What are you eating and drinking tonight?

[TANGODANCER]

Hey, you wine buffs, a question:

Just got a bottle of 2001 Reserva Castillo de Caltrava Tempranillo as a leaving present, product of La Mancha. I won't open it just to taste it but, how does it rate? What's the word Bruce?

Just to come across as a know-it-all, Spanish wine is long barrel aged and then short bottle lifed, so is designed to be drunk when you buy it. Its very unique for that, as the rest of the world follows the French model (ie exactly the opposite). As it happens, Spain has a huge amount of Aussies in their wine trade now, who, whilst it pains me to say, know their onions when it comes to wine. As a consequence Spanish wine is a real banker. Spend a tenner on a bottle and drink like a king. Nowhere on earth delivers like that. Enjoy, Tango, I've spotted you like a bit of hispanic drop, it shouldn't dissapoint.

Cheers all. Wife's been a bit off this weekend and I haven't got around to drinking it yet. Will report back when I do.

[TANGODANCER]

Hey, you wine buffs, a question:

Just got a bottle of 2001 Reserva Castillo de Caltrava Tempranillo as a leaving present, product of La Mancha. I won't open it just to taste it but, how does it rate? What's the word Bruce?

Just to come across as a know-it-all, Spanish wine is long barrel aged and then short bottle lifed, so is designed to be drunk when you buy it. Its very unique for that, as the rest of the world follows the French model (ie exactly the opposite). As it happens, Spain has a huge amount of Aussies in their wine trade now, who, whilst it pains me to say, know their onions when it comes to wine. As a consequence Spanish wine is a real banker. Spend a tenner on a bottle and drink like a king. Nowhere on earth delivers like that. Enjoy, Tango, I've spotted you like a bit of hispanic drop, it shouldn't dissapoint.

Much truth in that. I'm partial to a drop of sherry (Jerez for the purists) and all the big supermarkets are now importing their own brand labels direct from Spain instead of just stocking the Harveys Bristol Cream varieties. Much better tasting and with the refinements left out. Sherry as it should be.

[William the White]

Hey, you wine buffs, a question:

Just got a bottle of 2001 Reserva Castillo de Caltrava Tempranillo as a leaving present, product of La Mancha. I won't open it just to taste it but, how does it rate? What's the word Bruce?

Just to come across as a know-it-all, Spanish wine is long barrel aged and then short bottle lifed, so is designed to be drunk when you buy it. Its very unique for that, as the rest of the world follows the French model (ie exactly the opposite). As it happens, Spain has a huge amount of Aussies in their wine trade now, who, whilst it pains me to say, know their onions when it comes to wine. As a consequence Spanish wine is a real banker. Spend a tenner on a bottle and drink like a king. Nowhere on earth delivers like that. Enjoy, Tango, I've spotted you like a bit of hispanic drop, it shouldn't dissapoint.

De acuerdo, Don Kangana... Enlighten, though, how about Latin American wines - are they following the French example? I'm enjoying young Chilean consistently (red and white - not yet found a truly excellent spanish white, can you enlighten here?) And a very decent, 2009 Argentinian red tonight.

[Hoboh]

I like a good red wine

3's not 2's taste to acidly

[William the White]

I like a good red wine

3's not 2's taste to acidly

Is this in code? Or is it a ref to number of glasses... or, scarily, bottles?

[Prufrock]

Or £s?

[Lord Kangana]

Hey, you wine buffs, a question:

Just got a bottle of 2001 Reserva Castillo de Caltrava Tempranillo as a leaving present, product of La Mancha. I won't open it just to taste it but, how does it rate? What's the word Bruce?

Just to come across as a know-it-all, Spanish wine is long barrel aged and then short bottle lifed, so is designed to be drunk when you buy it. Its very unique for that, as the rest of the world follows the French model (ie exactly the opposite). As it happens, Spain has a huge amount of Aussies in their wine trade now, who, whilst it pains me to say, know their onions when it comes to wine. As a consequence Spanish wine is a real banker. Spend a tenner on a bottle and drink like a king. Nowhere on earth delivers like that. Enjoy, Tango, I've spotted you like a bit of hispanic drop, it shouldn't dissapoint.

De acuerdo, Don Kangana... Enlighten, though, how about Latin American wines - are they following the French example? I'm enjoying young Chilean consistently (red and white - not yet found a truly excellent spanish white, can you enlighten here?) And a very decent, 2009 Argentinian red tonight.

Spanish white is not something I go for, so I'm afraid I can't recommend anything. I've had a couple of good white Rioja's, but from personal experience stick to the reds. As for the wines of Rioja, another Spanish quirk is that most labels don't own their own vineyards, but are effectively co-operative buyers (notable exceptions being La Rioja Alta and Riscal). Therefore its possible to buy good wines that are not 'DOC' varietal (ie, the wine is Tempranillo, and therefore probably from Rioja, yet anywhere else in the world I would be wary about purchasing it... eg a wine labelled 'Cabernet Sauvignon' from the Bordeaux region would beg the question "why is it not good enough for AOC?")

The South Americans are getting their act together when it comes to wines, Chile being the obvious, though the Argies have broken the mould a little, and instead of following the crowd pleasers like Sauvignon and Merlot are planting Malbec (Cahors wine) and Tannat (Madiran) grapes. I had a really nice bottle of Malbec a couple of weeks ago (Argento) - if you try any, my tip is to open it, have a glass and leave for 24 hours. The tanins really soften into a quite elegant wine.

Pub quiz fact to bore your friends: The South Americans owe an awful lot to the Brits, as its alleged that Phylloxera was introduced into Europe by the Victorians collecting specimens from all over the world. Consequently, resistant root stock had to be brought over from the new world, and much French expertise dissemeninated throughout the world (including, as it happens, Rioja) when the Vintners fled a devastated French wine industry.

[boltonboris]

White Rioja is fecking sublime mate... Try, try and try again

Tonight we're drinking Peter Lyons Chardonnay Viognier vintage 2008 (Austrialian) and very nice it is too!!!

[TANGODANCER]

Being a confessed non wine buff, there is one thing about wine; it constantly surprises you. Yes, there are some wines I find unpallatable, but every now and then someone gets you to try something and you find yourself pleasantly surprised. I'm not really a red wine lover ( aquired taste I suppose, like all things) and tend to prefer sweet, or medium sweet to dry. Spanish Valdepena has never let me down and is my wine of choice when over there. Over here I find little wrong with a bottle of Hock (all the wine buffs shiver)

[Lord Kangana]

Since the the anti-freeze scare Tango, the German and Austrian wine producers have been forced by law to get their act together. You're not alone in liking the German stuff, and it most certainly isn't crap anymore.

[boltonboris]

Since the the anti-freeze scare Tango, the German and Austrian wine producers have been forced by law to get their act together. You're not alone in liking the German stuff, and it most certainly isn't crap anymore.

I find the Germans too sweet for white wine, yet strangely I can only drink Red if it's sweet.... Had a desert wine from Grenache in Walkden a while back, ended up buying a bottle and drinking it as I normaly would. Muscat Black it was called and it was ruddy lurvly

[Lord Kangana]

You've just introduced me to a new variety. Thats going top of the shopping list over the next couple of weeks.

[boltonboris]

You've just introduced me to a new variety. Thats going top of the shopping list over the next couple of weeks.

Cosco stock it somewhat unbelievably... Pricey, but a cracking tipple

[Bruce Rioja]

I find the Germans too sweet for white wine

As do I, Boris, in fact I don't drink much white at all. However, if you can find one do try a Gewurztraminer. You too, Tango. Lovely stuff. It's also very good with spicy food.

[William the White]

I find the Germans too sweet for white wine

As do I, Boris, in fact I don't drink much white at all. However, if you can find one do try a Gewurztraminer. You too, Tango. Lovely stuff. It's also very good with spicy food.

Great with Chinese...

Also I've sometimes found a dryish Riesling that works well with non-curry Eastern foods.

[Little Green Man]

Parkin and a glass of Doublewood.

[Bruno]

Pork steak.

Wonderful

[Di Stefano]

De acuerdo, Don Kangana... Enlighten, though, how about Latin American wines - are they following the French example? I'm enjoying young Chilean consistently (red and white - not yet found a truly excellent spanish white, can you enlighten here?) And a very decent, 2009 Argentinian red tonight.

Spanish white is not something I go for, so I'm afraid I can't recommend anything. I've had a couple of good white Rioja's, but from personal experience stick to the reds. As for the wines of Rioja, another Spanish quirk is that most labels don't own their own vineyards, but are effectively co-operative buyers (notable exceptions being La Rioja Alta and Riscal). Therefore its possible to buy good wines that are not 'DOC' varietal (ie, the wine is Tempranillo, and therefore probably from Rioja, yet anywhere else in the world I would be wary about purchasing it... eg a wine labelled 'Cabernet Sauvignon' from the Bordeaux region would beg the question "why is it not good enough for AOC?")

The South Americans are getting their act together when it comes to wines, Chile being the obvious, though the Argies have broken the mould a little, and instead of following the crowd pleasers like Sauvignon and Merlot are planting Malbec (Cahors wine) and Tannat (Madiran) grapes. I had a really nice bottle of Malbec a couple of weeks ago (Argento) - if you try any, my tip is to open it, have a glass and leave for 24 hours. The tanins really soften into a quite elegant wine.

Pub quiz fact to bore your friends: The South Americans owe an awful lot to the Brits, as its alleged that Phylloxera was introduced into Europe by the Victorians collecting specimens from all over the world. Consequently, resistant root stock had to be brought over from the new world, and much French expertise dissemeninated throughout the world (including, as it happens, Rioja) when the Vintners fled a devastated French wine industry.

I don't think I've tasted a bad Malbec yet. Budini is a good one, as are Opi Sadler and Finca Federada. I find that it's quite inexpensive when eating & drinking out, possibly because it's not as well known as other varieties.

Regarding Chile, Montes Cabernet-Carmenère is hard to beat - or their Pinot Noir if you prefer something slightly lighter.

[William the White]

Chilean Carmenere has been much prised on this thread... and will look out for this rec... And i agree with the Pinot Noir appreciation...

though nothing, in the way of pinot noir, beats Gevrey-Chambertin...

[Lord Kangana]

Went to L'enclume last night for a very belated Birthday treat. Absolutely, mind-blowingly, awe-inspiringly brilliant cooking. The wine list is a cracker (we partook of Alsatian Pinot Gris, Regnie and Jurancon) and the cheese board is full-on top-notch all-French farmhouse cheese. Expensive yes, but a four-and-a half-hour extravagana of 15 indulgent and unique courses.

Nice.