Did any of you get an email from Majestic ref a short break in Burgundy? There's no sight of it on their ordinary website. Would have sent a link but it had my customer details on and so would be of no use to you lot.

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mel

Yep, I had one. Their in-store French tasting starts on the 16th. to co-incide with the Latour promo as well.

Just looked, Nothing - My Local are pretty naff at emails, I do the follow-ups, even when the've got stuff in for me on special. Perhaps I should use the Sonning store more. Reading does a load of Restaurent and Corporate stuff - keeps 'em busy.

This may explain the new Rodet offers

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Duncan

Just seen it in my private mail. Now entered for it... Don't have high hopes tbf.

Was at Maj lastnight to see what their wine uncorked course was like (freebie offering so seemed worth a shot) and apparently the staff get to enter into regular draws to win trips to wineries.
Was speaking to Julia who had won a 2 nights trip to the Krug estate !

AS for the Wine Uncorked course, it is a good intro course for the beginner.
I would class myself as a beginner to this wine malarky but think my being a part of QO forum has educated me pretty well so I knew most of what was going on.
Therefore it didn't provide much value to me personally other than getting to sample a few wines

Still a nice service they provide for the unitiated

Did find out some great news (altho maybe bad news for my bank manager) in that Majestic at Vinoplis (local to my work) is the only Maj in the UK I believe that sells single bottles due to lack of car parking in the area.
See myself diving in for the odd 1 or 2 bottles on the way to London Bridge Station a lot more regularly now...

Au contraire my friend - You can see the distress parcels as they come in . There is a 2002 St Estephe with the green/ numbered french lead foil top in my local just now. The 2nd wine of Beau Site if I remember.

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Duncan

Can you buy the distressed offering as a single then or have I misunderstood ?

It doesn't just apply to distressed parcels mon ami. Every bottle in the warehouse can be purchased there as a single bottle rather than the 6 bottle minimmum everywhere else

Yes, or as a double, but that will apply to Vinipolis now. Here, one buys them as a six or part thereof. I will invariably mix them in to evaluate, then score if they are good.

There aren't contracts for these, so I beleive Maj only take them when they are Bon.
Easily recognised 1st by the french top and label composition - then look down at the selling price versus normal merchant prices for similar wines. These do not appear in the catalogues, except if higher volume is available, sometimes they are on the web site.

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Duncan

Have actually read this conversation properly now and get what you're saying. ignore my previous post as it was typed having misread your conversation.

Any idea on the name of said St Estephe ?

I tells yas... this discovery is gonna meann nothing but trouble for me now

Just for you, but I shouldn't, should I ? Ok , I'll trawl it out. Ahh here it is.




Chateau Beau-site Haut Vignoble 2002. Sorry - Pic nicked from another merchant. 2002 CB could be good, '02 is slow to mature, I havent tried it yet. I dont think CB's were over tannic for for this vintage. Best to check

I'm fairly certain £9.99 each if buying two. If I'm slightly wrong about the dosh, please don't hurl rocks at me .

I remember it being a great offer on Sunday. But since I'd just offered-up my plastic for £107 or so. I just had to move on.
See if you can buy singles x 2 for that dosh ? Vinipolis to check out for you.

Not on the web site.

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Duncan

My branch thinks it's a disco, but I might brave the racket to see if they have this. Really would like to find a red that I could enjoy.

Bacchus this is not a red to start out with.... The Concept That You just Might Find One That You May Enjoy ! - No way. St Estephe can be hard to get your head around in some tannic and earlier years- please don't go there, If you are searching for a red with this aim in mind.
I dont want to be, or sound bl**dy patronising.... BUT

GK or Shezz- Please confirm the above.

It is not a discovery, unless from a flagging merchant somewhere in France, it was on the french foil. Could be Chateau stock, and they need cashflow - dunno

Really would like to find a red that I could enjoy

2003 St Estephe is very easy to love, the 2003 Beau-Site was quite new world with perfume and more dimension, but less somehow.

Please check, that if a little tannic for you, that you may return.

The 2002 is an 88/100 vintage, but riper slightly inland and in the south of the region nearer Cissac. This could be firm, yet fine and fragrent - If you buy and try, please report back - asap -Cheers.

edited to expain the 2002 vintage style for you.

Bacchus explain what you want from a red - and we shall try and identify one for you.

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Duncan

MASSIVE Coincidence !!!

I have a bottle of the 02 under the stairs
Was given as a gift a while back I think coz I don't remember buying it.

Good

On the English packaging / labelling or with the French Foil ?

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Duncan

Well, I'm certainly not "starting" with reds. I quit smoking 5/6 yrs ago and ever since, my taste has been changing almost monthly. I used to keep a ratio of about 2 to 3 red/white but then gradually all the red began to smell horrid and taste worse. I eventually gave away or poured away around 3 doz bottles. The only two that I managed to drink were a Morgan (Cadman's) and an Argie Shiraz/Malbec. I now have no reds whatsoever but I do miss them. Weird.

Thanks for explaining that Ba - Yeah, I understand you situation now. Well, if you like the Morgon, p'raps some beautiful and fuller gamay's may be recommended - Has Mel come-up wth any gamay stars ?

From initial press reports, it is believed that this year's 2009 Gamay could be wonderful, so look out for the Beaujolais crus' as they come up - all of the Burgundian producers and growers have been revelling with the prospect of a vintage that is superior to 2005 ('05 which can be samey) and best growing season for decades " They say", a late and very clean Autumn Harvest, helps to gather-in perfect fruit. So prospects for Gamay lovers could be superb. I really liked the 2005 Fleurie's and Chiroubles. You'll have to pick them off (the deals) as they come up, since single in store prices are always bigger money for the B.crus

Talk to Shezza or GK on wine from the S. America's. I'm worse than useless for any info there.

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Duncan