How long can you be away?

I've just logged into my blog after what seemed like a couple of weeks to discover I haven't posted anything since June 2006. Where did the time go? What happened in that time? Well, in that time I've had a son, gained a dog, my mother died and I've had three jobs.....so not that much really.
Anyway, "Monty's Chateau" on Channel 4 has just inspired me to get the old blog up and running again. So, expect some more ramblings about wine, perhaps a little cricket and other such nonsense. Off on holiday next week expecting to try at least a few cheeky spanish reds.

Been away for a while

Unfortunately I've been away from my blog for a while whilst setting up my cricket team. Wine consumption has been very low since my last post although at the races over the weekend I enjoyed a bottle of Tanners Champage from Tanners Wines, Shropshire. Priced at £15.30 from http://www.tanners-wines.co.uk this is a good value champagne.

Washington Wines: Hedges CMS 2003

Ah, at last, the case of Washington Wines finally arrived today from the very friendly wine merchant, Noel Young Wines. I'm tasting the 2003 CMS red from the Hedges Family Estate. It's a nice surprise and an agreeable bottle. This is what everyday wines should be like from the likes of Majestic.
With an incredible clarity its a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (46%), Merlot (48%), Syrah (2%), and Cabernet Franc (2%). This is an easy drinking wine that can be enjoyed on its own.

Portugal

Just back from a week in Portugal consuming wine you probably wouldn't buy at home but pleasant enough to enjoy in the SUn. Portugal is of course, famous for its Vino Verde, a wine which enjoys a varied reputation. A tendency to over carbonate and to use low end grapes from a multitude of growers leaves a wine not entirely taken seriously by the ine industry. Having said that, it is a great inexpensive wine to drink in a hot climate. Casal Garcia is an exapmle of one such drinkable Vino Verde.

On an unrelated note.......

I'm looking for a coffee steamer. You know how on the side of a capaccino maker there's an arm for steaming your milk. You just put the arm into the milk, steam and hey presto.....hot milk. Where do I get one without the capaccino maker on the side. I've found stove top ones but I want an electric one for the office. There's one brand that manufactures them for sale in the States (Capresso Frothxpress). When contacted to find out where I could find one in Europe I got this response (a fairly repetitive reponse reminding me of Randy in "My name is Earl"):

Capresso products are only available in the United States. There are no
plans to sell our machines outside the United States. Capresso products are
only manufactured for use in the United States.

CAPRESSO Online

Chateau Blaignan 2000

I had another glass of this on saturday. I was right the first time around. Don't bother. It has great clarety aroma but the wine just doesn't match up to the expectation of the aroma.

Chateau Blaignan 2000

It's friday and I'm drinking Château de Blaignan 2000, Médoc from Majestic (£7.49). Described by Majestic as "A softly fruity, easy-drinking wine, with ripe berry fruit, smooth tannins and a juicy finish. A user-friendly claret with plenty of charm." As with most wines I've had from Majestic I'm slightly disappointed (apart from the ever excellent Chateau de Sours). It smells better than it tastes. You open the bottle, pour yourself that little taster, take a good nose full, ah this is going to be a good one. You take a sip and it huge disappointments all round. Thirty minutes of allowing it to breath doesn't make much difference. I'm waiting to find that truly good every day wine from Majestic, like bottles I've found from other wine dealers (Corney & Barrow) for one. Again, I wait with anticipation for the Washington wines from Noel Young wines.

Parker points

Just discovered Parker points today - the Wine Advocate Rating System. Let me find out more and look out for updates.
Cheers,
Jack

Chateau De Sours

Last week saw my annual stock up of the ever excellent Chateau De Sours. Unable to get any of last years crop I settled for four bottles of the 2004 from Majestic priced at a fairly competetive £7.99 although they're now pricing it at £5.99 a bottle for 2 bottles or more.
If you haven't come across this rose, then it is a must try. Alot of people still sneer at rose but for a warm spring day, summer lunch or summer evening bbq, you really can't beat it. Refreshing, light and crisp this wine is great on its own or with food.
With a celebration coming on saturday we'll be opening our first bottle of the year. I can't wait to introduce it to the others!
Go on get yourself a few bottles and give it a try.

Michel Desqueyroux

Michel Desqueyroux, Chateau Cherchy, Graves, 2003

Michel Desqueyroux's vineyard Chateau Cherchy, Graves, nr. Pujol Sur Ciron, Bordeaux, France 2003.

Bottle pictured is their Sauterne 2000 we're yet to drink.

The red 2001 drinks very well but unfortunately I haven't yet found a source for wines from this vineyard in the UK.

Michel does run a small operation but he is very welcoming and the red is superb.

Washington (State) wines

This month has been a mammoth wine buying time (for me anyway). Twelve bottles from Majestic, a case from Berry Bros & Rudd and on the advice of the American (my wife) I ordered a mixed case of Washington (State) Wines from Noel Young Wines (http://www.nywines.co.uk/). Out of three orders we wait with barely contained anticipation for the last case - these are newly arrived in the UK this week.

Gordon Brothers Chardonnay 2004
Gordon Brothers Syrah 2002
Hedges Family Estate 'CMS' White 2004
Hedges Family Estate 'CMS' Red 2003
Hedges Family Estate 'Three Vineyards' 2003
Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain 'Two Vineyards' Reserve 2002
L'Ecole No 41 Barrel Fermented Semillon 2004
L'Ecole No 41 Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2004
L'Ecole No 41 Merlot Columbia Valley 2003
L'Ecole No 41 Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
L'Ecole No 41 Syrah 2003
L'Ecole No 41 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah 2003

Drinking notes to follow.

Cheers,
Jack