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Big Time Rip-Offs at Woolworth’s Bottle Shops





  • 2019 Sassicaia $595 delivered @ Vaucluse Cellars - 2 left
2019 is considered one of the best vintages ever (alongside 2016, 1988, 1985), rated 98-100pts by almost all critics
 
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ChatGPT and wine

 

With my eyes fading I decided to look to give away my copy of Wine Grapes (print getting slightly too small) to a friend who has just started her wine joujrney and replace it wioth a digital Kindle version. So, for all the wine nerds out there, there's a fabulous opportunity to purchase Jancis Robertson's Wine Grapes book in Kindle form for only AUD$29.99 from the australian amazon site. There's a serious discontinuity on prices between AU and US sites.

Amazon AUS Page
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Amazon USA Page
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This is a fantastic series for anyone into wine.


 

ChatGPT and wine


But now owned by Endeavour which is a worry.
 

But now owned by Endeavour which is a worry.
Despite the prophets of doom, quality has been maintained at all of these wineries, perhaps even improved. Indeed, Bicknell is very positive about his new owner, pointing out the investment they have made in new equipment—such as an expensive optical grape sorting machine—and in viticulture.
Endeavour seems a benevolent proprietor, not interfering with its wineries. Bicknell says of his bosses:
“They haven’t been telling me what to do. They don’t get involved.”
 


 
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Was on clearance at twc at $50 a bottle.
which one and when?

 


Whilst I missed having the 30yo Lustau VORS Palo Cortado a couple of days earlier (my favourite sherry style)

 


which one and when?

The high sands grenache. I suspect a momentary mispricing.
 
Words of Wisdom from David Farmer.
:cool: Fire away!

Wednesday Reflection.​

What is the significance of the alcohol percentage in wine? Consider this. At the Decanter Wine Awards 2023 they judged 18249 wines and the highest pointing reds, the best of the best, averaged 14.5% alcohol. Now I have written more words about wine than any other writer though this has been advertising copy.

For 47 years I have told customers that if you want a tasty wine at a reasonable price make sure the alcohol is at least 14.5%. Why? Because you must have ripe grapes, full of flavour and sugar to create rich, full-bodied wines. The point. You cannot create a full flavoured taste from grapes producing low alcohol.
 
Words of Wisdom from David Farmer.
:cool: Fire away!

Wednesday Reflection.​

What is the significance of the alcohol percentage in wine? Consider this. At the Decanter Wine Awards 2023 they judged 18249 wines and the highest pointing reds, the best of the best, averaged 14.5% alcohol. Now I have written more words about wine than any other writer though this has been advertising copy.

For 47 years I have told customers that if you want a tasty wine at a reasonable price make sure the alcohol is at least 14.5%. Why? Because you must have ripe grapes, full of flavour and sugar to create rich, full-bodied wines. The point. You cannot create a full flavoured taste from grapes producing low alcohol.

Well by definition a full bodied wine is going to be high alcohol. He's being Captain Obvious there. What's next? Going to be telling us if you want a sparkling wine it needs to have dissolved CO2?
 
Well by definition a full bodied wine is going to be high alcohol. He's being Captain Obvious there. What's next? Going to be telling us if you want a sparkling wine it needs to have dissolved CO2?
Full-flavoured is not necessarily full-bodied as I understand the terms. What he is saying is Barossa (and other warm-climate area) makers trying for 13.5% reds are mostly missing the mark with leaner wines that lack generosity of flavour. Obviously people are buying those sort of wines as they keep making them, each to their own.

But you seem to be agreeing full-bodied/full-flavoured is good?

Just one old guy's opinion which, as another similarly old guy, I happen to agree with.

Trolling for reactions from the cool-climate / low alcohol wine fans.
 
Full-flavoured is not necessarily full-bodied as I understand the terms. What he is saying is Barossa (and other warm-climate area) makers trying for 13.5% reds are mostly missing the mark with leaner wines that lack generosity of flavour. Obviously people are buying those sort of wines as they keep making them, each to their own.
I agree with you. Full flavoured and full bodied are two different things. My comments were in relation to his state about full bodied, not full flavoured.
But you seem to be agreeing full-bodied/full-flavoured is good?
It's good if that's what you like. I'm in the camp that there is no wrong or right when it comes to wine. It's do you like it or not what counts.

For 47 years I have told customers that if you want a tasty wine at a reasonable price make sure the alcohol is at least 14.5%. Why? Because you must have ripe grapes, full of flavour and sugar to create rich, full-bodied wines. The point. You cannot create a full flavoured taste from grapes producing low alcohol.
 
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