Signed up yesterday. And I composed a posting ten minutes ago, but it seemed to have disappeared. Anyway, no confirmation that it was received.

Happy to be here instead of snooping around incognito.
Mainly interested in French reds because of the possibility to go there regularly. Always nice to see how vintages come off. Was very pleased with 2006 and 2007 Cotes de Ventoux recently. Some of that won't travel well.

Supermarkets in UK don't seem first point of call for wine buffs. Waitrose may be an exception. Also receive wine info from Telegraph Wine. To me it seems that Mr Avery bottles a lot of the stuff himself, or is that a wrong view? Don't know what to make of his selections though, lots of mixed bags to me.

Hopefully you keep posting a lot of interesting notes and I hope to give a reply when and where I can, but it won't be on a daily basis.

Keep your passions going!

Thanks so far

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Father Christmas = Bob the boozer

Good evening nose, and welcome. Another lamb to the slaughter. Avery's (shop in Bristol, warehouse in Nailsea) are the suppliers for Telegraph Wines. Likewise Laithwaites and Sunday Times.
The only Ventoux I've had (other than riding up it) is La Vielle Ferme. Am told that it is an up-and-coming area.

Really? I thought that was Direct Wines Ltd.

Same mob, hiding under different names I reckon.

Greetings Nose, Hi,

I have enjoyed the J Vidal Fleury Cotes du Ventoux offering from Majestic in years that I have selected, and as Ba says - Yeah, La Vielle Ferme is the one that Waitrose and Maj have done on the past. I have found it to be good in great CdR years, 2005 in particular, and 2003.

In lesser years La V F can be dry and earthy and a little puckering and not so good, but OK with stong flavoured main course. Was Not that impressed with the 2006 offering from Waitrose, therefore stopped buying.

The 2007 Could be good, cos it was a great year in Southern Rhone - Ventoux is south west Rhone, isn't it ?

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Duncan

It's the climb upon which Tommy Simpson died of exhaustion (and drugs). There is a memorial at the top, and each time that le Tour passes it they all stop racing. It's getting down towards the horrors of Luberon and Tricastin, but it is trying to loose that image and become more "Rhone".