What's on the menu folks?

We're out to dinner tonight at a local pub/eatery, good grub plus they do a lovely draft Abbot Ale, will also see what guest ales they have on. No wine tonight but at least I’ll be as far away from Strictly Come Dancing as its possible to be.

Cycling on Cannock Chase tomorrow, the mountain bike is primed and the Lycra shorts are starched to snapping point

My wife has taken a serious liking to my case of Tyrells' Classic Wht '08 and has already placed a couple in the fridge. Red? not sure, I’m building up a nice little mix of Rhone's, will consider my options. I also have a Warres LBV '95 open which needs finishing.

TFIF.

For me it's a friendly (or not so friendly) game of poker round mine with some friends tonight - we were due to make it a night out at the Empire Casino in Leicester Sq but the WSOPE is bbeing held there this weekend and unfortunately none of us are quite flush enough to be making an appearance at the 1k tournament tables and the cash tables would have been too pricey and probably a bit too agressive for our bankrolls

Popped into Asda last night to pick up snacks for tonight's home game and noticed a couple of bottles I'm going to try and pick up next time I'm there:

Asda Extra Special Fiano 2007 Sicily.
Made by the Settesoli co-op like the Tesco and Majestic offerings. Currently just £4 a bottle

Vinalba Malbec Syrah 2006.
I was looking to get the Malbec Reserva (maj 9.99 or 8.99 if you buy 2) which got high praise from the Wine Gang in March (just found their sight yesterday) and won trophy for best varietal wine under £10 at this year's Decanter World Wine Awards.
I saw this Malbec Syrah blend on the shelf going for 7.49. Had a bit of a read on the net it generally seems to have just as good reviews and won Best Argentinian red trophy at last years IWC

Back to the weekend:
May take my eldest (4yrs of age) to Cinema (Altho I'm sure she actually goes for the pick 'n' mix and popcorn more than the film itself) and may take the kids round to see my folks to give Mrs Shez a bit of time to herself

Gosh, this is all very civilised. I have a friend's dog arriving interfrastically. He's staying for a week whilst pal goes off on hols. Saturday is early shop, back home and then pipe to general quarters and secure hatches. The local ball-kicking idiots are at home. Sunday will be mainly devoted to a bridge tourny followed by a large quantity of something well-deserved. Oh! and kick the dog of course.

Saturday - Cardiff City v Queens Park Rangers followed by a late night in Cardiff drinking beer and pretending that all wine drinkers are girly poofs.

Sunday - Hangover followed by long walk on the beach followed by large lunch followed by 2 bottles of Tesco Finest Pouilly Fume bought for £8.98 last week.

This wine is the 2007 and is beginning to lose it's lovely minerality but unlike most PF's or Sancerres at least it had some to begin with.

Cardiff MW have just sent me 21 bottles of JE 2007 for £6.99 each.

How lovely is that.

Does one need to be of a certain age to partake in mass card playing ?

It appears to be very popular.

Kick the dog for me too B, can’t stand the retched creatures.

The youngest Welsh international was about 11, and the oldest regular club player is approaching 101. It is said, that if you can't play well then teach; if you can't teach then direct (somewhat akin to umpire, referee) and that's what I do.

Should see you through next week then Goose

GK - Nice intro for today.
Our week-ends are precious, so we should make use of this fine weather that may last over the week-end for southern parts.

BWT - good score on that JE 2007 Mr Goose, nice find, 21 should keep your tanks topped up

I've been up to my ears with work, my customers have been basking around during the Summer.. OMG

Later this afternoon, I have booked some time for myself in the house to clean up and dust down, yeah Busman's holiday. I notice that I have all my own bl**dy paperwork stacking up all over the place, and I will lock up the office on the other side of the patio.

Yeah, rubber gloves and pinny for me for till supper ! We have old friends staying over, known them since we raised our kids - So time for my dear Misses to show her cullinary skills - The deal - I clean the house down stairs and quickly check their bedroom and bathroom and she works the magic.

Hmmnn - depending on our mood and what Mrs D has planned - I may roll out a 1999 Gevrey Cham to be followed by a super ripe St Estephe Chat de Pez '03 or Penfold bn 389 '96, impromptu stuff, I have *nice* DP stocks - we shall see how stupidly generous I feel - They will bring champers to kick things off - I'm pretty certain of that. depending on how knackered we all are - I may forgo the obligatory half decent MSB at the start, depends on my Misses's who doesn't take reds

On Sunday morning after mandatory scrabbled eggs and mountains of marmite on toast to mop it all up, we work it off. We take a look at Old Father Thames, we go on foot. Later I get to fool around with my grandson and enjoy a beer (London Pride) with my son-in-law in the garden, a great guy - Pray for a sunny afternoon folks. In between all this banter, the dish washer is taking the strain, and we can gather in some veg and toms from the plot before the weather goes doggo.

Pretty relaxed stuff from this ole fart - just the ticket

*sign of a misspent middle age* and trawling the merchants, my dear stocks are before inflation hit hard in 2005. I topped up a few during this crunch though

TMI

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Duncan

Amazing how JE 2007 seems to be actually improving.

I wonder how long they will last if stored correctly. The Ned 2009 is said to be an absolute stunner. Waitrose still have the 08 only.

Have you tried the La Grille sauvignon at Waitrose, Bacchus.

Ya Goose..., My following for JE 2007 is down to you, and your postings also in the other place. The last one I had with my Burgundy mate was exceptional to our palates at the time - double the dosh in class terms. Mouthfeel and true to mid palate flavour on the finish is imaculate and we drank it Outside ! so it had to have staying power.

Yeah on 2nd thoughts, I should take the dozen that's on its way - If I can steal it from MW's manager, Mark.

I have some Ned '08 to drink here. When that's gone, we hunt down 2009 - OK

Enjoy your week-end. I'm off to do some proper cleaning - Uugghh

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Duncan

Sorry Goose didn't see the question, bit early in the day for me and I'd just been dogged. Indeed I have had La Grille. I am on a tight budget and my walate doesn't match my palate. I like it a lot, and it is often on offer. Don't think the sister Cha is as good though. Seems you lot are SB fans and so am I but £7 / bottle is luxury for me. The best I've had was in a cheapo introductory case from Cadman's called Clayridge. Magical.

What was the rest of the Cadman's case like? I've considered that in the past.

I have a shiraz criticised as a little sweet, and the soave as can't remember. All the rest range from good to very good. Particularly enjoyed the Morgan and Sancerre. I think it is a genuine offer and they keep pestering me at full whack. I haven't purchased again (though I am occasionally tempted by "sale" items) it's simply out of my price range, nothing to do with the quality. Avery's do a similar decent introductory offer which I also enjoyed. Their "mystery" cases can be great value too.

Thanks Bacchus.

It's the pestering that puts me off to be honest. I bought an introductory case from the Sunday Times Wine Club years ago and received weekly (or so it seemed) "offers" forever after, despite asking them on numerous occasions to remove me from their database.

Crikey - A streamlined and contoured GK on the loose, displaying a very shiny stern to the world at large. His Misses likes him that way, he can't get up to any misschief ......Ping


Enjoy finishing the Warres '95 GK

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Duncan