tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238Thu, 05 Sep 2024 05:15:40 +0000tastingbloggingfrancechardonnayburgundyitalyrugbyclaretmerlotshirazargentinaaustraliabeerbordeauxchilewine merchantsChablisNew ZealandPinotageSouth Africaalsacebarolobonardacabernetcabernet franccaliforniacassiscellarcondrieucorbierescote du rhonefianofitoufoolfrance grenachefrascatigavigermanguigalnebbiolopinotportugalrieslingriojasauvignon blancspainsyrahviognierEncourage, chastise, ridicule and celebrate my attempts to turn a hobby into a life's work.http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)Blogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-6342001332653352188Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:55:00 +00002011-03-10T22:22:24.273+00:00shiraz My initial excitement after receiving my sample bottle of The Opportunist Shiraz from Find Wine&nbsp;was beginning to fade as I struggled to round up five friends to help me review the wine. &nbsp;Modern family life seems determined to make what should be the simplest of tasks difficult. &nbsp;But you can depend on your work colleagues. With a deadline approaching they’ll always muck in http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2011/03/you-can-depend-on-your-work-colleagues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-4554124430829937487Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:03:00 +00002011-01-31T22:04:37.932+00:00beerThe battle between good and evil has been joined. The propaganda peddled by&nbsp;Stan Hieronymus, Pete Brown, and Michael Jackson (no, not the monkey-loving pop freak but the now dear departed Beer Hunter) has proved too compelling and I found myself today stood at the counter of Beer-Ritz&nbsp;clutching these seven bottles of Blegium's finest and feeling somewhat uncomfortable about what's to http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2011/01/it-will-end-in-tears.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-5373749574997581Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:43:00 +00002011-01-31T22:05:12.522+00:00cassisfitoushirazLooking back through my tasting notes I have noticed reoccurring themes and that the wines tend to fall into two broad groups - no, not red or white - but pointy and curvy. &nbsp;What am I talking about? New wines are all sharp edges and pointy lines. &nbsp;This is not always a criticism - the best young wines are &nbsp;clearly expressed and tightly defined. &nbsp;The separate elements of the http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2011/01/one-for-boys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-157964602067795328Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:29:00 +00002011-01-24T21:29:59.636+00:00chileitalyportugalI have been totally underwhelmed recently by the ever increasing number of identikit white wines being offered to the public. &nbsp;New World sauvignon blancs seem determined to make the same mistake chardonnay producers did ten years ago - taking the characteristics which made everyone fall in love with the wine and than amplifying them to Frankenstein proportions. The pin-sharp acidity, http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2011/01/410-must-try-harder.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-3296580506772224566Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:20:00 +00002011-01-04T22:20:01.716+00:00beerburgundyIn 2009 I made 78 separate tasting notes; in 2010 I only made 36. &nbsp;And lets not even talk about the single blog post. &nbsp;What was I playing at for the last twelve months? Lets first clarify what I consider to be a tasting note. &nbsp;These are made by me, siting at the kitchen table slurping and dribbling, before eventually writing my jottings into my precious black book. &nbsp;This http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2011/01/ive-got-note-from-my-mum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-2651445874368057777Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:05:00 +00002010-03-12T13:12:37.958+00:00ChablisfranceI often get asked to recommend wine. I do spend an inappropriate amount of my time reading, writing, and tasting all things wine so I suppose it should be expected, but what does surprise me (and always makes me smile) is the inevitable total rejection of any advice I actually give. A typical encounter usually goes along the lines of: Inquisitor (I):You like wine, what's a good wine. Wine Gums http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2010/03/dont-ask-me-mate-you-already-know.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-4112688153278871297Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:39:00 +00002009-10-07T08:49:04.742+01:00If people are happy with their lot then who am I, or indeed any of us, to comment or pass judgement on their choice of wine? I would much rather help one person who is interesting in expanding their wine experience rather than berating any one group into changing their own lifestyle choices. I sometime find myself defending MY choices with regard to the wine I drink. Simple things can help: http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/10/jamie-goodes-wine-blog-is-educating.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-1771623097804349892Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:13:00 +00002009-10-04T22:12:19.771+01:00burgundycellarfranceThe WSET Advanced Course, or my 'drinking class' as some people disparagingly refer to it, is now in full swing. We are motoring nicely through the French wine landscape: Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Alsace have been and gone in a flurry of ever more confident tasting notes whilst the book-work grind of classifications, grape varieties and terroir rolls on late into the night. I am not, however,http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/10/you-cant-take-it-with-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-812866650834862198Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:07:00 +00002009-10-04T22:42:00.786+01:00bordeauxclaretKeith Floyd died today and without a doubt he was a real inspiration to me. Watching Keith crashing about in the kitchen berating the camera man and clutching a glass of wine before plating up the most delicious looking Pork au Pourve served with a Côte-Rôtie was quiet an eye-opener when your sat in a small Yorkshire mining village at the hight of Thatcher's Britain.Tonight's wine will be http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/09/40-cloves-of-garlic-and-chicken.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-4627072866157482777Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:46:00 +00002009-07-28T22:51:21.345+01:00burgundychardonnayfranceI've just read this post over at Andrew Barrow's excellent Spittoon blog and it seems to exemplify the thrust of Jamie Goode's post regarding the provenance of particular articles, blogs, tweets, and press releases.I have become increasingly sensitive to the ubiquitous nature of media personalities such as messrs. Oliver, Ramsay et. al. Move aside James Brown, these boys really are the hardest http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/07/they-seek-him-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-896594157482109182Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:07:00 +00002009-07-28T22:21:29.073+01:00PinotageSouth AfricaI have bought a pipe and in doing so fulfilled a long standing ambition. I did smoke cigarettes: Malboro Red and/or Gitanes were my weapon of choice (but never at the same time). I also smoked Embassy No.5 but they are the smoke of satan. I stopped smoking shortly after arriving at University. The relationship between drinking and smoking became far more passionate after I arrived at that http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/07/got-any-snout.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-6931784291288919018Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:14:00 +00002009-07-21T23:24:39.417+01:00claretIn order to maintain some credibility to my claim to be part of the wine-blogging fraternity it helps to have something to blog about which is actually wine related, and so my wine notes have become a common feature in our house.Being a student of the WSET my tasting notes do tend to follow a set format: Appearance, Nose, Palate, Conclusion and I can dash one off rather quickly. However, should http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-do-you-do-yours.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-7725879119521993470Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:42:00 +00002009-07-21T23:08:56.432+01:00alsacefrancerieslingI subscribe to about a dozen RSS feeds, all from wine blogs which I particularly enjoy. International, eclectic, passionate and witty and occasionally slightly bonkers they encourage me to keep this thing going. But it must be a summer sun thing because there has been an invasion of Riesling (invasion being the correct collective noun for Alsatian wines) into my Bookmarks Bar. A quick survey http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/07/can-someone-explain-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-8343420943911945088Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:06:00 +00002009-07-28T22:18:27.528+01:00france grenachesyrahI just want to write tonight but I'm lost for inspiration. I don't want to write about what is pre-occupying me (work) because its stopping me enjoying what I love (home).Home is good: my little girl is charming and growing up quickly whilst my new boy is, well, just that. Mrs T is on the mend and between us we are getting ourselves back into some semblance of normality after the upheaval of http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/07/please-leave-your-keys-on-reception.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-9217373616166182098Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:06:00 +00002009-07-21T23:18:20.253+01:00bloggingriojaspainJust how important do I think I am?I have this blog, my blog, and I have said before and reiterate again that it is written with the full expectation that no-one will actually read it. But when they do, well suddenly I get ideas well above my station. I start to believe that I really am the next Hemmingway, an hard bitten reportage hack who will re-write Death in the Afternoon for a 21st http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/07/its-feels-like-everything-is-passing-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-783950388623820991Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:42:00 +00002009-07-29T19:19:37.292+01:00argentinachardonnay<!--StartFragment--> I never really went away, not in spirit at least, but its been three months since my last post. I do, however, believe I have several very good excuses: The boy arrived! William Sonny was born early June to a very thirsty Mrs. T;My little girl turned three and needed some careful managing to ensure all the time we invested in bringing her up as a happy care-free child http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/07/something-had-to-get-me-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-1025287478890327645Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:14:00 +00002009-04-11T21:42:54.603+01:00bloggingOn Monday we're off to Stalag Luft Whinfell Forest for five days with the Murphs. Four adults and three kids; but in truth we really have three adults and three kids because Mrs T is somewhat pre-occupied with the impending delivery.  I know that every day the eternal battle between parents and children will be fought in the Cumbrian woodland: who will tire first?  I have no intention of giving http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-center-parcs-wines.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-455382132912174784Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:23:00 +00002009-04-11T21:23:35.305+01:00burgundychardonnayI have been diligently keeping tasting notes for about three months now and I am finding it a most enjoyable distraction.  I cannot pretend that there aren't times when I want to crack a bottle and just get stuck in but I have committed to using this blog as a learning experience so I'm soldiering on.  This tasting note was taken just after I started and it was interesting to read what I wrote athttp://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/04/tasty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-4984112604291993699Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:27:00 +00002009-04-08T21:59:03.490+01:00francemerlottastingThis is my first live on-line wine tasting so I suppose I should be twittering.  (Note to self to become more web 2.0 at the first opportunity...)Back in the day I used to commute from Yorkshire to London twice a week courtesy of GNER.  Now time has moved on:  National Express (NE) drun the trains and I work in Leeds.  Since then plus the addition of kids means I'm in London about once a http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/04/choo-choo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-7522255186663501796Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:56:00 +00002009-04-01T21:46:09.030+01:00bloggingfoolTHE AVENUE PEA-POD BURGUNDY 1975Surbiton £priceless (enjoyed most evenings on UKTV Gold)Created with passion by the master vintner Tom Good this particular vintage has more attitude than the Geraldine the goat.  On the nose we get masses of legumes underscored with petrol (one is instantly reminded of some of the best 2002 Margaret Valley Rieslings). With the full body of Margo Ledbetter yet http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/04/gallon-of-goats-milk-equals-two-pairs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-4468718599013794953Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:36:00 +00002009-03-30T21:49:48.560+01:00bloggingwine merchantsA large proportion of wines tasted to date have been sourced from the Wine Society, an institution I cannot recommend highly enough.  I am especially fond of my membership as it was a leaving gift, together with a rather nice deposit in my account, from my last company.  Their service, choice, and knowledge is second to none and their mixed-cases are a great route to new wines.As I have http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/03/christmas-in-september.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-210165285492692731Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:05:00 +00002009-03-30T21:35:13.931+01:00New Zealandsauvignon blanctastingI'm still crashing through what's left of the Wine Society's Christmas Ideas Mixed Dozen and I think I've saved the (almost) best to last.DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007The Wine Society (tasted 4 March 2009)Screwcap closure and 13.5%.  Shouts 'class' as the young vibrant clear lemon green wine dances around  the glass.  The first attack of clean dryness is accompanied by tropical banana http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/03/samurai-sword-of-wine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-2012867365936215852Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:37:00 +00002009-03-23T20:50:15.586+00:00germantastingI think I'm being stalked.  Recently, with every turn I have been aware of a malevolent presence - a ghost from my past.  I first became aware of the mysterious lady in blue whilst searching wine articles on the FT under the pretense of designing a business rescue strategy our company.  I can across this article which gives a fascinating history of Peter Max Sichel and his ambition to "set about http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/03/there-was-this-nun-in-bath.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-8852044881325574008Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:10:00 +00002009-03-18T21:59:52.370+00:00bloggingAt a time when household budgets are getting tighter and everyone is being far more prudent with their finances I would say that Berry Bros &amp; Rudd are acting in a cavalier and reckless fashion in offering fine claret at these prices.  For example:1999 Ch. Leoville-Poyferre @ £49.40 per bottle2003 Ch. Lynch Bages @ £53.56 pb2005 ch. Talbot @ £40.75 pbThese are drinkers' claret - this is not http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-know-what-id-be-doing-if-i-had-cash.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719538080590278238.post-6515299175690360732Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:10:00 +00002009-03-18T22:02:37.392+00:00bloggingAlmost a month to the day since my last post.  Technology conspired against me;  after the last post the Dell desktop I've been running into the ground over the last six years gave its hard-drive a final waltz before dying completely.  My last post was it's last post.Around Christmas time I'd started to see the "blue screen of death" and, after shelling out £25 for the privilege, the nice lady http://wine-gums.blogspot.com/2009/03/hes-back-with-mac.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chris Townend)0