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Monday night wine

20/3/2016

 
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its all very well knowing what to pair with oysters and dressed crab, but on a Monday night after a rather tough day at the office, it's a case of "what won't break the bank" while I microwave leftover Chinese takeout.
Far be it from me to discourage dry Monday, but sometimes needs must.
There's no need to scrimp on quality simply because of budget, however.

And that's where Spanish wine comes in. Often very keenly priced, but with a great range available in most supermarkets, a decent bottle around £7 is usually forthcoming.
To save further, one must plan ahead. It's been a very long time since Purple Teeth thoroughly enjoyed a wine that was sub £6, and Ars Romantica Verdejo was just such a wine.



Sauvignon Blanc drinkers will love its zesty citrus notes with ripe peach and mouthwatering acidity. Gift givers will love the label which is quite attractive. Wine buffs will appreciate that it's from Rueda, the zone best suited to the Verdejo grape. And almost everyone who likes white wine will enjoy it's fruity ripeness, leading the uninitiated to describe it as sweet, even though it's technically dry.

The budget conscious will love the price. Under £3.50 a bottle!

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Yes, there is a catch. You'll have to order it online and pay for shipping. From Spain.

But, time it right, and buy a selection of different wines and you'll find that it still teaches you at roughly £5 a bottle or less.

Mr Purple Teeth described Ars Romantica as an entertaining wine with pineapple chunk and and grapefruit on the finish...  I thought it was amazing value,


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I've been using Vinnissimus.co.uk since late last year to source the bulk of my Spanish wines and sherries. If you know exactly what you want and are happy buying around 18 bottles at a time (they can be mixed), there are some great bargains to be had.

Another favourite of ours, an Albariño that would set you back around £17 at Berry Bros can be yours for under £10 shipped.


Vinissimus is probably not  for the casual wine buyer who drinks perhaps 5 bottles every month or so. But if your household often buys 12 bottles at a time, and you enjoy Spanish wine first and foremost, you'll probably be tempted to join the mailing list. Await a special offer on shipping and stock up.
Tried and tested by me, the wine will arrive in about a week by UPS and is very well wrapped. I've now had three deliveries with no problems so far.
Enjoy my little secret, and let me in on any secrets of your own...

Cheers!

"Virtual" Shiraz

14/3/2016

 
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Attentive readers will know that since late last year, Mr Purple Teeth and I have been challenging our horizons with #virtualtravel #armchairadventures.  We've experienced some fantastic wine and food simply by selecting a couple of numbers to represent a latitude and longitude then using the power of the internet to help us "explore".  ​
Where we can, we try to select appropriate food and drink, to help us experience what the place might offer, were we to visit for real.  Basically, it's a mini-holiday without leaving the comfort of your home town.

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Shiraz has long been a favourite at Chateau Purple Teeth, but tonight's Shiraz was a very different kind - an alcohol free wine blog!

As unlikely destinations go, Shiraz in Iran is right up there in terms of being not likely to visit.  That makes it ideal for #virtualtravel. The Islamic government have all but eradicated alcohol from Iran, therefore, we selected to visit Shiraz on a day when I'd had a migraine and didn't feel too aggrieved about having a night off the sauce.

It looks amazing.  We watched this documentary to explore Iran as far as a tourist can.  From this, we decided that Tehran, Esfahan and Shiraz look like interesting places to visit, though the lack of wine means they're unlikely to ever make it to the top of our list...

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Shiraz is the capital of Fars Province in and is one of the oldest cities of ancient Persia. It has a population of around 1.5 million and sits in the southwest of Iran on the seasonal river, Roodkhaneye Khoshk.
​itself is not the home of the Shiraz grape, whose origins are felt to lie in the Northern Rhone, where the grape is known as Syrah.  In fact, when Shiraz wine was produced (and it was reputedly rather good) it was actually white, and could be either dry or sweet.  

Based on what we could rummage up, we created a kind of grilled chicken kebab, but served with white rice with mixed dried fruits and some nuts, along with a salad which was predominantly made of fresh coriander, then added pomegranate seeds for good measure.  

If I say so myself, it was delicious.  We chose to pass on the drinks ideas we'd found in wikipedia, as salted yoghurt mixed with sparkling water didn't seem like a fitting Sunday night beverage.  Feel free to try it yourself. 

​

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After eating,  we watched the excellent film Argo about the siege of the American Embassy in Tehran. Hardly the most representative way to learn about Iran, but Ben Affleck is great in the movie and it's worth seeing.  Instead of movie night popcorn, we treated ourselves to the finest pitted Medjool Dates.  They are basically toffees your doctor would approve of, and were a fitting end to our Iranian #armchairadventure.

Our next virtual destination is North Dakota, and we've been stalling, since that region too, is not exactly famous for wine and cuisine.  But we shall report after our trip.  Meanwhile, we're desperately trying to find some wine from Germany's Baden Wurttemberg, the sight of the next "trip".

We'd love to hear what you think of our #virtualtravel on our Facebook page, or, leave comments on the blog below. 

Cheers!

Negroamaro

14/3/2016

 
PictureNegroamaro by M&S (13.5% abv) £7.50
Eagle-eyed readers have spotted a preponderance of Marks & Spencer wines being reviewed at the moment.
I make no apology for this, since

a) they're currently offering 20% off any 3 bottles, and

b) on my particular sorry excuse for a High Street, there are no independent wine retailers offering anything like the variety I can find at M&S right now.

Life in the Home Counties - it's all #middleclassproblems and #firstworldproblems
​
I do buy a fair amount of wine online, but I know most of my readers prefer to pop into a shop and pick up their supplies in ones and twos, rather than by the caseload.

So it's back to M&S for the latest "unusual" varietal.

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It isn't often we indulge in Italian wine at Purple Teeth HQ, and when we do, it's usually to pair with Italian food.

Tonight's March rains and the ongoing saga of my lack of a floor had me craving comfort food, so lasagne and garlic bread beckoned.
As far as I'm concerned, garlic isn't a friend to wine. It is delicious but overpowers all that it touches, so I tend to avoid opening "the good stuff" when I'm envisaging a garlic-fuelled meal.

The Negroamaro was the right choice on 3 counts:
1) £7.50 (so currently £6.00 if buying any 3 bottles
2) It's an Italian varietal we've not reviewed before (& one Mr Purple Teeth has probably never tasted)
3) It's Southern Italian. The usually means the wine is a bit more  full bodied with black fruits and spice, rather than light-bodied cherry flavours.

This is just what Mr Purple Teeth seeks in a wine, and if I can't pleased the one punter at home, what hope have I got of recommending great wines to you?
​
Would it pass the taste test?

Relatively simple, as you'd expect for a wine at this price point, it's appealing and great value. In fact it's won a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge.  Having sat in on judging panels, this made it stand out for me.  I know how good a wine has to be to get a silver medal.  Even those of us in the know can be swayed by awards...

It was full-bodied yes, but with a really good level of juicy fruit making it feel lighter and more refreshing than many reds.  I hate to use the term "easy drinking" , as it was more than just fruity.  But the consistency, with not a lot of obvious tannin, felt easier to swallow than some full bodied red.
On the initial tasting there was rich plum and blackcurrant notes & yes, some spice with a hint of bitter cocoa on the finish. It's more than just fruity but easy and cheap enough for Tuesdsy night quaffing. The lasagne was not upset by it's partner in waistline crime.  It cut through the rich oiliness of the pasta and stood up to the test of the garlic, and in my book, the silver medal is merited.

Mr Purple Teeth felt it had a smoothness but not the thickness he associates with a full bodied wine. He was seriously impressed with the price point, though - @as drinkable as fruit juice but remarkable if you pay [email protected]
His rating: an excellent Tuesday night wine and definitely buy again.

We'd love to hear if you've enjoyed this Negoramaro, or any of the other wines we've recommended. Feel free to leave comments here, or on our Facebook page.
Cheers!

Clos de los Siete

2/3/2016

 
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It has been a while since I had Clos de los Siete. But you never forget your first time. Back in the early days of my time in Berkshire, a lovely lunch at L'Ortolan, a ridiculously overpriced white, and this great value Malbec blend from the Uco Valley, Mendoza, the heartland of Agentine Malbec.

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This week, I saw it in Sainsbury's with a special price reduction taking it down to £12.99 - great value for a Malbec of this quality - normally £15 (or £15.75 at Waitrose Cellar).
Rich and velvety, with deep cocoa tones on top of intense plums and blackberries. There's a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot in the blend, adding some spicy notes.
Ironically for a wine that would be wonderful with a slab of chargrilled cow, it's suitable for vegans.

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From the back label: Clos de los Siete is an oasis comprised of seven vineyards in the foothills of the Andes, south of Mendoza. Managed by Michel Rolland, Clos de los Siete is a venture bringing together a team of men and women who share a passion for wine and for Argentina. Clos de los Siete benefits from their extensive knowledge and their commitment to create a truly great Argentinian wine. Particular care has been taken with the viticulture, vinification and maturation so as to obtain the essence of this rich terroir and the noble varieties where Malbec rules. A new star is born: with seven points and symbolising ambition and conviction.

The critics agree. The 2012 vintage has been highly lauded & I can see why. If only I'd had the patience to hold on a while longer...

If you see it on offer, treat yourself to this and a chunk of ribeye. I will be treating myself to another bottle or two - it's very Purple Teeth.
Cheers!

​

    Purple Teeth

    My name's Heather and I've been enjoying wine for over 20 years. I'm the 2013 winner of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Rhone prize for oustanding students at the advanced level.
    My mission is to share my passion for the myriad varieties of fermented grape juice, hopefully inspiring you to try something new, or to host  a Purple Teeth wine party in your own home or business.

    My blog mainly features wines you should be able to find on your local high street or online, and occasionally, I will review restaurants, travel and other forms of alcohol, since my qualification covers spirits too.  I believe it's important to enjoy the calories and the cash we spend on alcohol, and I hope my guidance can help you reduce the risk of making a bad buy.
      
    When I'm not drinking wine, you'll find me on the dance floor where West Coast Swing is my dance of choice. Socialising with the friends I've made there from all over the world has also brought me new adventures in alcohol!  And just in case you're interested, I also write a blog called Confidence Within.  You'll find it at heatherharrison.weebly.com


    Remember to enjoy wine sensibly...
    For a woman, 2-3 units per day is the recommended maximum allowance.  This equates to around one standard "pub measure" glass of wine:
    175ml of 13% alcohol wine is 2.3 units (and a scary 140 calories).  
    You'll find all the facts you need about safe, moderate drinking at the www.Drinkaware.co.uk site. 
    Purple Teeth supports safe drinking. Never drive or operate machinery after drinking alcohol.

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