Even though I don't like the stuff I view this as a good result

WINE TALK
1

Morning all,

There is a wine-merchant (who shall remain nameless) here in Blighty that I must order from about once every six weeks. I do this even though I have been at the receiving end of countless cock-ups made by them. Once I was sent the wrong wine four times in a row before they finally got it right. They have missed innumerable promised delivery dates, and even when I have paid extra for next-day delivery they usually cannot be bothered to despatch my ordered wines. A bunch of hopeless fartarounds, to be sure. Consequently, I am not going to tell them about their latest mistake.

The partner and I ordered some general drinking wines from them (including the excellent and bargain-tastic Blaufrankisch I reported on yesterday). One of the wines in the selection was a rather well reviewed Cotes du Roussillon which we thought worth a try at £11 (~$18) a bottle. Last night we looked through the case to whip this bottle out and drink it. However, we discovered that, once again, they had made a balls-up and mistakenly sent us a totally different wine rather than the Roussillon. The wine? Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2006. I may generally despise Claret, but scoring this wine for effectively £11 seems to merit the outburst, “Result!” [welldone.gif]

Cheers,
David.

2

Very cool! I have been fortunate to have a few older vintages of Ducru in the past year and really like the profile of the estate. What don’t you like about Claret?

3

Maybe it was their way of apologizing for the continuous screw-ups. Nah. You’re right. They screwed up again. [thankyou.gif]

4

Hello Mike,

I don’t like its price, its flavour profile and the frequency with which flawed wines are made and sold. Cheap Claret is usually too tough, unyielding and miserable to provide any enjoyment (and too many of the cheapies are often badly made). To get to a level of wine above this, where you might even hope for a little bit of fun, you just have to spend too much cash; other wine regions provide more pleasurable wines at lower prices. For sure, the very best Clarets can be stunning wines, but they cost mind-buggering amounts of cash; the bang for buck ratio is too low.

Cheers,
David.
PS. Bordeaux is a recurring theme that I rant about on my wine blog, if you want to read some invective do drop by. [soap.gif]

Randy, yes indeed, the hopeless gits messed up again. If they didn’t have so many interesting wines (and sell the stuff in less than case quantities) I wouldn’t put up with their apathetic attitude to running a company.

5

Well hey, you got a nice Claret for $18! not too bad!!

I was on your blog for a few minutes the other day and enjoyed it. i will be back to read some more!

6

Mike,

Certainly a result, but a top bottle of Burgundy would have been a better result. But I’m not going to complain!

Many thanks for your kind words about my blog. I really do take it as a compliment that so many people choose to read my inane ramblings and seem to want to come back for more. So many thanks to all my readers from Wine Berserkers!

Cheers,
David.

7

David,
In only a few short weeks on this board, you’ve managed to not only double my meager post count of the past nine months, but tonight you’ve introduced me to the terms “cock-up,” “fartaround”, and last but not least, “balls-up.” Seriously, keep posting

8

Hello Andrew,

Having bloody awful insomnia on and off (largely on, alas) over the past couple of weeks has given me much time for writing, hence the posting frenzy on here.

I am sure you’ll find those terms useful in daily conversation. There are some differences between our two versions of English. I recall working with tough forestry types in Alaska who were quite amused to be called ‘old stick’ or ‘old bean’, but reacted violently when I used the construction ‘old fruit’. Similarly, when I was in a somewhat colourful bar in New York and announced (rather too loudly), “Oh I could murder a fag” the glares sent in my direction were so intense I found it wise to leave.

If I may be so bold as to suggest another useful phrase, this time in French: “Bien loché”. It is very useful in tastings and tasting notes of large-scale, lush wines. It means 'Well titted-out."

Thank you for your greeting,
David.

9

Almost makes me want to order some that “well reviewed Cotes du Roussillon” to see if they make that same “mistake” again. Shipping to the States might be a bit high, though. [wink.gif]

10

Hello again Alex,

Indeedy, when I next put in an order from them I’ll boost it with the modest £11 Cotes du Roussillon and see if they really do have the wrong wine labelled with that bin number. If they do I’ll start taking orders from any interested parties…

Cheers,
David.

11

Excellent! Keep us Berserkers posted, mate, and thanks!

12

Hello Serge,

I’ll take that as a compliment, thanks! I like to view myself as a straight-talking Englishman, but sometimes I know I get a bit carried away. I vividly recall saying to one of the many psychiatrists I’ve been attached to over the years, after he questioned one of my recommendations*, “When it comes to wine there is an objective reality out there and I know what it is.” An amusing enough off-the-cuff quip, but I am not sure I believed it even then.

Cheers,
David.

*I have discovered that when you see a doctor regularly (in my case these have been psychiatrists) and they find out you know about wine most sessions will become filled with general wine banter and providing many recommendations. I usually preferred that kind of session to the ones focussed on being mad.

13

Oh Serge, you are much too kind. I feel all embarrassed now. blush

Many thanks again for your kind words, you’ve made my lunchtime much happier!

14

David…you should see what happens when you are the psychiatrist and the patients find out you know a little bit about wine headbang

15

Afternoon chaps and chapesses,

If I may rant (again) this ‘doctors and wine’ thing normally gets me in a slight degree of trouble. If you tell a doctor you are interested in wine (and they are not enlightened enough to ask for recommendations) they will immediately assume you are some crazed drunk who downs bottle after bottle of the stuff every day. Because of the medication I take I have regular liver function tests. When the results of these come through it almost invariably vexes my GP to a quite remarkable extent because, even though I drink, my liver is in rude good health. This is not the result they seem to be looking for; it is as if they want me to be knackered and falling apart just so their little theories about drinkers can be shown to be correct.

I have a very healthy relationship with wine; I love it and it loves me. If people think I am ruining my health by enjoying the stuff they are just plain wrong.

Cheers,
David.