Hi Winos

Your Wine Geek newsletter is back this week and if you’re reading this on Friday night then please raise a glass and wish me a happy birthday! Sorry for being a bit quiet over the past couple of weeks – there are some exciting times ahead which have meant a bit of blog neglect, but I can’t wait to share it with you all over the coming weeks and months!

But for this week you’ll have to make do with the last, and most fabulous post from our recent Californian adventure, and I’m face to face with my nemesis with the latest selection for #newwinethisweek. I have added a new section this week, highlighting some interesting wine events which will be happening over the next few weeks.

So grab a glass and read on… have an amazing weekend and don’t forget to drink well!

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New post

I left the best of California until the end – the visits to Ridge and Kistler are two experiences that will live with me forever:

http://confessionsofawinegeek.com/2014/08/30/ridge-kistler-the-icing-on-the-california-cake/

 

#newwinethisweek

This week was always going to come around at some stage… am I the only wine drinker in the UK who doesn’t like Malbec??

​http://confessionsofawinegeek.com/2014/09/17/newwinethisweek-week-37-malbec-argentina-arrrggghhhh/

Supermarket wine

Let’s kick off with a few great deals in Tesco, including some very nicely priced Champagne if you’re starting to get ready for Xmas! You’ll need to be quick as the offers end on Tuesday 23rd September:

Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label NV Champagne (Tesco £27.75 was £36.99)
Lanson Black Label NV Champagne (Tesco £23.99 was £33.99)
Finest Sancerre 2013 (Tesco £9.99 was £11.99)
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages 2012 (Tesco £7.99 was £10.99)
Finest Tingleup Riesling 2012, Western Australia (Tesco £7.99 was £9.99)
Villa Maria Private Bin Chardonnay 2012, Marlborough (Tesco £7.49 was £10.49)
Beringer Classics Zinfandel 2012, California (Tesco £6.75 was £8.99)

If you’re a bit posh for Tesco and fancy some Waitrose action, then give these babies a go (these offers available until 7th October):

Baron de Ley Rioja Reserva 2009, Rioja (Waitrose £9.99 was £12.49)
Cave de Tain Crozes-Hermitage French Red Wine 2011, Rhone (Waitrose £8.49 was £11.49)
Errazuriz Estate Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Chile (Waitrose £7.99 was £9.99)
Araldica Barbera D’Asti Superiore 2011, Piedmont (Waitrose £6.99 was £8.99)
Domaine Masson-Blondelet Pouilly-Fumé 2012, Loire (Waitrose £12.49 was £15.99)
Cave de Beblenheim Pinot Gris Reserve 2012, Alsace (Waitrose £8.29 was £10.49)
Grey Slate Dr L Riesling Private Reserve Riesling 2013, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (Waitrose £7.99 was £9.99)

 

Upcoming events

There are lots of great tastings going on all of the time in London and elsewhere in the country so I’m going to start updating this section every week with links to upcoming events I think are worth a look:

Thursday October 17th, 7PM to 9PM
Introduction to Quality Wine – £25
Roberson, 348 Kensington Hight Street, London W14 8NS

An informal walk around where you can Navigate the wine world through four themed tables and discover the What, Where, Who and When of wine. As well as tasting 28 wines from across the globe you will receive a comprehensive booklet packed with detailed information on each topic, a £5 voucher which can be used with any £50+ purchase made online or in store and a free Roberson Wine corkscrew

http://www.robersonwine.com/store-and-tastings/introduction-to-quality-wine-162
Wednesday 1st October, 7PM to 9PM
2004 Bordeaux horizontal – £40
West London Wine School, The Wine Cellars, Big Yellow Storage, 71 Townmead Road, Fulham, SW6 2ST

An opportunity to try 8 wines from the 2004 Bordeaux vintage, including second growths Leoville-Barton (one of my favourite estates) and Rauzan-Segla. A great chance to taste wines from some of the great estates in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

http://www.westlondonwineschool.com/product_info.php?id=320

 

Wine in the news

Everything you need to know about the best wine bars in London

Click to access Decanter-London-Wine-Bars-article-Matt-Walls-Nov-2014-issue.pdf

Why you should consider Costco for buying wine – the St Veran is superb too!
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/13/costco-wine-range-fiona-beckett

Jamie Goode reviews the wines from Lidl
http://www.wineanorak.com/wineblog/uncategorized/the-lidl-fine-wine-sale-full-notes-on-all-the-wines

What to drink with oysters
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2014/09/03/what-to-drink-with-oysters-a-pocket-guide/

Good article on the complexities of NZ wine
http://www.argusleader.com/story/wineblog/2014/09/03/new-zealand-wine/15022269/

Fraud in Tuscany
http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/587505/brunello-di-montalcino-producers-to-sue-over-fake-wine

Light relief

How about some birthday jokes… I’ll make the most of it as it’s a big number next year!! And apologies, most of them are truly awful!

Q: What’s the easiest way to remember your wife’s birthday?
A: Forget it once!

Q: What do George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Christopher Columbus all have in common?
A: They were all born on holidays.

Q: What goes up and never comes down?
A: Your age!

Q: “Were any famous men born on your birthday?”
A: “No, only little babies.”

Q: Why did the boy feel warm on his birthday?
A: Because people kept toasting him!

Q: What’s the best way to get a man to remember your anniversary?
A: Get married on his birthday.

Q: What has wings, a long tail, and wears a bow?
A: A birthday pheasant!

Q: How does Moby Dick celebrate his birthday?
A: He has a whale of a party!

Q: What was the average age of a cave man?
A: Stone Age!

Q: Why was the birthday cake as hard as a rock?
A: Because it was marble cake!

Q: What does a clam do on his birthday?
A: He shellabrates!

Q: What party game do rabbits like to play?
A: Musical Hares!

Q: What is a meaning of a true friend?
A: One who remembers your birthday but not your age!

Q: What did the bald man say when he got a comb for his birthday?
A: Thanks. I’ll never part with it!

Q: Why are birthday’s good for you?
A: Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest!

Q: When is a birthday cake like a golf ball?
A: When it’s been sliced.

Q: What do you give nine-hundred-pound gorilla for his birthday?
A: I don’t know, but you’d better hope he likes it!

Q: How can you tell that you’re getting old?
A: You go to an antique auction and three people bid on you!

Patient: Doctor, I get heartburn every time I eat birthday cake.”
Doctor: Next time, take off the candles.

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The boring stuff

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Cheers and have a great weekend

Wine Geek

confessionsofawinegeek.com
[email protected]
@winegeekconfess