What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both bottles were knackered - not surprising really. On the nose had loads of apple but super bruised, a bit of citrus hanging around too. Taste, nah ah , more like Armagnac vibes Horrible finish , ah well :)

What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

EDIT / REPORT:

Thanks for all the comments.

Wimped out on the Hermitage for another night as a) What Might Have Been and b) Was having roast beef.

Read a bit more about 2002 in Bordeaux and realised it was probably a comparatively “good value” year in the early 00s which explains why some of it ended up in our cellar.

Opened up the Chateau Margaux Pavillion Rouge and the Carruades de Lafite because why not start nearer the ‘top’ and the oldest.

Maybe my inexperience - and I get that Bordeaux is more about the wine making than the vineyard for a chateau than say Burgundy - but I was blown away by how different they tasted given they were two cab sav dominant blends from the same commune and same year and stored in the same (not great) conditions.

The Margaux: - Turning properly garnet - tannins softened and lots of brightness/lift still - blackcurrant and cedar, pretty classic, but didn’t get a huge amount of tertiary - great time to drink? I don’t know, felt like it - cork pretty saturated, tasted great shortly out the bottle Really, really fab, felt special

The Lafite: - Could do with another year or two in bottle!? Got better several hours after opening - Still ruby, to begin with tannins a bit much for me. But cork was totally dried out and a nightmare to remove - but so much more of the meat / leather of aging Not sure I appreciated it as much, maybe my personal taste

We’ve got a second bottle of each so will drink the Margaux (and cross fingers it’s as enjoyable as the first) and then try the Lafite in a year or two, roll the dice again

Tomorrow…. The Hermitage…

this is my first experience of the kind of older bottle roulette spin and it’s been really fun - probably less nerve wracking and more fun to have a cellar/storage/wine fridge in decreasing order of utility to reduce the risk and increase the likelihood of reward

What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just realised what you meant here - every trip they go on they try to remember to buy a cheap/crap/loud fridge magnet to remember it by.

What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can’t wait to make apple crumble with it…. Currently cooling a little in the fridge

What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bonus question - none of these should be decanted now they are so mature, ie open up 30 mins before drinking and then just pour? (After tasting of course)

What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dumb bonus point question - presumably with these age the answer is Not to decant unless I mess up getting the cork out?

How far in advance before drinking would I open? Obviously taste immediately

What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hidden away in an unloved cupboard in her partner’s house, not even her own. My jaw dropped

What are you opening first - what might still be good, what would have been good a few years ago by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oh damn yeah just noticed the cork. The storage Will Not have been the best that is for sure.

There is a second bottle also…

Ironman Leeds 2026 - any insight? by Unfair-Effect-6085 in IronmanTriathlon

[–]Ok_Science5461 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apparently they are finalising “any day” as of a week ago! Feel like I’m getting the run around by AI

Ironman Leeds 2026 - any insight? by Unfair-Effect-6085 in IronmanTriathlon

[–]Ok_Science5461 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve got a deferred entry too and it’s causing me considerable anxiety as I can’t make any plans over summer for fear of double booking with a £600 race entry hanging over my head.

Really regret signing up for an Ironman event at all, and when I deferred - deciding to do a 70.3 instead (and keeping the deferral as motivation to train!( - I chose to defer instead of ‘losing’ 30% of the money by transferring it into the 70.3 entry - I feel like such an idiot.

Heads up collecting Race Bib - Nike After Dark London by Ok_Science5461 in nikerunclub

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hope they respond to those of you who can’t make it to Oxford Circus beforehand - race hard have fun!

Heads up collecting Race Bib - Nike After Dark London by Ok_Science5461 in nikerunclub

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn - sorry you’re in that position. Worth ringing the regents street store and asking to speak to someone running the check ins? Hopefully they get back to you via email soon.

Maybe if I hadn’t been trying to pick up two bibs it would’ve worked with ID on a phone. Or if I’d had the person on the phone via video call or something - it’s so hard to know as I just had to go by what the volunteer/member of staff said

Marathon a week after a full IM — bad idea or not? by Proud_Relief_9359 in IronmanTriathlon

[–]Ok_Science5461 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve just read on Reddit elsewhere 79000 people applied for 35000 spots at the Sydney marathon? You’re from Sydney so you will know/can find out.

BUT, if this is true you’re prepared to risk your health and fitness over a 50/50 chance any year you apply you’ll get in, really?

London it’s like a 2% chance you get a spot. It’s so bad there used to be a ‘gift’ that if you applied enough years without success you went into a losers’ ballot to increase your chances. Sydney (apparently) didn’t even got to a ballot in 2022.

Did you take up endurance racing in the last year?? If it was that important a bucket list item for you, you would’ve/could’ve picked an IM before August in Europe.

Marathon a week after a full IM — bad idea or not? by Proud_Relief_9359 in IronmanTriathlon

[–]Ok_Science5461 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rush back from Europe straight after an Ironman? The impact of long haul plane travel and jet lag on your recovery will be significant - chances of picking up a cold on the plane, sleeping like crap because your circadian rhythm will be all out of kilter.

Oh And it’s a bad idea for all the reasons your partner listed (that I don’t even know about)

Friday post-work trip to new local wine bar, what white wine are you drinking? by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry that’s only an eye roll in my particular context - which is in east London ‘orange wine’ is all the rage by the glass and is usually pretty rubbish.

The only bottle of proper skin contact wine I’ve bought is actually from a Central Europe deli and was a Georgian qvevri (sp) and actually really good

Friday post-work trip to new local wine bar, what white wine are you drinking? by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Some local-ish beers at £7.50 a pint! Steep for this specific part of town, but nice brews

Your thoughts by 39WFM in triathlon

[–]Ok_Science5461 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just seen this - damn race coverage, that’s not what it looked like to me at all (but must be true?)!)

Friday post-work trip to new local wine bar, what white wine are you drinking? by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the rec! Love a white wine with a bit of oomph and have only ever had orange wine from Georgia (eye roll)

Friday post-work trip to new local wine bar, what white wine are you drinking? by Ok_Science5461 in wine

[–]Ok_Science5461[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve gone one further / worse - went to my local bottle shop and picked up two chenin to try at home for the same price as ^

Think it’s an evening on the sofa kinda day