Any Wine experts in here?

cambsno

cambsno

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Couple of questions for those that know their plonk!

- A month or 2 ago, I read 2 or even 3 reviews for Champagne, and they all raved about a Waitrose Champagne, which was made by Heiderseck (I think) and was rated better than the rest. Cannot remember what champagne it was though as there seem to be a few different types.

- Looking for a nice red wine too. Not much of a red fan but do like the odd glass around Christmas. I dont like the rich, heavy reds, probably a slightly lighter one, find that many have too much tanin for me. Of the popular grape varieties, which are the lighter ones - have a feeling Pinot Noir may be one?
 
Pinot Noir grape is quite often used in champagne and rose wines, so yes, it is on the lighter side. The nose is black cherry/strawberry/spice. Two of my favourites are Kumala and Rosemount Estate, so I can reccomend them. Can't comment on champers though, I hate the stuff!
 
Sainsburys are doing McGuigan Estate 2009 Shiraz at the moment for £3.99 down from £8.99.....superb

it is a shiraz grape, slightly peppery - try their Merlot for something smoother

'name-dropper'.:cool:.... when I was in Adelaide, visited Peter Lehman Vineyards - superb
his bottle label is slightly 'odd' - red 3leaf clover - and may deter UK buyers - but he is a Gold Medal Winner in South Oz. his 'Un-oaked Chardonnay' is wonderful

any of the whites from Maclaren Vale are 100% as are the Barossa reds
 
try to go for Estate Bottled - such as Peter who used ONLY grapes from HIS vineyard

others - Banrock Station, Hardys etc - are a co-op and use a variety or mix of grapes from within the area
 
Very few moderately priced reds will have much tannin in the mix as the producers know it will take time to develop properly.

Grapes that are easy drinking have been mentioned;
Merlot - can be muddy and bitter
Shiraz - is peppery and more complex
Tempranillo - fruity, light easy drink (can be chilled)
Cabernet Sauvignon - bubble gummy type of fruit (mixes with Shiraz to give a pleasant quaff ;)
As for champagne - seldom drink it :) No time drinking all these reds :lol:
 
TinaC said:
Merlot - can be muddy and bitter..............
Click to expand...

huh...? have you tried McGuigan Estate
or even Sainsburys House Merlot at £3.49..an enjoyable plonk..?...:lol:
 
Yes Dawn, that is the one, did another google search and found the telegraph review.
 
Some good tips above.

My niew would be that whilst Pinot Noir is not heavy, it is best drunk with food. It is a difficult grape so results are variable.

If you want a light red that is easy drinking, look for a Zinfandel. All the supermarkets will carry at least one. It is a US grape variety which is extremely pleasant with no hardness.

I certainly wouldn't go for Rioja as whilst there are many very tasty wines, they do tend to the fuller end of the spectrum.

The Shiraz grape also makes quite full wines with a distinctive blackcurrant type nose.

Id soft and smooth is a first requirement, Merlot should be up there, but can be a bit uninspiring sometimes.

Hope that helps
 
We've recently done some testing of teh wines we like or dont like as we tended to go for Merlt but have found it acidic and sharp recently.
Not wishing to sound snobby but the cheaper wines just dont do it for me anymore, you could get some that were pleasant and light but they seem to have dissapeared lately.
SW France (Laungedoc sp?) stuff still seems pretty good without busting the budget, in particular there's a wine in Sainsbury's called Long Dog (a play on words onbiously) that is coming up quite nice at a good price (less than a Fiver).
We are now tending to buy the more expensive stuff (about £8/9 a bottle) especially when its on offer and finding it a better buy. Most could be regarded as "heavy" (ish) but because of their better quality we are finding them easy to drink (without any after effects of acid tummy or headache the next day).
Particularly nice is a French Shiraz (which is Syrah by another name) in Sainsbury's at present.

In conclusion, pay a bit more and you may find although a little heavier is in fact a much more pleasant drink.
Waitrose wines - unusually for Waitrose we just cant get on with their wines and prefer Sainsbury's. The wife prefers the lighter wines (as you do) but is perfectly happy with the top shelf ones from Sainsburys.

We are also finding that serving a little warmer is making the wines soft and gentle too, we store our reds above the cooker where they receive a very gentle warmth. The ones in the wine rack in the "Island" just dont get warm enough.

Matt
 
The champagne is probably Piper Heidsieck. Its one of the classics.
 
cambsno said:
Yes Dawn, that is the one, did another google search and found the telegraph review.
Click to expand...

I can verify it is very, very nice, bought 6 bottles the other day - only 4 left hic, hic, hic :lol:

Tastes even better because I get discount at Waitrose :thumbs:
 
cambsno said:
Couple of questions for those that know their plonk!

- A month or 2 ago, I read 2 or even 3 reviews for Champagne, and they all raved about a Waitrose Champagne, which was made by Heiderseck (I think) and was rated better than the rest. Cannot remember what champagne it was though as there seem to be a few different types.

- Looking for a nice red wine too. Not much of a red fan but do like the odd glass around Christmas. I dont like the rich, heavy reds, probably a slightly lighter one, find that many have too much tanin for me. Of the popular grape varieties, which are the lighter ones - have a feeling Pinot Noir may be one?
Click to expand...

Can I make a suggestion - pop into a good off licence (like oddbins) and read them you opening post. Ask them to put together a mixed case and some quick tasting notes - this will really help you zone in on the wines you like.
 
Hodders said:
Can I make a suggestion - pop into a good off licence (like oddbins) and read them you opening post. Ask them to put together a mixed case and some quick tasting notes - this will really help you zone in on the wines you like.
Click to expand...

A good idea, but rather than Oddbins try either Cambridge Wine or Bacchanalia, both on Mill Road:

http://www.cambridgewine.com/index.asp

http://www.winegod.co.uk/

If you are ever in BStE I can happily recommend Thos Peatling; I used to work for them! :D

http://www.thospeatling.com/
 
Try Majestic Wine Warehouse, if you have one near you. I have always had good service, good advice and a very wide selection. Prices are good and they have wines on tasting.

Every time I go they even load the car for me.

For a lighter red wine try Fleury.

Ken
 
cambsno said:
- Looking for a nice red wine too. Not much of a red fan but do like the odd glass around Christmas. I dont like the rich, heavy reds, probably a slightly lighter one, find that many have too much tanin for me. Of the popular grape varieties, which are the lighter ones - have a feeling Pinot Noir may be one?
Click to expand...

Personally I would avoid anything Aussie. The vast majority of Aussie reds these days are just heavy, crude and oaked to death and come out of the bottle screaming "G'DAY MATE!" while whacking you over the head with a dried kangaroo pizzle. There ARE some good Aussie reds still around but you're unlikely to get them from a supermarket.

Have a look at a Beaujolais Villages such as Julienas (these are NOT "nouveau" and of a quite different order). The red grape of the region is the Gamay and may well be what you're looking for.
 
Nikon Ken said:
Try Majestic Wine Warehouse, if you have one near you. I have always had good service, good advice and a very wide selection. Prices are good and they have wines on tasting.

Every time I go they even load the car for me.

For a lighter red wine try Fleury.

Ken
Click to expand...

:agree: about Majestic. Great service and never had a duff bottle from them.
 
cannot comment on red wine as I like them as thick and heavy as they come..

and I am no champers expert either but in my work have drank tons(and tons) of the stuff and I must say the absolute best I have drunk is Laurent Perrier Rose and being a Rose I think it may be right up your street.
 
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