with fabric plasters. Waitrose have Beaucastel at £38 per bottle, but luckily for Nat West, it's only at the Canary Wharf branch. However, independents will carry it. Try www.winesearcher.com or co.uk

While you're in your independent merchant, if you find any red burgundy over, say £20, with a bit of age on it (5+ years) and prefereably Premier Cru (perhaps £30 is more realistic) you should get some undergrowth and leathery deliciousness. I'd open the bottle at teatime (for evening drinking) and use your biggest wine glasses. Also, take it slowly. Get to know it, concentrate on it and go back to the glass over time. I don't want to be too anthropomorphic or sexy about it, but you need to flirt with it, play with it, and give something of yourself. Burgundy lovers are just that. There is more to drinking Burgundy than just drinking some Pinot Noir. Please note, this is posted at 9 on a cold and frosty morning and not midnight after a couple of large glasses.

Please post results.

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mel

Thanks for the suggestions.

I will try the Beaucastel and will go to Ballantynes in Cardiff for the Pinot.

Here's a link to page 7/7 of his red Burgundy's....is there anything you recognise as ' classic farmyardy Burgundy ' from the 7 pages.

There seems to be quite a few aged between 5 and 10 years at reasonable prices

http://www.ballantynes.co.uk/index.php? ... itstart=60

Will probably buy 1 a week and will report back after trying 6 or 7

do you have to buy a whole case from him?

can't remember where you are, in the country. do you have a waitrose?

they have 5 red burgs between £20 and £30.

it took me a long time to get the point of pinot, and when i did (only 3 years ago) it was an important step. remember about giving it plenty of time. take it slowly.

apologies, friday evening, ready for bed and very mellow from Maven? NZ chard (also have their SB, but wanted to be perverse and go for chard).

i can't advise on specific wines. I can't say "go for the gevrey, it has more structure than the chambolle." actually, i can say it, but not with authority or personal experience.

let me know how you get on.

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mel

Ahhhh - Yes - Young Love. Hearing about your rendevous is guaranteed to drive me yet again to find another beauty that I may be able to afford once in a while.

And all this deja vous, is because I wanted to ask you if you enjoyed Maven 2007. Do I need to know about the Maven, or do I head off to find another beauty.
Mel, are you in Europe enjoying the Portugese Tasting Event ?

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Duncan

Sorry, once again I've been ignoring you guys. Been on a time management thing and Forums, even your own, are the devil's work, a consumer of precious time and don't pay any money.

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mel