It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. Reasons too numerous to mention have me thinking that this blog is dead, and it’s so much more convenient to just post on Facebook, Twitter or instagram.
In general, I’ve been drinking a lot less at home, and when one is drinking out with friends, whipping the phone out and taking analytical tasting notes just doesn’t seem as acceptable as taking a quick snap of a wine bottle (assuming there is one).
But in my quest to continue “drinking less but better”, I’ve come to realise that with Mr PT being much more into craft beer these days, I’m finding even opening a bottle of wine less appealing at home. So when I saw a wine that resembled something I’d bought before, but in a 250ml can, I thought it was a good excuse to give it a try.  And the reason for the blog post... I had tweeted the wine and found a lot of people getting interested.  The can format is expanding, perhaps for environmental reasons as much as convenience.  So, here we are.

It has been many years since the “Chateau Maris” Minervois was a regular feature on our wine rack, but I recalled it as a decent wine, and at £2.49 for a third of a bottle of organic Shiraz, I figured I didn’t have much to lose by giving this a punt, even if the “reduced to clear” ticket didn’t exactly fill me with hope... (apparently this is just in my branch).
​Whether the French appellation regulations make this a Vin de France because it’s not in a bottle, or whether the grapes are more widely sourced, I haven’t taken the time to research, but my first observation was that calling it Shiraz rather than Syrah was a sign, perhaps, of trying to appeal to a different audience.

Once it had been in the glass for a while, the wine became far more appealing. It is definitely a simpler Syrah/Shiraz than the Maris Minervois, and doesn’t demand a lot of attention. Simple black fruit flavours were the main feature. It's in balance, and a decent wine, but definitely a simple, drinkable wine rather than one to wax lyrical about.

Mr PT likened it to the kind of wine he used to drink many years ago. I’m not sure the Maris winemakers will see a comparison with Wolf Blass Yellow Label as a compliment, but that’s how he intended it.

It is not one I’m likely to buy again. That's nothing to do with the wine itself. I just can't see a place for it in my life.
It helps with the "drink less" part, but not necessarily the "drink better" element.  Don't get me wrong, I’d be happy to recommend it to anyone who likes to take wine to festivals, picnics and on trains. It is a "good" wine, and if you like the idea of wine in a can, then definitely give it a try.  Believe me though, it'll taste better if you pour it into a glass.

Since my tasting, I've reminded myself that I can use a product like "Winesave" if I want to open a full bottle and drink half of it in a week's time.  I've also purchased a number of half bottles from The Wine Society, and hope that they may help me in my quest to have the right amount of wine, in the right quantity.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on canned wine, and on any "small format" wines that you've enjoyed recently.  More places need to stock half bottles too, so let's celebrate them.

Cheers!

I enjoyed sharing this wine earlier in the week with some new wine-loving friends. It was perhaps an odd choice following a Bordeaux tasting but after all that tannin we were in need of refreshment, and had shared some Muscadet in the restaurant.


I offered white or red, and white was chosen, but... they didn’t want anything oaky. Given I had several oak bombs in the fridge calling my name, including a very fabulous white Rioja, I went into panic mode.


Luckily I’d had a delivery from The Wine Society’s bin-end sale that morning and this was all I had popped in the fridge.


No oak.
But!
Was it really without oak?


Albariño aged in stainless steel, 30 months on the lees and another year in the bottle (before release) plus bottle age, really fooled everyone. There was that body and complexity that oak can bring.
There was intense minerality, refreshing acidity, not much fruit left but some peachy notes. The common guess was oaked Chardonnay.


It was a fascinating way to try Albariño from a pioneer of this style. Being honest, I doubt I’d have guessed it right in a blind tasting either!


Although I really enjoyed it and am glad I tried it, I think for the price, I’d sooner have an oaky Chardonnay or a couple of bottles of the regular Pazo Señorans Albariño, which remains one of my favourite unoaked whites.


Wine is such a joy when shared with people willing to try something different.


Don’t get stuck in a wine rut. Experiment.


Be open to new experiences. If you need help figuring out what you like, a Purple Teeth wine tasting party in your own home could help you try new things with zero pressure to buy.


Whatever you’re drinking this weekend, drink responsibly and enjoy every drop.

Cheers!

At Chateau Purple Teeth we are all about wine. But the recent trend for low and no alcohol drinks hasn’t passed us (or our livers) by.
I can’t bring myself to sample the alcohol free wine and Cava I’ve seen advertised but thought I’d try this 1% alcohol cider (half a unit in this half a litre). It’s definitely recognisable as cider, rather than apple juice, in flavour, but as it’s a medium style, for me it lacks the crisp, freshness I appreciate on a hot summer day.
Luckily it’s not really got going as summer yet! It does, however, fit the bill as a change from my usual “alcohol free” drink, sparkling water. A decent change for fans of cider, and made more delicious by my Riedel O Pinot Noir glass.

A final word from Purple Teeth.
Remember to have a look at the site for elitefridges.co.uk if you’re looking for a new or a first wine fridge. You'll qualify for Free Shipping if you use the code SHIPPING35.
And if you need help deciding what to put in it, I’m here!

Cheers!

Post sponsored by WineRacks.co.uk

With a wide range of materials, sizes and styles available, wine racks are a great way for any wine aficionado to effectively store bottles in their home. Whether you only require storage for a few key bottles, or for kitting out an entire cellar, there are many options to choose from.
We spoke with Wine Racks, UK-based experts in wine storage, to determine the key points to consider when choosing a wine rack which is right for you.

The tour round what looked like a fairly functional Soviet style fortress from the outside showed us highly automated production along with some quaint touches.
There was a nice tasting room with salty cheese for the wine, & chocolate for the brandy tasting. We are no experts but both felt the 7 & 20 year old Brandy we tasted was excellent. The red and white wines were both interesting blends of local grapes we had never before tasted.
They told us there are around 320 indigenous grape varieties.

I've been working at wine tastings for several years now.  Often these are very civilised private parties where I pour and present wines to a small group of friends who are keen to learn about wine, while having a good time doing so.  I love sharing that experience with these wine fans, and would love to hear from you if you'd like to host a Purple Teeth tasting for your own group.

I also really enjoy working at larger "walk around" tastings for the general public and the wine trade.  This hasn't stopped me developing a wry sense of humour, as I recognise the 5 main types of people you Do Not want to be at any wine tasting.  If you recognise yourself below, don't panic.  I have tips to help you blend right in at future events.

Ms “Lipstick Queen”
• Ms Lipstick is very pretty. And she has a beautiful smile. But she’s leaving a trail of wax on her tasting glasses that we will never get off. We are also left wondering if she’s tasting a floral note in the wine, or extract of beeswax from her lipsalve. By all means dress up for your wine tasting, but try to go for a non-waxy lipstick, and blot. 

Mrs Purple Teeth confesses she is an erstwhile Lipstick Queen.  She recommends Nyx Full Throttle lipsticks. They don't transfer too much, and they stay on during the whole day.

​

Mr “Pleasant”
• Mr Pleasant knows what he likes. He’s read the wine list and he’s figured out the most expensive wine we are pouring. He’s skipped the entry level wines and demanded to be served “the big one”. He’s described it as “pleasant”. In wine circles, that’s the equivalent of saying your girlfriend has “a nice personality”. When you’re drinking our most expensive wine, the cult classic, the one we love, the last thing we want to hear is “pleasant”. Hate it if you must. Don’t worry. We don’t expect you to buy a bottle. 

Mr Pleasant can get more from a wine tasting by asking the pourer for insights.  If he can't find the words to describe the aromas and flavours, the host will help by prompting with their own ideas.  
​

Miss “Have you got Prosecco”
• Miss Prosecco knows what she likes. She also thinks she knows what she doesn’t like. She thinks she doesn’t like Chardonnay.
She thinks she doesn’t like red wine.
But she loves a bubble. Except, she doesn’t really.
What she really likes is lemonade.
Sweet Prosecco makes her day.
Related to Mr Beer, we’re not sure why she’s come.
She only wants to taste wines she already knows and loves. Seriously. That’s not the point of a wine tasting. Open your mind and let some of the bubbles out. 

Miss Prosecco could get more from a wine tasting by asking to taste the "fruity" wines, and she'll probably love all of the dessert wines on offer, white and red.

And finally, my insider tips for getting the best from any wine tasting.
 
Wine tasting is fun. It’s all about trying as many wines as you can and maybe learning something new. You could discover a new varietal, or what difference a vintage makes. Perhaps you’ll find out about a wine region, or whether or not oak is for you.

Ask questions. There's no right and wrong.  Although "pleasant" comes close. Don't be afraid to express your opinion. 

Have an open mind, tell the wine professional your likes and dislikes and they'll recommend for you.  

Don't be afraid to use the spittoon. That way you can taste many more wines and hopefully find the wine of your dreams. Hint: It won’t be Prosecco. 
Bonus Pro Tip: Wear black, or at least something that won't stain if your spittoon technique isn't up to scratch.  It's easy to get messy.

Use fizzy water to cleanse your palate between wines, eat the bread sticks or bread, but note that cheese etc will have an impact on the flavour of the wine.  

Take simple notes. If the tasting has a catalogue, simple ticks or scores will do.  Better still take photos of the wines you love with your smart phone so that you can find the wines again later, next time you're out wine shopping. 

Most of all, njoy your wine this weekend and try something new.  I recommend trying wine bars or stores which offer very small samples from oenomatic machines as a nice alternative to a formal tasting.  Eg Vagabond  or The Sampler (both have several branches around London), or The Tasting House in Reading.  
​If your local wine store doesn't have sampling on offer, put yourself on the mailing list to ensure you get notified of any tastings.
And, if you'd like a tasting at home, you can always host a Purple Teeth Party.

Cheers!

I originally published a version of this article for The Grapevine Social. 

It is very rare that I buy a wine at £5.99 and rarer still that I find one worthy of blog post. But as Voltaire's Candide reminds us "all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds".
And so this namesake rosé, and the insanely high UK temperatures, inspired a bout of optimism. This little pink number found its way into my Lidl basket. With 89 points from MW Richard Bampfield, I felt confident that this pink might chase my Monday blues away.


Pleasingly pale, it wouldn't look out of place at the finest of dinner parties, if you can get past the fact that the label doesn't exactly scream class in a glass.
Serve it chilled or even on ice, at your summer parties and barbecues, though, and this cheeky little blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan will bring a smile to everyone's face.


Dry, crisp and fruity, it has more flavour (to my mind) than the Brangelina Miraval rosé which will set you back over 3x the price. And against a blue sky and little fluffy clouds, it looks just as good.
Cheers!

Sadly the "buy 3 save 20%" offer is no longer in place. Nevertheless, I took a chance on what looked like a new arrival.

At £9.99 this 90 point Bourgogne Chardonnay from the hills above Beaune, the part of Burgundy I used to visit when I lived in Switzerland, again seemed like a bargain.
We've enjoyed a few Chardonnay wines in the last week and this more than held its own. With just a hint of oak, the freshness of the fruit meant this worked well as an aperitif and didn't completely collapse under the weight of a confit duck leg with roasted carrots, purple sprouting broccoli and garlic.
I'll buy it again if I get the chance. Whether your preference is towards Chablis or Macon styles, there's something here to appeal.

At a similar price point (£10) with up to 25% discount if buying any 6 bottles at Marks & Spencer, the Honeycomb Chardonnay by South Africa's Journey's End wines proved a hit at a mini blind tasting we held for fellow wine blogger Perfect Friday Wine, in preparation for her upcoming wine exams. It has a little more oak than the Lidl wine, but is still fresh enough to enjoy without food.

Less oaky than the Catena (a regular favourite at Chateau Purple Teeth) it's nonetheless creamy and rounded with a decent body and another good value wine I'll buy again.

Back to Lidl again, I was delighted to restock the Salento Primitivo I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. http://www.purpleteeth.co.uk/blog/a-lidl-tipple
At just £7.99, we have now enjoyed this 89 pointer 3 times and have a few more bottles on the rack. If you like your reds big and juicy, then go grab one. And it was great with that confit duck I mentioned above. #TipsyTuesday is definitely "a thing" in these parts, with side by side tasting of a white and red with dinner. Sorry doctor! At least the bank manager is a little more pleased with me.
Cheers!

A blog drought for months then 2 posts in 2 days, both written & published on the phone while still drinking the wine. It can only mean one thing. Another little bargain for Lidl.
Again, at £7.99 (I paid £6.39 with the 20% discount offer), the Val de Salis Saint Chinian blend of Syrah, Carignan & Grenache was better on day 2, Mr PT advised.

He'd enjoyed the Primitivo a little too quickly and we had to open a second bottle - tipsy Tuesday indeed.
I tasted it only on the day after opening, so suggest decanting or perhaps using an aerator, if you have one. Less dark than the Primitivo but with a little more body, notes of the famous southern French garrigue and a round, taniin structure backed by plenty of vanilla. Considering it was following on from Gambas al Ajillo (served with a white) with epic amounts of garlic, it had enough flavour to cut through. Mr PT also enjoyed it with some vintage cheddar.

You will enjoy this if you like Cotes-du-Rhône wines, softer Shirazes and Merlot blends. But don't leave it too late - stocks are already low.

It appears we have struck gold with our random purchases. But then, our neighbour, Richard Bampfield, Master of Wine, had selected and rated both wines highly. Even we pros follow the advice of experts we trust.

I doubt they will have any of the white I bought by the time I drink it next week, but if you fancy taking a gamble on my luck so far, it was the £8.99 Roero Arneis.
I'd love to hear from you on our Facebook page or via the comments below if you try this or any other bargain recommended by me. Meanwhile, I think Mr PT will be visiting Lidl for the third time this week.
Cheers!