The wine and beer thread (all drinks allowed!)

Star of the show was a Macedonian red. Called Barovo, possibly from Domaine Tikres Barovo. It was very full-bodied and packed a punch not only with the taste as it weighed in at 15%. I was told the grapes used but they were a new and seemingly Slavic (I think) names. Went with pork cheek.

Another much lighter red was Little Beauty Pinot Noir from a guy that used to be senior at Cloudy Bay itself. He’s found a place and backing to do his own things and this red was a jolly accompaniment to a light Emmental soufflé.

A Heidi Schoche Söhne Blaufrankisch Austrian red was fun with duck breast, having followed an Austrian white, Grüner Veltliner - nice with the sea bass.

A good fun evening and horizons broadened 

The 100% Syrah red is ok, however, the white sounds very interesting, although I’ve not yet tasted it. The white is mostly Chardonnay although is blended with Marsanne, a variety new to me. It was when he and the son blended them, the taste they got reminded them of the ever so lovely Montrachet Burgundies yet at a much more modest price.

Thanks to the chance given to him, the son’s talent and James’s guidance has lead to the vineyard winning 19 gold medals in 6 months. 

On line, the wine is about £15 a bottle. In restaurants, he mentioned one place charging 10 times that although £50 is more normal.

James said, with young wine folk, it’s like young chefs. You have to give them a chance to show their talent. They’ll crash and burn sometimes. Mostly, if they’ve the talent, they’ll do extremely well.

A very pleasing purchase. It goes well with curry - a salmon something left over from last night. It goes well with a toasted tea cake. It doesn’t taste like chardonnay so the blend has worked very well.

Tasting it was one of the extremely rare high points of watching Ireland’s demolition of a distant second best host under the new chief coach that the Chiefs rejected. Hope for better times ahead.

Thats a cracker!!!!!

Have you tried the Scarlets White wine 9-3, yet?

It is rare to see any of that on sale in the UK shops, although having looked at Majestic, there are two - one at £13.99 (mixed 6 price) and the other at £23.32. The cheaper 2013 is from a year that’s a tread with care vintage, due to poor weather. the more expensive Chateau Clarke doesn’t sound that French and is from 2010.