talkmagic.co.uk

Rubbish.

That really hurts.

I can't focus, I have a banging headache, my eyes look like I have slept in vinegar and I have a meeting in 1 hour.

Red wine really is the drink of the devil. But so so nice. And more-ish..

Yeah... I know what you mean. I am a red wine addict.

Twice a year a mate and I go over on a 'wine run' to France (Channel Tunnel).

Usually spend between 300 and £500 on fine reds, ranging anywhere from £2 per-bottle up to £15 per-bottle.

Sadly, I tend to prefer the cheaper stuff!

However... my GOLDEN RULE is this:

11% Volume 'table wine': more than 2 glasses = hangover
12% Vol. 'rich': can easily do half a bottle with no adverse effects in the morning
13+% Vol. 'teeth-stainer': Can drink till the cows come home and feel almost 'normal' next day.

Also, keep an eye out for 'blended' wines, as they can be quite dangerous!

Conversely, one of our fave French 'supping' wine is JP Chenet Cabernet Syrah, around £2 a bottle (in France, or around £3-£4 in the UK), nice odd bottle shape (makes an unusual gift) and rarely gives a hangover.

HOWEVER... more recently, due to total fluke, I've been buying 3litre 'boxes' from France, Merlot to be specific.

This stuff is like Adult Ribena, and just slips down the gullet like greased water. Fantastic.

I am sure I'm pickling my innards with all this cheapo wine!

(Sure beats when I used to use Laithwaites—£50-£60 a pop for 12 bottles... eeeek!)

My dad lives in the Burgundy region of France, and every time he comes back to England he brings me a few boxes of their local wine, Chantefleur.

It comes in at the equivilent of 60p a bottle and I can honestly say it is the nicest wine that I have ever drank, much better than so called premium wines at 10 times the price! There is a strong belief that the french keep their best wines to themselves!

The problem is it is so easy to drink that before you know it you're opening the second bottle, and that's when the problems start..

Red wine never seems to bother me at all, a couple of Malibu and cokes though and ouch the next day.

It doesn't normally effect me too much, but last night was a new bottle for us, Wolf blass, and it's made my brain ache.

By pure coincidence my eyes are now the exact same colour as the wine..

Carlos75 wrote:The problem is it is so easy to drink that before you know it you're opening the second bottle, and that's when the problems start..

Amen!

Last time I was over in Belgium, I was given a gift of 2 bottles of 'kept' wine, and it was fantastic. Apparently, costs less than £1 a bottle. You're right about coveting...

Re: easy to drink...

My personal religious stance on this is that if you own a wine stopper—or ever need one—that you're not buying decent wine.

Regular evening routine:

1. Select a bottle. Bring into the living room.

2. After a half-hour (when it's at closer to room temp) open it.

3. Leave it to 'breathe'??? Nah. Pour slowly.

4. Drink.

5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 at regular intervals.

6. Put empty bottle into recycle bin.

7. If necessary, repeat steps 1 thru 6.

Terrible, isn't it.

What worries me is when you get round to someone's pad for a meal, and they say "Oooh, and Chris—we've got a bottle of Red in the fridge ready for you..."

seige wrote:What worries me is when you get round to someone's pad for a meal, and they say "Oooh, and Chris—we've got a bottle of Red in the fridge ready for you..."

Philistines

Some of those winey types reckon that you should put a properly breathed bottle of red in the fridge for 5 mins before pouring. Me, I opens it, I pours it, I drinks it. Job's a good 'un.

The local Thresher has a permanent 3 for 2 offer on all wines, so I virtually live on Gallo Ruby Cabernet. The downside is there's always another bottle in case it gets to "that" time of night where it's too early for bed and you just fancy one more glass... or three.

I'm a bit of a red wine addict too, Rioja especially. I get mine delivered through the door via a 'discover wines' mail order thing.
4 times a year I get 3 bottles of 4 different wines from around the globe (12 bottles in total) and the best thing is if you dont like them you get them refunded. I found it a great way of learning about what you do and don't like as I was a bit of a wine novice. Saying that though I dont spend hours pondering too much on it...too busy drinking it.

Cant seem to get my head around drinking wine in a pub though...it's got to be bitter

greedoniz wrote:Cant seem to get my head around drinking wine in a pub though...it's got to be bitter

I have three definate reasons against this:

1. It makes you look like a woman (Nowt wrong with that, really)

2. It's bloody expensive

3. Usually, it's the nastiest of nasty wines... when there's such pleasures as Guinness, Magners or 'Guest Real Ale' on tap!

I don't really care what sort of wine it is, as long as it's wet and alcoholic, I'm perfectly happy

it's a gentlemen's drink, puts a lady at ease, and gets you absolutely hammered too...there's a good boozer down the road from The Lycheum in aldwych, they have a great selection of reds in there...£14 a bottle...

when i got a round in, i asked for a bottle, they asked "how many glasses..." - "just the one please..."

there was a subtle pause there...then a false smile that i swear had the word "alkie" written on their teeth looking at me...

As Swiss Tony stated....

" Woman cant resist Fine wines, Belgian Chocolates and the manly smell of a pipe'