Hi Winos!

It’s been a heck of a week! I said goodbye to my work colleagues for the last time today and we’re moving house on Saturday… all in the name of wine. 2015 will be the freshest of starts as we embark on a new adventure; opening a wine bar and our turning passion into our business… watch this space for more details overt the coming weeks.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a newsletter to be written; so here’s your weekly dose of vinous news and nonsense… enjoy!

#newwinethisweek

You can’t do Christmas without port so here’s an idiot’s (my) guide to the good stuff:

http://confessionsofawinegeek.com/2014/12/16/newwinethisweek-week-50-port-douro-valley/

 

Supermarket wine

I apologise for the need to have a Tesco rant. I usually recommend a wine or two from the UK’s biggest retailer but after my experience of using their Click & Collect service this Christmas, I am refusing to do so anymore. They advertise a 24 hour service, then AFTER payment inform you that it will probably be 48 hours… then take 9 (NINE!) days to finally deliver, with not a single email update in that time. Sorry about that, but given their current predicament(s) I would suggest a little more haste and an improvement to customer service is the order of the day.

But never mind… Sainsbury’s have got plenty of offers to get stuck into:

Plenty of fizz:

Moët et Chandon Brut 2004 Vintage (Sainsbury’s £37.00 was £45.00)

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV Champagne (Sainsbury’s £30.00 was £35.00)

Jacquart Brut Rosé Mosaique NV Champagne (Sainsbury’s £28.00 was £38.00)

Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV Champagne (Sainsbury’s £25.00 was £35.00)

Mumm Cordon Rouge NV Champagne (Sainsbury’s £25.00 was £35.00)

Taittinger Brut Reserve NV Champagne (Sainsbury’s £25.00 was £30.00)

Lanson Black Label NV Champagne (Sainsbury’s £22.00 was £34.00)

 

Some whites:

Brocard Chablis Premièr Cru 2012, Burgundy (Sainsbury’s £14.50 was £16.00)

Louis Max Pouilly Fuisse 2012, Macon, Burgundy (Sainsbury’s £16.50 was £18.50)

Antique Mollet Pouilly Fume 2012, Pouilly-sur-Loire (Sainsbury’s £14.00 was £17.00)

 

Some reds:

Faustino 1 Rioja Gran Reserva 2001, Rioja (Sainsbury’s £14.00 was £18.00)

Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2009 (Sainsbury’s £13.00 was £18.00)

Bellingham The Bernard Series Syrah 2012, South Africa (Sainsbury’s £10.75 was £12.00)

Wine in the news

Rudy Kurniawan’s private cellar could help to repay victims:

http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/587828/rudy-kurniawan-s-private-cellar-could-help-to-repay-victims

Fine Wine Market Shows Signs of Life:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2014/12/fine-wine-market-shows-signs-of-life

Merlot moves on 10 after Sideways:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2014/12/merlot-moves-on-from-miles-sideways-swipe

More from dirty Tesco:

http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/tesco-accused-of-blunderbuss-approach-in-scrapping-supplier-fees/511157.article

The best Xmas wine books:

http://www.wine-pages.com/features/wine-books-2014.htm

Some Christmas hilarity from the Hosemaster:

http://hosemasterofwine.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/the-hosemasters-letter-to-santa-2014.html?m=1

Light relief

These are 10 worst jokes… as voted for by the Irish!

Q: What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?

A: A Christmas quacker!

 

Q: What’s the most popular Christmas wine?

A: ‘I don’t like Brussels sprouts!’

 

Q: What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?

A: Tinsilitis!

 

-Got my wife a wooden leg for Christmas.

-Not her main present, it’s just a stocking filler.

 

Q: Why would you invite a mushroom to a Christmas party?

A: He’s a fungi to be with.

 

Q: What is Santa’s favorite pizza?

A: One that’s deep pan, crisp and even.

 

Q: What do you call a man who claps at Christmas?

A: Santapplause!

 

Q: Why does Santa like to work in the garden?

A: Because he likes to hoe, hoe, hoe!

 

Patient: Doctor, Doctor I’m scared of Santa

Doctor: You’re suffering from Claus-trophobia.

 

Q: Why was Santa Claus’ help so down?

A: Because he had low elf-esteem.

The boring stuff

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Cheers and have a great weekend!

Wine Geek

 

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@winegeekconfess