Hi Winos!

You’d better make the most of this week’s edition because there won’t be one next week (gasp)! Don’t worry its not for ever, it’s just that I’ll be on a plane to Vegas! How Vegas pans out will determine the quality of wine I’ll be drinking on the following 10 days in California… Au Bon Climat: booked; Kistler: booked; Ridge: booked. There will be plenty of inspiration for a good many posts over the next few weeks.

So enough about the future, let’s get back to the now… happy reading and don’t forget to drink well this weekend!

New post

This is my only non-wine related post of the year… instead let’s talk sausages and beer… Bangers & Smashed 2014 was a blast!

http://confessionsofawinegeek.com/2014/07/20/bangers-smashed-2014/

 

#newwinethisweek

We’re back to France this week for some fragrant red action… ever tried Caberbnet Franc from the Loire? It’s great chilled for the summer:

http://confessionsofawinegeek.com/2014/07/22/cabernet-franc-loire-valley/

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Supermarket wine

As there won’t be a newsletter next week and it is highly unlikely I’ll find a Tesco or Waitrose in California, I’ve included lots of recommendations from all of the major retailers this week.

 

As well as a load of bullshit promotions (Ogio or Hardy’s Crest at half price anyone? Didn’t think so!), Tesco actually have a few decent deals running until August 12^th:

Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV Champagne (Tesco £25.99 was £32.99)

Heidsieck Dry Monopole NV Champagne (Tesco £17.99 was £26.99)

Codorniu Vintage Cava 2010 (Tesco £7.66 was £11.49)

Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier, South Australia (Tesco £7.99 was £9.99)

Finest Vina Mara Rioja Reserva 2008 (Tesco £8.49 was £9.49)

Villa Maria Private Bin Chardonnay 2012, Marlborough (£7.49 was £10.49)

 

If Sainsbury’s is more your style, why not give a few of these a bash?

Taste the Difference Vintage Cava (Sainsbury’s £7.50 was £9.50)

Ascheri Gavi Di Gavi 2012, Piedmont (Sainsbury’s £12.00 was £14.00)

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (Sainsbury’s £8.25 was £11.00)

Taste the Difference Ribera Del Duero 2011 (Sainsbury’s £7.00 was £9.00)

 

How about Morrisons? They’ve got a great deal on English fizz… but not much else:

Chapel Down Brut Vintage Reserve, Kent (Morrisons £16.49 was £21.99)

Yalumba Viogner 2012, South Australia (Morrisons £6.99 was £9.99)

 

I’ve even got some Asda deals for you this week (don’t worry, I didn’t go inside, I just looked on their website):

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2012 (Asda £7.48 was £9.48)

Matua Pinot Noir 2012, Marlborough (Asda £7.98 was £10.98)

Extra Special El Meson Rioja Gran Reserva 2008 (Asda £9.00 was £13.00)

Cave de Lugny Macon Villages 2012, Burgundy (Asda £6.00 was £7.35)

Asda Lugana 2012, Veneto (Asda £7.00 was £8.00)

 

And plenty from Waitrose – if you’re going to buy wine at the supermarket you really should shop here, darling:

Cave de Lugny Sparkling Burgundy, Crémant de Bourgogne (Waitrose £10.49 was £13.99)

Les Andides Saumur Blanc 2011, Loire (Waitrose £6.99 was £8.99)

Triade Fiano/Falanghina/Greco Della 2012, Campania (Waitrose £6.74 was £8.99)

Melini Chianti Riserva 2010, Tuscany (Waitrose £6.66 was £9.99)

Casa Carmela Monastrell 2013, Jumilla (Waitrose £5.99 was £7.99)

 

Alternatively, read my latest article on Aldi and try and find a parking space!

http://confessionsofawinegeek.com/2014/06/08/aldi-wine-exquisite-in-name-and-nature/

 

That should be enough to keep you going for a couple of weeks.

Wine in the news

We can look forward to some low prices on Champagne this Christmas:

http://www.harpers.co.uk/wine/wine-by-type/champagne-and-sparkling/big-discounts-expected-on-champagne-this-christmas/369671.article

Is the Institute of Masters of Wine becoming a farce?

http://www.harpers.co.uk/opinion/blogs/is-the-institute-of-masters-of-wine-fit-for-purpose/369650.blog

Rudy’s case goes on and on…

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2014/07/rudy-defense-statement

The changing face of California… we’ll see!

http://www.harpers.co.uk/people/john-williams-at-frogs-leap-on-the-changing-face-of-californian-winemaking/369324.article

Jancis loves Riesling too!

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/74cc5a5a-8829-11e3-8afa-00144feab7de.html#axzz3810qZTpz

And how about a round-up of wine from the weekend press to finish up?

http://www.wine-pages.com/roundup/2014-07-21-wine-columnists-roundup.html

A great graphic from http://www.winefolly.com for understanding Italian red wine… we need all the help we can get!

Light relief

I’m sure I’ll offend someone but what the heck… I just sure as hell hope I don’t bump into George W Bush while I’m stateside; I might struggle to hold my own in an intellectual debate with the guy. Check some of these quotes out:

 

“The thing that’s important for me is to remember what’s the most important thing.”

“One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.”

“I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn’t here.”

“You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.”

“I’m the commander see, I don’t need to explain, I do not need to explain why I say things. That’s the interesting thing about being president.”

“I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.”

“I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.”

“They misunderestimated me.”

“For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It’s just unacceptable. And we’re going to do something about it.”

“If this were a dictatorship, it’d be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.”

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”

“It’s clearly a budget. It’s got lots of numbers in it.”

“It has come to my attention, that air pollution is polluting the air!”

“There are cameras nowadays that have been developed to tell the difference between a squirrel and a bomb.”

“The future will be better tomorrow”

 

And let’s leave it to the man himself to sum it up just perfectly:

“In my sentences I go where no man has gone before.”

The boring stuff

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Cheers & enjoy

Wine Geek

 

http://confessionsofawinegeek.com

[email protected]

@winegeekconfess