How do you find a half decent wine?

[Adam4868]

Buckfast?

Sounds nice,is that French ?

 

[PK99]

I guage there are a few wine drinkers here, based on the quality of chat in the evenings.

I don't drink much these days, and when I do, it is rarely wine. Perhaps a whiskey to mark a moment. I have had so many disappointing glasses of wine, I have pretty well given up on the drink. However, I recently found I quite enjoy ALDI's Grande Alberone Zinfandel (~£8 a bottle); it's fairly drinkable.

Does that mean I should try other Zinfandels? Italian wines? Are these helpful clues?

Are there any recommendation systems that could help me try something else?

Can you be my recommendation system?

That's an interesting one... Primitivo is one of the main indiginous grapes of Puglia, the heel are of Italy. While Zinfandel is a major grape in California. But it was recognised some years ago that Zin and Primitivo are actually genetically identical. Some producers in Puglia are now trying to aim at international markets by labelling as Zinfandel. The wine you like is one of those.

So, you clearly like bold easy drinking wines not shy in alcohol levels (14%).

Californian Zinfandel is an obvious candidate.

Others grapes from the same family of wines from Southern Italy are
Negroamara, also from Puglia
Nero d'Avola, from Sicily
(Note these are the grape variety not the name of the wine)

Italy has more variation in wine styles than anywhere else, the hot climate southern wines are a style all of their own, one that I like very much and Negroamaro is up there as one of my favourites.

Majestic normally have a good selection across the types I mention.

 

[Slick]

Sounds nice,is that French ?

I've certainly heard a few speaking French after a couple of bottles.

 

[Drago]

My Mum is a wine buff, so I ask her what decent for sensible money, and she rarely leads me astray.

 

[Levo-Lon]

For me I liked Chilean cabernet.
Italian Chianti And some french reds.

I can't drink wine now as it poisons me

 

[Andy in Germany]

Stuttgart is currently hosting the Stuttgart Weindorf (German text) which is an open air market of local wines.

It goes to Hamburg at some point and they send the fish market to us. Possibly as revenge.

 

[Venod]

Buckfast?

If that should be with a F, I would say no not after a strong red.

 

[raleighnut]

The Co-op do a nice Soave at under a fiver, not highly alcoholic at 11.5 % but lovely and crisp fruit flavour.

 

[Rooster1]

Try them all, hic

 

[swee'pea99]

Go to Lidl or Aldi & buy French reds - can't go wrong. Both have really very nice Cotes du Rhones at the moment - Lidl's is £3.99, which is a stonewall bargain. Avoid new world Riojas and Shirazes and the like unless you want to get drunk quickly and wake up with a pounding hangover.

 

[Paulus]

I have recently started to drink Argentinian Malbec. Waitrose always have some discounted to around £8-£9 from £12-£13. I do enjoy Italian and Spanish reds also. Primativo and Rioja in particular.

 

[Dave 123]

We were in the Auchan supermarket in Calais the other week. Jo was about to put some wine in the trolley when a little old granny tapped her on the shoulder.
Granny shook her head, wagged her finger and pointed at a box of 6 for about €10.
Jo decided to take the gamble...
She only tried it at the weekend...

Very drinkable!

 

[Andy in Germany]

I have recently started to drink Argentinian Malbec.

When you say 'recently started', what do you mean? about half past seven?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Go to Lidl or Aldi & buy French reds - can't go wrong. Both have really very nice Cotes du Rhones at the moment - Lidl's is £3.99, which is a stonewall bargain. Avoid new world Riojas and Shirazes and the like unless you want to get drunk quickly and wake up with a pounding hangover.

New world Rioja??

 

[Adam4868]

Not that I'm any expert on wines,were just finishing of the last of the red brought back from france which was all good as usual.Mostly cote du Rhone.
I tried the organic red from Aldi a few times thinks it's called Torro loco or something like that.Thought it was good for a fiver a bottle.