Surely, 2011 will be better than 2009 or 2010, which were both ABSOLUTE SHIT.

That'll be the drink.

I'm not ashamed to say, because it wasn't really the point, but I welcomed in the new year with Oyster Bay Brut. FFS. I took champagne.

_________________
mel

Mel,

Wishing all a Happy New Year too !!

Just caught the last 20 seconds of Saturday kitchen and they were all raving about a red wine for £8.00 ish.

Just googled the show and I think they were discussing,

Taste the Difference Barossa Shiraz 2009, Australia
Sainsbury’s, £7.99

Anyone tried it or can confirm this was the wine in question.

Regards
Richard

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

Happy new year all

There are a few tasting note for the TtD Barossa Shiraz on here
In general, for the sane price scale, the Waitrose Barossa Shiraz tends to get preference from us lot
Both are made in partnership with St Halletts

I've got Sat Kitchen taped but don't have time to watch it today. Was it the second wine they reviewed because I could FF through to find it.

I tried the WR Barossa Shiraz fairly recently and wasn't that impressed, so I didn't buy any when it was recently on offer. I need to, so I can have an opinion.

_________________
mel

Probably some oak in this

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

Best wishes for the new year all!

We got back from deepest Wales last night, the weather was kind and we returned with some happy memories.

With regard to the M&S case, Ive only tried two, the Chablis which I consider to be splendid, oily & nimble, it went very nicely with roast goose on NY's day. We drank two bottles of the Albarino on NY's eve, I think this is as good as it gets for the price, light and flavoursome with just enough spritz to fall into the apearitif / party wine slot, fresh and bouncy, enjoyed by all including friends who were tasting the grape for the first time. Im still to try the Veran and the SB, its beginning to look like the SB is the weakest wine, I will try one and if I dont like it I will soon get it swapped for something else, cant loose really.

Now, when do I begin my diet.....

_________________
Yep, Im still here.

Now why did I think you'd be trekking your socks off, on them hills ? Whenever we are in deepest sheep country, we eat and drink and work it off.

GK, the Albarino improves significantly after beiing opened for several days and left in the refrigerator. The same goes for the Cartagina SB, which loses most of its Andrews liver salts and gains more Laurel bush shoots. Yeah, the finish is a dead ringer for the nose and sap nuances you get when shearing the new leaves off of an overgrown laurel. Sappy, more pithy, green, mildly bitter elder. Much improved and different with that sort of interest.

_________________
Duncan

Happy New Year!

The cold just before christmas although gone quite quickly made a real mess of my palate. My enjoyment of ale in particular was ruined and I stuck to drinking mostly strong flavoured reds, port and whisky.

As a result I have only tried the Albarino from the M&S Whites, which was quite good but not really my thing and I have not yet tried the SC Bird Block either. I did enjoy a Cordier Macon '08 (Terroir de Charnay) which was fantastic with christmas dinner starters and a Ligny Chablis '08 on New Years day.

Dunc, I tried one of the Chapoutier Cotes du Roussillon, which I enjoyed, wish I had more on the double disco offer mid december. Another wine of mention was the Jim Barry Clare Red.

Still waiting for my palate to recover properly though before trying the rest of the M&S case and the Bird block.

_________________
tribs

Mel,

It was the last wine I believe ?? all they said was it was a great buy for £8.00.

I did a google and came up with ther four wines tasted and it must be the one I mentioned from Sainsburys at £7.99.

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

Hi tribs - sorry about the sore mouth, that's a bummer ....The Albarino is not many folks thing Served the leftovers with a comice pear tart one luncheon. I'd spoilt my guests rotten with the main course, by serving a powerful and fantasticly nosed Santenay dom "Charmes" Earl roger belland - so I remember their faces when they had a sip of this weakling. Ha ha .... Not my thing Dunc - Phil politely said. It does improve over 3 - 4 days in the fridge tho.



The braile label Chapoutier Cotes du Roussillon '07 is bloody marvelous for the dosh - knocks that 3 Leys '07 crozes into a cocked hat - Eh ! I'm damn sorry I didn't spot that earlier myself. Just 2 left here. That '07 Roussillon won't be up for grabs again - but I keep checking



That bright & leesy dom Chab and old vine Saint Veran will restore your faith in bargain white burgundy. In the meantime - Happy New Year mate.


Edit.....Spelling problem today

_________________
Duncan

I just watched it on iPlayer. Yes, they were all very impressed with the Sains TTD Barossa Shiraz 2009. Might be worth a try. I like Barossa Shiraz.

_________________
tribs

we should try to do an online group tasting of the Sainsbury vs the WR....

be interesting to see what people's opinions are

Yes, the Prehy Chablis has been on my radar before, so was very pleasantly surprised with that substitution. Hows it compare with the Ligny '08?

You've mentioned before there seems some bottle variance. The one we had on New Years Day was one of the better ones I have had, it was really good. It was a bottle I had given to my in-laws as a gift a couple of months ago.

_________________
tribs

Shezza,

Happy to join in if my extremely poor Sainsbury has it in stock.

Richard

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

Hi mate,

if that is a reply to me, then I was referring to the 2 versions of (in partnership with St Halletts) Barossa Shiraz offerings

Like Baccus, the Ligny Chablis didn't do too much for me, I end up giveing 3 bottles away as gifts