Just about recognisable as MSB but that's all. Little depth, little length. over acidic. MUCH better out there.

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

The name was a clue to it's quality.

I've noticed that all the MSB I like comes in ominous looking black bottles.

Black - the colour of mystery, sleekness, sophistication and blackcurrant leaves

I'm with Ba on this.

Mystic Meg.... dressed in white, with an acqua marine skirt. It says "hand selected" in gold italic on the label ? Whose hand I ask.

The wine...kinda grip-pipe skinny. The Lady Godiva from cloudy bay did not bring her voluptuousness from said winery with her. Metal polish on 1st opening. Builds a bit better the next day, but aqua libra spings to mind ! Mouth wash has more weight !

Not offensive. The Ned much better and 50p less at Maj. How is it that I'm giving Ned an accolade ?

_________________
Duncan

I guess for me it depends on what I'm eating, last week we drank it with fish and the flavours were all there. Last night, because it was the only bottle in the fridge, we had it with roast chicken and it was so bland, could have been The Ned lol
Anyway, back to Vicar's Choice for now

How is it that I'm giving Ned an accolade ?

Because it's lovely and you can't get enough........

Seriously, The Ned used to be a trendy wine. Sold only by Waitrose. An easy name to remember and made by someone who, due to the early success of Wither Hills, was almost cool in the wine world. Probably very popular at dinner parties in the South East of England. I wouldn't be surprised if the Tarquins of this world even had Ned parties where everybody brought at least one bottle of The Ned and the after dinner entertainment involved Boris Johnson and Jodie Kidd doing rude things to each other with the empties.

Now the Co-Op sell it so it's not cool and there have been poor vintages so the wine has gone a bit Blue Nun. People either genuinely don't like it or don't want to admit to liking it if they do.

I love this vintage.....All the complexity fades after the first glass to leave sharpish blackcurrant but all bar the very best Saint Clair's can do that too and cost more.

The Ned ain't the best but i'm happy with it.

Oi!, I'm from the S.E. No dinner parties like that here(well not that I get invited to)
Must admit that after 2 or 3 disappointing Neds I gave up on it, I have previously enjoyed it though.
Will have to give it another chance and try the 2011

I was only joking about the bland bit btw

Same here Mr G, I had three, and we cleared them almost straight away. The price was very right when 1st on First offer. The Ned holds well too - Struth !

All the complexity fades after the first glass to leave sharpish blackcurrant but all bar the very best Saint Clair's can do that too and cost more.

I could add a few more names to SC - Yah know who they are, so I wont bore the pants off you Mr G.

Wilco,
Roast Chicken can take ripe and recent Saint Emilion, so that rich and juicy chicken if done right, will destroy Mystic Meg, I can see MP being ok with burnt butter Skate wings and grilled lemon sole, but then there are many Loire whites that have more edge and attitude, so I think, an MP re-visit is unlikely.

G, When my Goldwater'10 has gone - The Ned could be our house MSB, it's pretty versatile - and I'm not just saying !

Whose been drinking Goldwater '11 ???

_________________
Duncan

Oi!, I'm from the S.E. No dinner parties like that here(well not that I get invited to)

Can I still call you Tarquin

I used to love the Vicar's Choice back in the days when Thresher had it on their much maligned 3 for 2. £8.99 was the 3 bottle price. Ironically it was similar to the 2011 Ned. This was the 2006 vintage of SC VC.

Not yet opened the 2011 Goldwater, MrD. I have two. I have a feeling that they improve with a little bottle age.

Have you tried the new VM WR yet ?

Btw...Tesco's own label Macon Village £4.99 jobbie is really good. Golden with intense toffee apple flavour. One for the students board.

Hankering after a decent chardonnay just now**

Have a box as you know - been keeping it under a load of earlier drinking stuff (G'10 and Vav'10). Also needed to get away from the bloody NZ sauvignon blanc till I was ready, and wanting to crack one.....Next - Will report back


That last glass of Mystic Meg was a ** puckering little sucker - Flavour did actually come up. But..... Roast chicken with a tart yellow grapefruit - No way, must 'ave been a weird combination.

Must admit that after 2 or 3 disappointing Neds I gave up on it You would, some bottles of The Ned '10 were sulphurous samples with a dose of Tate & Lyle. The '11 is, or was a month ago or so, in a different ball park - please don't serve Ned'11 "trendy and too cold"

_________________
Duncan

Mr G, Hi.

Yep , pulled a VM WR'11 from the cellar last night. My cellar a tad warm at the mo, slightly worrying - the nights are very warm here, and the heatwave continues. My cellar warmer at the mo, than during the whole of last summer !

Lovely stuff, very exotic for an MSB at this temperature, mouth feel good.
A typical skillful home made fruit cocktail. Beautiful balance, Lychee, ripe gogs, pink grapefruit, mango, sliced sweet red capsicum, fresh white/pink halved grapes, tiny bit of kiwi fruit and a dollop of fresh tangerine on the finish. The imagination on the tastebuds wanders and you get more notes than you bargained for !
The pungency for me is much more tropical fruits, certainly not cats pee, some minor blackcurrant leaves.

A lovely wine, not quite ready for me - a touch of spritz. This wine will keep for a while so .......I'm not going to do a full TN - I don't wont a run on this. I must buy some more
A Star from me. - best disco'd young £10 MSB for a long while

The '09 VM WR is more sophisticated - but give this some time, and I'm sure it will make it

_________________
Duncan

Lychee I always/only get on Alsace gewurz but it's a commen TN for MSB too.

Yes, the 09 was lush and lovely. Never had a wine quite like it. The 07 JE had the same lushness but a subtley different flavour. Don't give up on the 11 JE. It's not worth buying yet ( razor sharp ) but it will be.

Ta muchly, MrD !