The red wine thread...

Vini

See, I don't really know what "body", "note" or "fuller flavour" actually means. I guess I'm just going to have to get out there and get drunk.

As you can probably gather, I rarely drink wine. So I'd quite like to be exploring the £10 a bottle range and finding a nice tipple that I can actually say I like.

Also, I assume saying "I like Brunello" is the same as saying "I like Rioja" or the like?

Hixs

A good wine merchant will steer you in the right direction. Wine tasting events are good too (if a touch pretentious!).

Vini

Yeah, I'm not a wine tasting kinda guy. I'm the kinda guy that'd rather buy one of every bottle and sit at home in my pants trying it out

Good idea though!

I guess my first port of call is to find someone else who likes Brunello who can say "if you like that, try this..."

Wine Merchant is a good shout too, never been to one, but there's one stocking "local winter beer" that I want to grab a few bottles of, so seems like I can kill 2 birds...!

JFK

If near Northampton, try The Wine Connection, not pretentious.

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Dony

First off, I'm very envious of you living in France. I've spent a lot of time there and haven't ruled out retiring there when the time comes.

According to some French friends, cork/screw caps are more about perception. There's a worldwide shortage of cork, so the French largely keep the cork for local sales and export in screw tops. It's been proven that there is no difference in quality.

I've had a few bottles sent over for Christmas, a St Emillion, Fleurie, Paulliac and my favourite Nuit St Georges (all corked).

Flashy

It’s also been proven that blitzing wine in a blender for 20 seconds works just as well as decanting and airing for hours. Suspect that’ll go down as well as screw tops en France.

JFK

Ill be drinking this later                                                                               

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Hixs

Had a nice 2012 Margaux with our chapon today. Nice full bodied wine from the 'posh' shelf in the supermarket (where they sell the 50-250 euro bottles). It was 17.99 and worth the money I though.  You can get some nice Medocs for 9.99 that are equally as good though. The 'Margaux' name certainly adds value.

binkobonko

Have a look at naked Wines.

Fantastic wine club. Broke my heart to cancel my sub when I stopped drinking earlier this year.

Basically, you make a direct debit every month - you decide how much. And when you want, just order wine. Minimum of six, but free postage if you buy 12.

Thing I loved about NW was, there was no catch. Decided you’re done, but they still have your money? No problem - they’ll give it back. Don’t want to order for a while? No issue - although they’ll send you some of the best marketing emails I’ve ever received, there’s no pressure or requirement to buy. Don’t like a wine? Tell them and they’ll refund you. Broken bottle on delivery? No worries, you get the picture..

Oh, and I don’t think I ever had a bad bottle.

Website is helpful if you don’t know much about wine. I still don’t - but I know what I like when I drink it!

I could go on.

Yes you’ll pay a few pounds extra per bottle. But the quality, generally, is just so good (in my opinion) it’s a no-brainer.

Chester

This is a very interesting thread.  Subscribed!

When I'm not drinking my favourite craft beers, especially Iron Maiden's Trooper (also available in draft if you're lucky), I like a nice bottle of red, except that's probably not what we've been drinking!  There's been some excellent advice here, so thanks for that.  I'll be having a fish around to see what wine outlets we have around here.  If it's like anything else that's specialist, two fifths of naff all, but I'll have a hunt.

Cheers