I’m off to my local Merchants Xmas wine tasting tonight, around 40 wines and 10 Ports to get through. I'm taking on board plenty of water and mentally preparing myself.

See you on the other side.

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Yep, Im still here.

GK,

Do you know whats being opened ??
Please report back any new discoveries etc, who is the merchant.

Enjoy !!

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

It was a good night, I left my notes in the restaurant afterwards, doh!

I recall my two fave wines of the night were a Morton '09 SB and an Italian (Puglia) red made from the Negroamaro grape, cant remember the name but it blew me away. I have ordered six of each, collecting next week.

I can’t wait to get my hands on that full-bodied Italian....




-edited for spelling.

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Yep, Im still here.

GK - I understand your being blown away, knowing your taste buds a tiny bit Glad to see you dont need too much extra TLC this afternoon. spitting ya know, is the way forward...Duh... I like swallowing them - so there.

Puglia - the producers from the north steal their Puglian fruit to boost their trendy city Melano wines, which are short in lean years, and sell at twice the price. Vittoria tells me this in total disgust of the practices and fraud in the Italian wine industry. Her heart is with the down trodden growers of Puglia, who don't have sufficient capital to go it alone. Things are changing, albeit slowly

A very good friend of mine, a neighbour, whose lady I mention above, who is domiciled in Italy, cos his translation business is registered there. Italy is very complicated for folks who live in varous countries. The Iti Revenue there, just demand heavy taxes with menaces....What they think you ought to pay ! - No rhyme nor reason, Just, Heavy Demands, and they can get pretty nasty, unless you are some local politician or restaurant owner !.... Anyway

He sometimes remembers to bring back one or two of these or similar and they are always good, very much alive wines. Trad methods, little fining, few chemicals, good stuff.

I keep meaning to age some, but it just goes down the hatch.

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Duncan

There was a cheapo T red that I used to like. Canti Negroamaro / Zin mix.

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

[quote="GK"]It was a good night I recall my too fave wines of the night were a Morton '09 SB quote]

They do 3, black label, white label and Stony. Do you remember which? Price ??

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

This was the white label, the same one I thought was fairly typical back in March, another nine months in the bottle has helped this evolve into quite a complex little wine which I noted was impressing quite a few people at the tasting, usually £8.99 but it works out at £7.50 when you buy six.

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Yep, Im still here.

I did pace myself, I tend to tip anything away that doesnt impress. The trick is to take on water as you go.

It was the last pint in the Kings Head that done for me.....

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Yep, Im still here.

Seems a good price...is it availabubble on line?

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

GK,

Hi, who was the merchant ??

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Im not sure if they delivery all over the UK, I've never asked them. Either contact them or look around to see if a more local merchant stocks it. They are promoting it on their homepage at the mo.

Medoc- here is the link

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Yep, Im still here.

I picked up my case's last night and got a good look at the red that had me drooling.

Vigna della Monache Salice Salentino Riserva '06 Sampietrana, 100% Negroamaro.
Looks like this.

When I opened the case I found a Decanter International Trophy winner 2010 badge stuck to each bottle, here's what they have to say about it. Cinnamon and sweet damsons- I'll go along with that, it's a beaut.

The Morton Estate White lable MSB was not the '09 I ordered but the '10 which I havent tried yet, looks like this.

It also had a badge- Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Awards, and John's given it 90 points, whoever John is.

Im happy with my nights work.

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Yep, Im still here.

Dear GK,

After reading all your postings to this board in 2010 I have come to the conclusion that you are not worthy of being the first to try the Morton White Label MSB wot tastes of nettles, passion fruit and capsicum.

I must insist that you send me this wine. If I don't have it by Monday I shall send Jane McQuitty around to cover your allotment in Fairy Liquid.

You've been warned

I would have invited you G, you obviously have alot to learn, but I was afraid of a repeat of the last wine tasting you went to....

Seriously now, are the '10 MSB a touch too young to open at this point?

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Yep, Im still here.

Well, they say that unoaked MSB is at it's best at about 6 months from release. So, in theory, Feb/March should be perfect. That said, as Tribs and I found out last year with the SC basic, MSB can go from mind blowingly wonderful to over the hill very quickly.

I always drank my Dashwood from Oddbins within weeks of buying it cos I knew the flavours would fade and I would end up with boring dry white wine.

I would say drink anytime between now and Feb and if you do hang on keep them cold. Remember thiols fade if kept too warm.

Your Morton sounds like a wine rich in lovely thols.