Bordeaux Recommendations

[djewesbury]

The 1978s are rather lovely!

'The year of the miracle' as Harry Waugh said. The main miracle being that they managed to sell them. But seriously they haven't turned out too bad, from the few I've tried. Not sure many of them will still be going now.

Well since Justin viewed it as a public service that I take his 78s off his hands I obliged. Terrible, horrible, rancid juice. Don't know how I've managed it.

You had the 78 Giscours I think, which was nice ten years ago.

And the 78 Las Cases. Which was also nice.

[LGTrotter]

And the 78 Las Cases. Which was also nice.

Never had it, but like most Las Cases I would imagine that you are made to sit up straight and pay attention.

[RPA]

In the latest twist of the En Primeur Ltd saga, this morning I received a call from Andrew Penman at the Daily Mirror, asking me to talk about my experience with this company. I was tempted to wax lyrical but my natural dislike for journalists (especially of the trashy tabloid variety) held me back.

Seems like this guy is in the right department though:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/authors/andrew-penman/

Presumably he got my name from the creditor register. I'm ahead of you in the alphabet Derek so you can probably expect a call soon...

[DRT]

Can't say I was too chuffed about having my personal data published without my consent and this is exactly why. I've already had junk mail from one company on the creditors list.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I suspect that this is an untested area of the application of the Data Protection Act and it's recent amendments. If you feel strongly, make a complaint via the Regulator's website. Complain about both the Administrator's publication of the data and also the marketing company's unauthorised use of it.

[djewesbury]

Wine Society daily drinking experiment. Didn't get round to this before, with being away.

[DaveRL]

I bought some of the Wine Society 2010 Pauillac at £19.95 or so. I vaguely remembered other vintages selling out rather quickly, and indeed this one did too. It had a recommended drinking window to 2025 (and they are conservative): longer than most, hence I felt it might be interesting. One day when I get some to hand I'll report.

More usefully perhaps, I today bought some Ch Montlandrie 2009 from Fine and Rare at £170+ a case, assuming they still have some left. It appears to have received reasonable reviews. This one more of a stab in the dark.

[DRT]

from Fine and Rare at £170+ a case, assuming they still have some left.

Exactly why I don't order from them very often. Agonising about pulling the trigger followed by three weeks of silence and a (paraphrased) "sorry, we never had it in the first place" drives me nuts. There are too many good wine merchants around to have to use this shoddy service.

[djewesbury]

I bought some of the Wine Society 2010 Pauillac at £19.95 or so. I vaguely remembered other vintages selling out rather quickly, and indeed this one did too. It had a recommended drinking window to 2025 (and they are conservative): longer than most, hence I felt it might be interesting. One day when I get some to hand I'll report.

More usefully perhaps, I today bought some Ch Montlandrie 2009 from Fine and Rare at £170+ a case, assuming they still have some left. It appears to have received reasonable reviews. This one more of a stab in the dark.

Exhibition Pauillac TN now posted.

[LGTrotter]

I bought some of the Wine Society 2010 Pauillac at £19.95 or so. I vaguely remembered other vintages selling out rather quickly, and indeed this one did too. It had a recommended drinking window to 2025 (and they are conservative): longer than most, hence I felt it might be interesting. One day when I get some to hand I'll report.

Good luck, I bought some of their 2005 Paulliac which was very good, but as hard as nails. I finished it all years ago, long before it was really ready. Ho-hum.

[LGTrotter]

from Fine and Rare at £170+ a case, assuming they still have some left.

Exactly why I don't order from them very often. Agonising about pulling the trigger followed by three weeks of silence and a (paraphrased) "sorry, we never had it in the first place" drives me nuts. There are too many good wine merchants around to have to use this shoddy service.

I see somebody on was recommending them for a place to buy while on holiday. Sounds like they might need to be on holiday for some months to get a delivery.

[DaveRL]

I bought some of the Wine Society 2010 Pauillac at £19.95 or so. I vaguely remembered other vintages selling out rather quickly, and indeed this one did too. It had a recommended drinking window to 2025 (and they are conservative): longer than most, hence I felt it might be interesting. One day when I get some to hand I'll report.

Good luck, I bought some of their 2005 Paulliac which was very good, but as hard as nails. I finished it all years ago, long before it was really ready. Ho-hum.

Hmm. I expected 2010 to need some time. Perhaps a lot of time then.

from Fine and Rare at £170+ a case, assuming they still have some left.

Exactly why I don't order from them very often. Agonising about pulling the trigger followed by three weeks of silence and a (paraphrased) "sorry, we never had it in the first place" drives me nuts. There are too many good wine merchants around to have to use this shoddy service.

I see somebody on was recommending them for a place to buy while on holiday. Sounds like they might need to be on holiday for some months to get a delivery.

F+R had been OK so far. Have not had a reply this time - downside is uncertainty, upside is free storage and I haven't paid. Not ideal, no. Perhaps I'll try cancelling this one.

Seckford Wines (James) I've found excellent. Had an issue recently, and all resolved most admirably. Exactly what I'd hoped.

[djewesbury]

The Exhibition Pauillac (bottled by Rothschild) is 2006 not 2010. Rather lovely right now.

[DaveRL]

I thought it was a Wine Society declassified wine I bought. I dug into the website. It is not. It is Ulysse Pauillac 2010 , sold through the Wine Society via their "special relationship". Sorry for the mistake. Declassified Latour supposedly. I'm never sure about these sorts of wines, often seeming to be produced in rather too large an amount to be other than marketing guff, but this one sells out fast, has a reasonable reputation on CellerTracker, and the Wine Society is, well, what it is I suppose. They gave it an excellent write up. Even if it is declassified, it will be the extra lots that didn't fit in the blend for some reason, warts and all, but perhaps these have worth if they have balance. Perhaps I've been burnt (again).

[AW77]

The 2005 Malescasse is quite a good everyday claret:
http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8959

[AW77]

In their current weekly advertisement brochure, Lidl present a wide range of French wines. You can find it online here: http://www.lidl-pageflip.com/debm.html?kid=9ZvHQv
Besides some Cru Bourgeois wines they offer half bottles of 1998 Château d'Yquem in their online wineshop:
http://www.lidl.de/de/sauternes-grand-c ... yquem-1998
That's not the Lidl I used to know. I wonder what D'Yquem will think of this unusual retailer.

[djewesbury]

My local Lidl has 2008 Sociando Mallet for £25.99. I churlishly find this overpriced for Lidl.

[DRT]

Added to the Seckfords stash yesterday for the extortionate sum of £125 IB...

1995 Chateaux Charlemagne (Canon Fronsac).JPG (12.43 KiB) Viewed 8495 times

Will be extracted sooner rather than later for current drinking.

The first bottle from this case opened this evening.

A nice, rich, mature red colour. Lots of dark fruit on the nose and the palate. Very round, smooth and full in the mouth. The finish is of medium length and still has quite a bit of tannin. This wine is not complicated in any way but is very pleasant and still has lots of life about it. A splendid purchase at this price.

[LGTrotter]

A nice, rich, mature red colour. Lots of dark fruit on the nose and the palate. Very round, smooth and full in the mouth. The finish is of medium length and still has quite a bit of tannin. This wine is not complicated in any way but is very pleasant and still has lots of life about it. A splendid purchase at this price.

Always a good feeling to have found a bargain, the 95s are better than their reputation but Canon Fronsac I have been unlucky with. Seckfords do seem to turn up some bargains.

[DRT]

I just bagged an unopened OWC of Chateau Gloria 1985 for £400 all in

[djewesbury]

I need a cheap Bordeaux scout - no, I need a scout for cheap Bordeaux. Any volunteers? Thought not.

[DRT]

I just bagged an unopened OWC of Chateau Gloria 1985 for £400 all in

Derek,

I have just opened the case.

The contents were something of a surprise!

Only four bottles of Gloria 1985 plus sundry other bottles and an old school blanket!

Refund incoming.

[djewesbury]

Ouch

[DRT]

I have gone off-piste and ordered a case of La Rioja Alta from the - 6x Viña Arana Reserva 2005 and 6x 904 Gran Reserve 2001.

Yummy.

[LGTrotter]

I have gone off-piste and ordered a case of La Rioja Alta from the - 6x Viña Arana Reserva 2005 and 6x 904 Gran Reserve 2001.

Yummy.

Hurray! Room for a bit of everything. And as you have said before if you decide you don't like it, you can flog it.

I must say I have paced up and down fretfully wondering if my life would be complete without the 904 Gran thingy. So far I am coping without it. It is a good price though.

[DRT]

I must say I have paced up and down fretfully wondering if my life would be complete without the 904 Gran thingy. So far I am coping without it. It is a good price though.

If you manage to haul yourself out of the marsh again sometime soon I'll bring a 904 along for you to satisfy your wonderment

[LGTrotter]

And I hope it's OK but I need to get something off my chest about bordeaux 2014. It is sort of the same thing I always say but please look on it as an illness to be indulged.

Have you seen the rubbish coming out of the chateaux at the moment? The first one I came across was Mr Pichon Baron (he of Noval) explaining that nobody who bought the Baron en primeur had ever lost money. I would reply that anybody who bought the 09 or 10 would be in a position to contradict this. Then came the bloke from Palmer saying the same thing and that really bordeaux was well priced. There were several others all saying why 2014 was a good wine and that a good wine deserved a increased price.

They are all insane. Even the most cursory glance through the back vintages suggest that 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 (with about 3 exceptions), are about the same price now, or substantially less than on release. I saw a piece suggesting that even in 2005 there was no real financial advantage to buying en primeur. A few negotiants going phut (not that they deserve it) are going to be needed before the chateaux get it.

[LGTrotter]

I must say I have paced up and down fretfully wondering if my life would be complete without the 904 Gran thingy. So far I am coping without it. It is a good price though.

If you manage to haul yourself out of the marsh again sometime soon I'll bring a 904 along for you to satisfy your wonderment

Of course I'll be back. Can't get rid of me that easily.

[DRT]

And I hope it's OK but I need to get something off my chest about bordeaux 2014. It is sort of the same thing I always say but please look on it as an illness to be indulged.

Have you seen the rubbish coming out of the chateaux at the moment? The first one I came across was Mr Pichon Baron (he of Noval) explaining that nobody who bought the Baron en primeur had ever lost money. I would reply that anybody who bought the 09 or 10 would be in a position to contradict this. Then came the bloke from Palmer saying the same thing and that really bordeaux was well priced. There were several others all saying why 2014 was a good wine and that a good wine deserved a increased price.

They are all insane. Even the most cursory glance through the back vintages suggest that 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 (with about 3 exceptions), are about the same price now, or substantially less than on release. I saw a piece suggesting that even in 2005 there was no real financial advantage to buying en primeur. A few negotiants going phut (not that they deserve it) are going to be needed before the chateaux get it.

All fair comment as far as I can see, and the main reason why I have a self-imposed ban on buying Bordeaux younger than 2005.

I attended a ten-bottle Pichon Baron vertical last week (1996 to 2010), every one being described as "an exceptional vintage". Hmmm.

[LGTrotter]

Yes, and I remember your comments on some of those 'exceptional' vintages.

[LGTrotter]

Lidl are doing 2009 La Lagune for £40 a bottle. Not a bad price (but not great either). Interestingly they rate it at 93 points on the Lidl scale while Parker rates it 95. Is Lidl the Neal Martin of supermarket scoring? I shan't buy it, I am not fond.

[djewesbury]

Do they still have the Sociando Mallet?

[LGTrotter]

I did not venture into the shop, I saw the Lagune in the Christmas catalogue (mother is devoted to Lidl and I have a wheelbarrow of assorted screwdrivers to prove it), so I am not sure.

[DRT]

I have heard tales of these deals but have so far resisted the temptation to search one out. This is obviously some sort of idealistic communist plot to tempt the lower middle classes to break with tradition by stop buying their staples from M&S and Waitrose and venture into the world of cut-price, good value, very-tasty-but-slightly-the-wrong-shape grocery shopping.

They won't fool us - stand firm.

[LGTrotter]

I have heard tales of these deals but have so far resisted the temptation to search one out. This is obviously some sort of idealistic communist plot to tempt the lower middle classes to break with tradition by stop buying their staples from M&S and Waitrose and venture into the world of cut-price, good value, very-tasty-but-slightly-the-wrong-shape grocery shopping.

They won't fool us - stand firm.

Massively off topic but I have been tempted by Lidl; fellow workers in my collective, knowing of my weakness for fig rolls have bought me several packets at 39p a go and they are blummin tasty.

[DRT]

I have heard tales of these deals but have so far resisted the temptation to search one out. This is obviously some sort of idealistic communist plot to tempt the lower middle classes to break with tradition by stop buying their staples from M&S and Waitrose and venture into the world of cut-price, good value, very-tasty-but-slightly-the-wrong-shape grocery shopping.

They won't fool us - stand firm.

Massively off topic but I have been tempted by Lidl; fellow workers in my collective, knowing of my weakness for fig rolls have bought me several packets at 39p a go and they are blummin tasty.

Adam thought the apple was tasty. Temptation does not always result in a good outcome.

As an aside: does anyone know whether or not the Fortnum and Mason loyalty card points can be converted to air miles?

[LGTrotter]

As an aside: does anyone know whether or not the Fortnum and Mason loyalty card points can be converted to air miles?

Just listen to yourself. I was in there last Friday and it was like some upper middle class dystopia, where the post holocaust scenario could only be survived by fighting for glass teapots and jam made with specific varieties of obscure fruits. The only semblance of calm was in the wine department where they had half bottles of 99 BOB vintage port for just under a tenner.

[djewesbury]

You two are clearly delirious. But it's very amusing.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Just listen to yourself. I was in there last Friday and it was like some upper middle class dystopia, where the post holocaust scenario could only be survived by fighting for glass teapots and jam made with specific varieties of obscure fruits. The only semblance of calm was in the wine department where they had half bottles of 99 BOB vintage port for just under a tenner.

I wondered who that familiar figure in a tweed three-piece was. I was busy buying macaroons (F&M's macs are particularly good). Just like I hadn't realised it was Thanksgiving on Thursday, I also failed to realise it was Black Friday and did wander about Fortnum's wondering what on earth was going on with the pandemonium.

[AW77]

I was in there [Fortnum & Mason] last Friday

So this is the reason you didn't come along to the British Museum?

[LGTrotter]

I was in there [Fortnum & Mason] last Friday

So this is the reason you didn't come along to the British Museum?

I promised to look for Emma's books in the Piccadilly Waterstones. I managed to totter down at about midday, there was very little activity before then.

Spot on about those macaroons Alex. Or +1 for those that prefer such things.

[djewesbury]

Authors eh? Always only interested in their own books. Terrible. Like artists, who only flick through the back of the magazines to see if they've had a review.

Owen, if you just put a lid on the Fortnum's macaroon habit you'd be able to afford those 1311 bottles of port in no time. You're so self indulgent.

[DRT]

A few odds and ends have been picked up recently on BidForWine.com...

2 x Cantemerle 1970 (£21 each)
1 x Ducru Beaucallou 1985 (£46 - woo-hoo!)
10 x Fonbauge 1989 (one opened - lovely jubbley) (£20 each)
2 x Marbuzet Saint-Estephe 1994 (one opened - ropey old stuff) (£15 each)

Plus 6 x Charlemaigne 1995 from somewhere else. (£18 each) - I really like this stuff.

[LGTrotter]

but I have (and have opened) hundreds of Bordeaux bottles from the seventies and eighties, and there is no noticeable difference in cork quality to those bottled before or after.

I suspected as much. And yet you still allow us to flounder around in the dark with only the firm hand of Alex to guide us.

[DRT]

March is bonus time so I have had a bit of a splash...

12 x Sociando Mallet 2000
6 x Gloria 2000
12 x La Croix de Beaucaillou 2005
12 x Pichon Baron 2005
12 x La Croix de Beaucaillou 2009
12 x Potensac 2009

Anyone for cheese?

[djewesbury]

March is bonus time so I have had a bit of a splash...

12 x Sociando Mallet 2000
6 x Gloria 2000
12 x La Croix de Beaucaillou 2005
12 x Pichon Baron 2005
12 x La Croix de Beaucaillou 2009
12 x Potensac 2009

Anyone for cheese?

This purchase was brought to you with the assistance of the Scotch Whisky industry.

[DRT]

This purchase was brought to you with the assistance of the Scotch Whisky industry.

I have no idea what you mean