The HeXus goood wine thread

[0iD]

Just a thread dedicated to any wine you've tried that you'd like to recommend to others. Any colour or price range, just something you've enjoyed & you'd like to share with others. Especially in the build up to chrimbo.

To get the ball rolling, picked up La Piazza Sicillia 2005 Nero d'Aavola from Morrisons last week, on offer for £3.99. Now at that price I didn't have too many expectations, but it wan't bad. Definately benefited from being let to breathe a bit. 2nd day was a lot mellower. Nice, dark & frity with a slightly tart residual flavour, was good with today's family roast.

But my fave of this year was Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon. Had this a couple of times in Germany this year, a trully beautiful red. Again, this benifits from being warmed a little & being left to breathe for an hour or so. It just rocked my world

*edit* the 3 o's in the title is to combat the weird bug that wont let you post the word good in the tread title

[RavenNight]

Ravenswood - Zinfandel

Normally about £7-£8 but occasionally on offer, incredibly rich, smooth fruity red. Very full bodied. Absoloutly fantastic with steak!

[herulach]

Black Tower, most underrated sitting in with a film wine ever.

[Zathras]

Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. Quite a fruity red, and at £30 a bottle one for special occasions.

[Honest]

Cono Sur - Pinot Noir Reserve

Well balanced fruity, fairly light. really excellent wine for the money usually around 7 but quite often on offer

[Zak33]

Cono Sur -

tacky name though

[0iD]

You cant's judge a wine by it's label

[herulach]

You cant's judge a wine by it's label

what if its chateu morri-son? Always thought morrinov vodka was genious, if ever so slightly nonpc.

Anyway, back on topic. Anything you're paying a decent chunk of wedge for is usually halfway decent, but in terms of bargain wine (which is all I get unless work are paying) Piat D'Or is pretty damn good. Really drinkable, usually costs about 3.99 or a pound in france, bloody rip off merchants.

[BigFatCat]

For about £6, Casillero del Diablo Viognier is quite nice too.

[Brucelles]

I had a case sent to my daughter from Virginwines.com recently. She raved about it so much I had one brought over here a couple of weekends ago. Basically, I paid just under £40 for 12 bottles of Chilean boutique wines delivered ; six of each. The reds were predominantly Shiraz and the whites tended to be sauvignon blanc. They were all individual enough to be notable, the reds all rich and juicy, with mellow tannin and the whites generally crisp and joyously acidily fruity.

I recommend it heartily, for £3.30 a bottle at one's door. It's probably a bit of a loss-leader, but if you only buy one case you can't go wrong.

[Lee H]

Any moscatel de Valencia from the usual super and not-so-super markets.

If it's cold enough it actually goes down a bit too well.... just be warned

[nichomach]

Old Tblisi - a cracking, potent red, £4.99 from Ocado, who also do Firebird Legend at £4.99, a very nice Cab Sau. Jacob's Creek Chardonnay/Pinot Noir sparkler.

[Mrs Hex]

Blossom Hill Zinfandel - sweet rose bloody good with most white meat/fish dishes.

You can't beat a decent Cava, and I like freisnet, and something random from Spain that the woman in the wine shop recommended

Not really a red drinker, but Baron De Vallery from the Gehardts vineyards is lush.

[Honoop]

Banrock Station Sparkling Red Shiraz

Really got into sparkling wine just recently, since I've adopted the attitude that there is no point saving it for a special occasion! And yes this is a sparkling RED, but once you get over the weird sensation its actually really nice. I shall be getting some in for Christmas. It's usually about £8-£9 per bottle.

[nichomach]

Sounds good, Honoop - I've had red and rosé champagne which was nice. Bought from any particular retailer?

[Honoop]

Nope, they sell it in my local Somerfield and I believe Sainsbears do it too.