Thursday, February 28, 2019

Loosely conflating EU membership with KKK membership?

My brother recently shared a spectator post arguing for hard brexit at some ( / any ) cost: 

This, incidentally, is one principled argument for a hard brexit, even if at some economic cost

well Rory Sutherland is a top Advertising Executive a bit of a celebrity with his very popular TED talk defending the sub-standard engineering for the UK side of the channel tunnel i.e. very crudely who cares if the train is slow through kent if we have pretty girls serving a good bottle of Pomerol?

So his concluding paragraph i.e. loosely conflating Ku Klux Klan and EU membership seems rather dangerous and a bit shameful to me

The reason I do not belong to the Ku Klux Klan is not economic. It isn’t because I resent paying the membership dues or the cost of bedsheets and firelighters. No, I haven’t joined because I do not identify with its aims and objectives. If that is reason enough not to join the Klan, it’s a perfectly sound reason to leave the EU.
Rory Sutherland is vice-chairman of Ogilvy UK.

although the headline of this peace does acknowledge that the "brexit dividend" is basically a "brexit lie" i.e. leaving the EU will make the country significantly poorer in the short to medium term.

Interestingly this has been a recurring theme in the Spectator: which although is very anti-EU, is nervous about this fundamental deception of the British people in the brexit campaign i.e. regarding the brexit dividend and 350 million/week for the NHS.

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Andau Grüner Veltliner 2015


Andau Grüner Veltliner 2015

Starting off with some general comments regarding Grüner Veltliner from Vivino:

Very similar to Sauvignon Blanc, in many respects, Grüner Veltliner is a great alternative to explore, 
expressing nuances that will make your nose and palate crave more. Although hard to find, 
sparkling Grüner are exceptionally fun to try.
Dry, delicate, with a tingly finish, this wine imparts significant citrus flavors of lime, lemon, and grapefruit. 
Some Grüner also have a prevailing nectarine note as well. For non-fruits Grüner, you can expect 
white pepper, and slight bitterness of flavors of vegetables like radish.
If oaked, which not all are, you will taste and smell nut and cream. 





Here are my tasting notes

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity pale
Colour:  white:lemon

NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity:  medium
Aroma Characteristics: lemon, apples, minerality (wet stones/salinity)

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium – high (strong mouth watering sensation)
Body: light – medium
Tannin: low
Flavour characteristics: apple & gooseberry
Finish: medium – long with a pleasant tingling sensation

CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good


Note: while tasting I got a strong and very pleasant aroma of black pepper, but I think that was more from my handling of the pepper mill while cooking ratatouille ;) Next time I should taste with a glass with a long stem and not a regular tumbler!






x

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Bon Courage Chardonnay Prestige Cuvée 2015 South Africa

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity/Color: pale/lemon

NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma Characteristics: apples, grapefruit, oak, minerality

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium/high
Body: medium
Flavour characteristics: as per aroma, classic new world chardonnay although something slightly bitter in aftertaste
Finish: medium+


CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good


I found the following vivino review useful:
1) If you like a full blown wooded new world Chardonnay than this is your cup of tea… Gun flint and new oak backed by citrus and some butter. The crisp minerality is nice but the oak is somewhat overdone for my taste buds.
2) typische chardonnay. Grapefruit, limoen, butterscotch, vanille en perzik.
https://www.vivino.com/wineries/za-bon-courage/wines/andres-fame-2015 

Esk Valley Chardonnay Hawke's Bay NZ

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity/Color: pale/lemon

NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium+
Aroma Characteristics: apples/tropical fruit, plenty of oak, something bready/umami, minerality (hint of petrol)

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium/high
Body: medium
Flavour characteristics: as per aroma, some minerality (almost petrol)
Finish: medium+



CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good/very-good


I found the following vivino reviews useful:
1) Light gold in colour. Lightly buttered toast apricot juice. Ripe peach apricot stone oak is there but very much a background rather than primary influence very gentle acidity but still with long lingering finish.
2) Bright pale gold in colour. Nectarine with hint of tropical & white floral notes on the nose. Elegant balanced with finesse rather than a big block buster. Pure fruit white peach little to no oak influence apparent. Well balanced refined with finesse on the finish as well very approachable acidity.
https://www.vivino.com/wineries/esk-valley-estate/wines/chardonnay-9999

Monday, October 17, 2016

Stephane Aladame Montagny 1Er Cru Les Vignes Derrière 2014 - Côte Chalonnaise · France


APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity/color: pale lemon


NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma Characteristics: apples, peaches, lychee, apricot, honey, yeast/some minerality

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high
Body: medium
Tannin: nonw
Flavour characteristics:  apples, pineapple, citrus/lemon, hint of minerality/petrol
Finish: medium/long

CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good/very-good




I found the following vivino review useful:


1) Prominent nose. Medium body wine. Good acidity. Grapefruit, a note of Sesame, Apple, citrus fruits. Long length.
2) Sweet and butter, bit of almond and petrol. High alcohol (13%). 

https://www.vivino.com/wineries/stephane-aladame/wines/montagny-1er-cru-les-vignes-derriere-2014 

J. Lohr Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir - Monterey California

APPEARANCE

Clarity: clean
Intensity/color: Garnet with long legs


NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium
Flavour characteristics: red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), some spice (white pepper) and leather on the nose, oak/toast
Aroma Characteristics: fruits, flowers, spices, vegetables, oak aromas, other

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium/high
Body light/medium
Tannin: medium
Flavour characteristics:  red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), mushrooms
Finish: medium

CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good/very-good



I found the following vivino reviews/comments useful:

Hey hey its time for Monterey! Continuing the quest to discover great American wines. This pinot is on the sweet side with a plum texture - slightly chilled quite enjoyable with our bangers and mash dish tonight. Aromas of rose petal strawberry and white pepper with a smokey finale. Not too complex imo but then again not expected at this price point for a Californian wine. 84 points.
https://www.vivino.com/wineries/j-lohr-vineyards-and-winery/wines/falcons-perch-monterey-county-pinot-noir-2014

and

Pinot Noir reflects its terroir, or place of origin, more than just about any other variety. That's certainly part of its broad appeal, and right now, there is revolution happening in California.
...
Richer Pinot Noir, from warmer regions like the Russian River Valley tends to exhibit more dark fruit, in general, they are fuller wines with greater concentration and higher alcohol, up to 15% ABV.
Pinots from cooler regions like Sonoma Coast are lighter-bodied and display more red fruit, floral notes and have brighter acidity, often with a dash of minerality. Alcohol percentage and even the color of the wine can clue you in when shopping.
Interesting facts: “Sideways” catapulted California Pinot Noir to stardom, since the release of the hit movie in 2004, Pinot Noir production has grown by a whopping 81%.
https://www.vivino.com/wine-styles/californian-pinot-noir

Charly Nicolle Les Fourneaux Chablis Premier Cru 2013

APPEARANCE

Clarity: clear
Intensity/Color: pale/lemon


NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma Characteristics: apples, citrus, peaches, oak/vanilla (toasted barrels … hints of caramel), white pepper


PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high
Body: medium
Tannin: none
Flavour characteristics:  green apples, lemon, minerality (earthy)
Finish: medium/long


CONCLUSIONS
Quality:very-good (will probably get even better over next 1-2 years)


I found the following vivino review useful:

1) Classic butterscotch and vanilla on the nose (although very light), but heavy citrus and minerality on the palate. A lovely tartness on the finish. For me it lacks a certain elegance, but it's a good Chablis by any measure.


2) Clear light straw color. The nose showed clean bright citrus. On the palate the wine confirmed the citrus notes with a gravel/rocky finish. A very classic Chablis