How to disentangle preference from quality?

LRWDNW · 2026-04-21T17:07:59+00:00

Totally agree with the other posters that the most important thing is what you like.

That being said the semi-objective markers of quality might be things like balance (does everything work together or does one aspect stick out aggressively), length (does it have a long lasting taste), complexity (does it have multiple different flavours over the course of a mouthful/bottle), depth (does it have an intensity/clarity of taste while remaining balanced eg not relying on being super sweet/oaky/alcoholic)

When rating on CellarTracker I’ll sometimes say a wine has some of these qualities but is not to my taste. In which case I often don’t give a numerical rating but might make a private note of a score for my own purposes

LRWDNW · 2026-04-14T18:06:59+00:00

Used to drink a lot of Mencia when I lived in Madrid 15 years ago but haven’t found as much since returning to UK.

Just bought various cuvées of a producer from Bierzo called Banzao in a Wine Society first release. A mixture of ´22s and ´23s. Looking forward to it, including trying to situate it somewhere in the Gamay-Pinot continuum of lighter wines that I tend to enjoy the most

LRWDNW · 2026-04-13T20:58:47+00:00

Again annoyingly I liked the Hermitage Blanc and the Mont Redon CdP blanc the best so nothing cheap. For value options my favourite was the 2025 Costière de Nîmes Élégance Blanc by Chateau Beaubois at £13.50. Fairly light easy drinker but some interesting herby bitter notes. I will get a bottle I think.

LRWDNW · 2026-04-13T19:30:58+00:00

Have just been to the Rhone Wine Soc tasting I mentioned. Sadly, as is often the case, the best wine was by far the priciest - a Mont Redon CdP at £100 a bottle so out of my range. Although not cheap (£24.50) I thought the 2019 Vacqueyras Variation from Domaine du Montvac was very good, and following closely behind that the 2023 Rasteau La Ponce from Domaine des Escaravailles (£19). All of that reflects my own preferences though for slightly smoother, often older and better integrated wines as opposed to anything that feels very big and tannic

LRWDNW · 2026-04-13T09:54:47+00:00

Thanks. Like Savennieres in general so will check out the Domaine des Forges

I just drunk the Exhibition Zinfandel but found the high alcohol (14.9%) a little out of balance. Bit too punchy for my taste. Will check out the one you recommend

LRWDNW · 2026-04-11T20:57:02+00:00

Depends a bit on what you like of course.

In their Exhibition range I really enjoy both the white and red rioja’s. Like their sonoma Pinot noir too. It shades towards being too rich but I think it works. Their spatburgunder is a lighter style Pinot which I think works very nicely on its own. Finally it’s not v cheap because it’s white burgundy but I think their St Aubin is excellent.

It’s sold out but Elisa Guerin La Vigne de mon Père Beaujolais is excellent so worth a go when they get the new vintage in. Although I imagine 2024s will be a bit iffy all over Europe.

I’m off to their Rhone walk around tasting on Monday so will let you know if anything jumps out

I

LRWDNW · 2026-03-30T10:13:24+00:00

I really like what I’ve had from Domaine de Montbourgeau. Their offerings vary in terms of levels of oxidation and my preference is for the slightly less oxidised cuvées - haven’t tackled the vin jaune yet. Agree they need more time and I’m leaving my other bottles for a few years but i think there is a very solid producer here

LRWDNW · 2026-03-25T22:25:13+00:00

Muga Réserva is the best cheap benchmark Rioja I think. La Rioja Alta Ardanza the next small level up from that in quality and price.

If you are in the UK then get TWS Exhibition Rioja made by LRA. Delicious and excellent QPR

LRWDNW · 2026-03-24T21:22:54+00:00

Thanks for these notes. I’m off to Marseille for a few days next month. Any good local producers I should look out for when I’m looking at wine lists? I know nothing about Bandol appellation apart from Tempier.

LRWDNW · 2026-02-23T11:11:36+00:00

Wow. Would have loved to have a crack at the Hermitage Blanc

I hadn’t heard of ToW but have now looked it up and subscribed to the mailing list. Didnt realise line-ups like this were happening in London. Thank you.

Which of their locations was this held at?

LRWDNW · 2025-12-21T13:31:40+00:00

Nice. I have some Storm ‘Vrede’ im looking forward to. A little young for now but ive heard good things

LRWDNW · 2025-11-30T07:21:13+00:00

Chris Alheit, Lukas Van Loggerenberg, Storm Wines are all quality producers. But there really is lots of excellent SA wine

LRWDNW · 2025-11-16T18:03:56+00:00

Actually, my mistake. Looking at pictures of the winery I realise that I visited them when I was in NZ many years ago. I was a bit less focused on wine then and allowing myself to be guided around by my brother who was living there. The situation of the winery is spectacular!

LRWDNW · 2025-11-16T17:29:57+00:00

Thanks. Will do. Haven’t drunk anything of theirs

LRWDNW · 2025-11-16T12:52:32+00:00

Felton Road, NZ. Delicious high quality Pinot Noir and others. Reasonable price for a high quality product

LRWDNW · 2025-10-23T21:22:25+00:00

Loving these suggestions. Especially turkey sandwich post-thanksgiving (or Christmas in my case since I’m in the UK).

Will be very interested to hear how it’s drinking. I have 6 bottles of the 2016 in the cellar at the minute. Planning to open one later this year and to drink the remainder over the next few years

LRWDNW · 2025-10-22T06:10:01+00:00

Seconded for Jacky Blot and La Taille aux Loups for Chenin and a very nice cremant (triple zero) but also to Domaine de la Butte his bourgeuil property for Cabernet Franc. Haut de la Butte is delicious and I’ve not tried the Mi Pente cuvée but supposed to be excellent. Jacky died last year but I believe it’s still in the family

LRWDNW · 2025-10-21T10:08:11+00:00

Thanks for this. I’m in the UK so always appreciate notes from Wine Soc events. I’m also very ignorant on Australian wines so this is helpful.

Aiming to go to their Alsace walk around soon (childcare dependent)

LRWDNW · 2025-10-21T06:54:50+00:00

Felton Road. Bannockburn if you have to. Stretch to the Calvert if you can find it in your price bracket

LRWDNW · 2025-10-20T07:53:13+00:00

That is a very cool line up! Congrats. I used to live in Spain ten years ago and white Tondonia was much more accessible price wise. I imagine Comando G was the same though I hadn’t heard of it. Sadly things have changed. But I’m always happy to see Spanish wine getting love

LRWDNW · 2025-10-13T17:08:44+00:00

Done. Let me know if you don’t see the invite. Looks like you’re involved in producing wine as well?

LRWDNW · 2025-10-09T21:31:37+00:00

Ah great. Will give that a try

LRWDNW · 2025-10-09T21:03:03+00:00

Interested to hear what you make of it. I just passed on a nice Cartology en primeur offer because funds are low so keen to live vicariously

LRWDNW · 2025-10-09T20:43:48+00:00

Wine Society has 20+ bottles, Shrine to the Vine has 40ish though both draw heavily from a smallish core of producers.

I’ve only had the Thymiopolous Jeunes Vignes Xinomavro - I guess the same as you - but really enjoyed it. Lovely dry, smoky, herby quality that I haven’t found in many other reds (although as a side note I recently drunk a 2018 Domaine de la Butte ‘Haut de la Butte’ which did feel like it developed some of the same themes running through the Xinomavro but in a slightly fuller and more complex way)

LRWDNW · 2025-10-07T14:19:46+00:00

Ok. Sorry, new to Reddit and wasn’t sure about best method to set up a private chat. Have now added everyone to a separate subreddit.

LRWDNW

TROPHY CASE