Yes, you're probably right Shez. I was updating my wine list last night and I have approaching 150 bottles in stock so no need to buy something unless it is going to be guaranteed good value or at least a decent punt.

Saturday - Go out.

Friday or Sunday - Stay in.

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tribs

I went with the Riscal. It was a good choice.

Although a lovely piece of fillet the mushroom duxelle does dominate and was great with the Rioja.

This wine is beautiful. Riscal Reserva is generally consistently good but 2001 was an excellent vintage. I bought the last case of 2001 from my local Majestic 4 or 5 years ago and this was my last bottle. The bottles opened early were packed with fruit. Now it is far more integrated and there is so much textbook Rioja properties. Strawberries, slightly sour cherry, popcorn, antique furniture, herbs. I so wish I had more of this.

Great wine, totally delicious. Mrs Tribs loves it also and we both thoroughly enjoyed our evening.

Thanks very much for the advice.

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tribs

Indeed, a lot of decent stuff came out Spain in 2001.

Sadly, I dont have anything left, drank my last '01 Condordia last year.

Stock up on any 2004 you can find then as it was a comparable (if not better) vintage for Rioja and Ribera
2005 for Rioja (like pretty much every wine producing region) is meant to be decent too

I have a few items from 04 & 05, I avoided the hot '03.

Just need to find the time to drink it all

'Tis why I am buying very little at the moment, just stuff where its too good an offer to miss. Im going to enjoy drinking my stock this year.

Yeah - Rioja 04, Ribera del Duro 04, Ribera again '05, but not 'particularly' Rioja '05 at the affordable level.

I've been finding Decanters charts for Bordeaux to be more representative than Mr Parker's, further and recently, I notice that Parker has removed the detail appertaining to the particular wines or chateaus from his vintage charts unless you are a member.

If he wants to be mean ! - Huh, We can find better info elsewhere.
Talking Rioja which is superb value at the moment - Euro crunch in Spain and Portugal......
My wine of the week last September was Berberana Gran Reserva 2001 - bloody luvly and a multi buy bargain at the time.

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Duncan

Dunc, Im off to Portugal for a week in Aug, when's the best time to buy my Euro's, now or wait for better rates to come?

I forgot. I have a bottle of that. Plus 2 of the 2002.

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tribs

Berberana Carta d'oro currently on offer at sainsburys.
in the past has been a reasonable drinker

I'm in the same boat. Menorca for me for the 1st 2 weeks of Aug

We're screwed whenever we're buying fx at the moment mate
Sterling is a dud right now and I don't see it improving for a while

With holiday money you'll never buy enough EUR for it to make a massive difference. You might lose a tnner or so here and there but it's not gonna be a bank breaker

maybe exchange a bit now while EUR is a litte weaker thanks to the Greece (and other impending eurozone members) debacle and some closer to the time to spread the rate
We're not making anything on rates with it sitting in our bank a/c right now.
One advantage (or perhaps a disadvantage....) of buying ccy now is it might help with preventing from spending more on wine for the moment

maybe exchange a bit now while EUR is a litte weaker thanks to the Greece (and other impending eurozone members) debacle and some closer to the time to spread the rate
We're not making anything on rates with it sitting in our bank a/c right now.

My view is formed from looking at the situation the other way round.

Greece has been provided with credit lines from the IMF and EU Central bank of 750 billion euro, so Greece could default on almost everything this year, and the euro would be stable. It was a temporary glitch while the German chancellor held back for assurances

The Conservative Lib pact is more popular with the City, Middle East and Far East, and with wealthy US Republicans and businesses. Therefore there will be those around the world in the following quarter who may have more faith in buying sterling again. The Gov. plan to repay 6 billion this year - markets like that statement iof intention, so does the govenor at the Bank of England

Therefore, whilst I think the moves in the next quarter will be small, you may as well use your card in Spain and Portugal, you'll get a better rate than buying euro from you local high street bank. Given the above scenario, and an end to Quantatative Easing (devaluation of M3) Sterling, logically is considered to be getting stronger.
As for euro cash needed for "off the beaten track" tiny bars and fish restaurents, quayside BBQ's & local outside markets, I have found in the past, that buying at the destination or even airport ! Incurred a bit less commission, than on the high street here.

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Duncan

Simple answer: Santander Zero card.
The only "cash" I carry abroad

I have a decent exchange place on London bridge that I tend to get a bit of petty cash from before travelling but mostly use the credit card as it tends to use an even better exchange rate annd the are no charges for anny foreign transactions

Shez, I was going to say that also.

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tribs

It's a massive no brainer really.
Have recommended one to all my friends for our upcoming stag trip to NY on 26th

Read my lips

you may as well use your card in Spain and Portugal, you'll get a better rate

Santander stocks were a damn good bet if you picked up any last week. Were offering decent 'no notice' deposit rates as well. One of the best in the market last month.

Indeed Shez.

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Duncan