Comments on: Another very cool Spanish wine label: Balcon de la Villa, Toro 2006

By: Paul Walsh

Paul Walsh — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:14:36 +0000

Hi Lar,

A note to let you know of a champagne tasting that we at Oddbins are putting on next Wednesday 10th of December at The Ocean Bar. We have been lucky enough to be able to bring along the Krug 1996 which received a very healthy 99 points on wine spectator. The Champagnes are as follows:

Krug 1996
Bollinger La Grande Annee 1999
Veuve Clicquot 2002
Moet Chandon 2000
Billecart Salmon Demi Sec
Bonnet Blanc de Noir
Gimonnet Blanc de Blanc
Laurent Perrier Rose

Tickets are 40 euro and includes wine and food. Hope you can make it. More details available from paul_walsh@oddbins.com

By: Julian

Julian — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:34:44 +0000

Consider me warned. Thanks.

By: Lar

Lar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:32:57 +0000

The UK’s M&S selection seems to be much better too, offering wine which is also available from the wine specialists/independents.

One word of caution, though Julian. I’d avoid the M&S pink sparkling chardonnay that comes with their regular meal deals unless you wanted to make a sorbet out of it.

By: Julian

Julian — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:42:50 +0000

In my limited experience – I don’t drink all that much wine – I think M&S are the ones to watch and learn from if you’re a rival supermarket conscious of being lazy about wine, or if you’re an independent business keeping an eye on the big concerns. The presentation of the bottles is usually all right, and sometimes much better than that, and M&S’s control over this kind of thing can be dramatically effective: I was astonished by the utter pinkness of the rosé section last time I was in the shop (showing a NZ winemaker the ‘Irish market’ in action).

I agree. It’s a good label, one I’d pick up for closer inspection anyway, and the beefy (ahem) Toros are certainly in tune with a cross-section of tastes.

By: vanguy

vanguy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:26:25 +0000

Hi from Canada!
Nice looking label – and cool looking blog.
Am going to bookmark it and check back to read more.
(Saw your comment on WLTV.)
Best wishes,
T
http://twitter.com/vanguy
http://TheProvince.com/liveat5

By: Des

Des — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:13:03 +0000

That’s a pretty cool design alright!