Wine!

Apologies for an error I have just spotted - predictive text.  The wine app is called Vivino not Vivien!

Edited in the original post, but not in the quoted posts.

Best wishes 

David 

Probably just as well. I had a girlfriend in the past called Vivien, a teetotal Methodist.

I downloaded the app and tried it on the two wines pictured below, both of which I can recommend. The Provençal rose Esprit de Burganay, crisp dry, slightly citrusy, typically Provençal. The deep plummy Cabali, very intense, slightly tannic predominantly Garnache, one of my favourite grapes. The app marks it as among the top 5% of all wines in the world.

The app correctly identified both. The Cabali it correctly identified as only available from the Sunday times wine club. The price though was £1 more than what you can presently get it for, which is £8.99.

The rose it said was available from Ocado, Telegraph wines and the Drinks cabinet. Although we have been buying it from Waitrose for over a year. So I assume companies probably have to pay to be listed and Waitrose doesn't. Currently it is £7.29 from Waitrose, a third saving on the full price.

The app seems very good though and I will keep it on my phone. The reviews for these two wines generally very much mirrored my opinions. Incidentally there is also a Mud House Rose, which is a very good substitute for the Provençal version and often less expensive.

Mud House SB currently £6.99 at our local Spar

Glad you enjoyed the app Steve.  I don't know if retailers pay to advertise, but I guess what you get out of it is just what people put into it.  I like the way you can take a picture of the wine label and the details of the wine comes up.

The person that introduced me to the app used it in shops when deciding what wine to buy.  They would take a quick photo and quickly read through some of the reports.  If I dI'd that I'd spend the whole day deciding.  😂 😂 

David 

Two i have grown to like are Mcguigan Black Label (Shiraz or Merlot) at £5 to £6 it's something that grows on you I used to enjoy a brew by  (Lisa Mcguigan) called "Tempus Two" but you cant get hold of that now,for a cheaper brew try Lindemans "Tollana" only £4.50 from Asda.

Steve

I'll look out for the Mcguigan Black label.

David 

Try Morrisons,David they sometimes have it marked down. Have seen it in B&M at reasonable price,if you go for the Shiraz check the label because they do a "Red" same label not quite as good!!!.

Steve

Will do Scott.  I have to say, I'm more of a Merlot/ Cabint drinker than a Shiraz, but I'll see if I can get along to Morris ons soon.

David 

A few years back we went to the Mosel - one of Europe’s best motorhome + bikes destinations. It seemed that almost every village and town we visited was holding its wine festival while we were there. None of our friends believed that this was a series of coincidences though it truly was. We are about to go again and this time there will be no element of chance - I have a list of all the festivals and dates and rough itinerary planned.

If like me and millions of other British wrinklies you were introduced to wine in the form of Blue Nun, Mateus Rosé and Lutomer Riesling the idea that Riesling could be anything other than sweet and nasty plonk is hard to shake. The New World lead the way but German Reisling is now IMHO where it should be - at the top (reported to be Jancis Robinson’s favourite varietal white). We love the very dry Riesling Trockens, particularly with spicy food such as Thai or even a fragrant curry. In their “regional promotions” both Aldi and Lidl have had some excellent Trockens around £10 - £12 - much cheaper than this quality of wine would be elsewhere. My advice would be to try one when they next appear. Until their next appearances we will just have to sample them in Germany and bring some home - its a hard life!