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I'm a wine-lover too, but I got a real put-down at a wine-testing on Waiheke Island last year.
The woman in charge started by saying, "Who here has their coffee strong and black, and likes brussel-sprouts?"
I was the only one who put my hand up.
She then said, "These first two wines will be lost on you. You have fewer taste-buds per square-centimetre than some people, so these wines will be too light and delicate for you."
It IS true I prefer tastier "rustic" wines.
The NZ pinot noirs are excellent - but only if you pay at least $25 a bottle. I find the cheaper ones thin and insipid.
It's those limited taste-buds again!
We still prefer Italian, Spanish and French to the Aussie stuff, because we both enjoy drier wines Some of theirs are completely over the top in terms of richness.
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I’m an Anglophile, so I have to deride the French which I do, I just don’t get on with them end of.
Yes there for me is a fine line in following the hype and with it paying the silly amount against paying a fair enough price to get a decent enough one.
Being a careful sort of chap with my money I edge to the lower end ish pricing to trial and move up as necessary .
A Barbera and a Dolchetto are cases in point as out in Italy as you both know these are far cheaper than in UK . So when I tried these and went for what I thought on balance was a decent price the Barb was well - decent But the Dolch disappointed . However when I raised my standards upward the Barb became extremely good and the Dolch very good .
These are base point wines , but good enough for me as a East Lancs chap.
Nebbiolo was kept for special occasions.
You gets what you pay for , big time (up to a point).
Depends also how deep your pockets are🙄
I was quaffing gallons when working out there. 🤪 . Yes, quaffing is the term I would use ( as a wino 72 😂).
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The wine thing has got a bit more problematic for us, anyway.
For the last five years, my wife has had a major problem with migraines.
She is now on some brilliant pills which have all but solved the issue, but the downside is that she can only have a few sips of wine.
That means I have to drink the rest of the bottle. which I struggle to do at one sitting.
I drink more beer as a result. There are some very good craft-ales in NZ now, but I do miss a pint of decent English bitter!
Last time we returned to the UK, I stopped at the first pub we came to in the hire-car!
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Aucks, most of the wines I drink taste better the next day.
Barbera and Dolcetto are often great value and can be very good.
The most important thing is that any wine you enjoy is good, that should be the only measure.
Despair, South African wines often have sweet fruit but a dry finish, NZ wines too.
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Just had thought (back to a earlier comment from Aucks) on some trip, of wife’s choosing, part of the ‘deal’ was a short event where the owner or mangr of the place gave a sommelier hosting that we attended.
Part way thro he extolled the virtues of a wine, I think of Rumanian origin saying it was very good. Me being the sceptic I am (and residing then with Italians who don’t particularly like Rumanians’) scoffed at it. So he invited me forward to meet his assistant dealing with the wine pouring and try it whilst explains this was so and so and he’s from Rumania😂
Well what could I do? I did in fact tell the truth and declare it was ‘surprisingly’ decent.
Not one I’d buy of course - and I didn’t.
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When I did tastings for any public event some people asked which would be the most popular / best selling wine.
I said you pick one and I'll make it the most popular / best seller :D
We can all be easily lead at some time.
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You’re out of the country, but what about a bouquet of leaves for £6 a pop 🤪
Put your order in with Waitrose before they sell out👍
Or, you could just wait a few weeks and you’ll have more than you can deal with 😂
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I always say Nero d'Avola is usually a safe bet on a pub wine list.
I've just bought one in the local supermarket for 1.9 euro!
Surely destined for the drain ? .....