Insignificant Things That Make You Happy.

[Noggin]

Jammy gits! I'm so envious of these first tracks - not of the day, of the season! Here's hoping for a sunny day and that someone has made some pistes by the weekend so I can co for a little sedate ski tour

[Count Steer]

I have had some bloody good red from the Bekah (?) Valley in Lebanon. I can't recall much more detail on account of the fact that I drank most of the bottle, it was that good.

The one I remember was Chateau Musar - lovely stuff. It was always referred to as 'red Leb' in my circle of friends...

They continued to make wine but their vineyards got disturbed by tanks rolling through on occasion. It used to be cheap as chips...but not any more. They're an odd bunch. They won't release wine from a vintage until they think it's ready and what they produce isn't everyone's cuppa. Wife is a fan and I may get her a bottle or two for Christmas...which will last a while as neither of us tope much any more and I just find their wines a bit 'odd'...

The Wikipedia entry for Chateau Musar is interesting, if you're interested in that sort of thing but the WS is less wordy https://www.thewinesociety.com/producer/chateau-musar

£22 a bottle for the 2019 reds and £36 for the whites ...which I didn't know they did.

[mangocrazy]

I'm thinking of late '80s pricing on the Musar reds, and even at restaurant markups they were only £10-12 a bottle. They were the go-to reds at the local and excellent (but short-lived) veggie restaurant we frequented.

[Yorick]

We get our wines from Lidl.
A lot of bars serve what we get.

[Count Steer]

I'm thinking of late '80s pricing on the Musar reds, and even at restaurant markups they were only £10-12 a bottle. They were the go-to reds at the local and excellent (but short-lived) veggie restaurant we frequented.

Yup. They used to be about £4-5/bottle 'back in the day' in supermarkets. An acquired taste in my opinion* but SWMBO loved it.

* ie not fit to wash whippets in.

[Taipan]

I'll be getting a few boxes of wine for Xmas...

[ChrisW]

I bought three bottles of really average white (house) wine yesterday evening*, two at the restaurant one in a pub. They were about £28 each...!

*wasn't alone

[Count Steer]

I'll be getting a few boxes of wine for Xmas...

10.5%!! That's a red wine spritzer!

[mangocrazy]

I'll be getting a few boxes of wine for Xmas...

At that alcohol rating, I'd guess it was made from raspberries grown in Scotland. It does mention fruity berry flavours...

[Count Steer]

I bought three bottles of really average white (house) wine yesterday evening*, two at the restaurant one in a pub. They were about £28 each...!

*wasn't alone

The mark up is a bit

While I was away recently I relaxed my gusset and had a glass of Primitivo (aka zinfandel) with a meal and a glass of Côtes du Rhone with another meal. My assessment is they sell one (small/medium) glass and that covers the cost of the bottle. The rest is profit. Can't remember exactly but their 250ml glasses at the top of the card/cheap end were getting on for £10 ie £30/bottle for what I'd say were £8.50ish/bottle supermarket wines.

(I know, restaurants - overheads, staff etc etc etc but they charge the same at the bar. It used to be that you pushed the boat out a bit when eating out but if you have to pay £15-20 a glass to match what you might have at home - if you're a bit interested in wine - you end up drinking sparkling water ).

Oh yeah, it's no cheaper by the bottle and sharing. Every sized glass worked out the same as the bottle price.

[ChrisW]

Oh yeah, it's no cheaper by the bottle and sharing. Every sized glass worked out the same as the bottle price.

Didn't look at the time but I just had a look a the drinks menu for the restaurant - the 250ml glass price is £10.25 whilst the bottle is £29!

[Count Steer]

Oh yeah, it's no cheaper by the bottle and sharing. Every sized glass worked out the same as the bottle price.

Didn't look at the time but I just had a look a the drinks menu for the restaurant - the 250ml glass price is £10.25 whilst the bottle is £29!

Oh well, you save £1.75 and you know you aren't getting short measures if you do it by the bottle.

[Felix]

Jammy gits! I'm so envious of these first tracks - not of the day, of the season! Here's hoping for a sunny day and that someone has made some pistes by the weekend so I can co for a little sedate ski tour

Get up early and draw a big cock n balls

[gremlin]

While I was away recently I relaxed my gusset and had a glass of Primitivo (aka zinfandel)

I 'discovered' primitivo way dahn sarf in Italy years back. I liked it, but you couldn't really find it in the UK back then, as it was considered a bit rough, a bit working class, etc., and everyone was banging on about 'Super Tuscans'.

Fast forward a couple of decades and I find myself shelling out £80 on a bottle in a (granted, pricey) restaurant. I will admit, the producers have upped their game a bit down in Puglia. It was bloody lovely.

[gremlin]

Jammy gits! I'm so envious of these first tracks - not of the day, of the season! Here's hoping for a sunny day and that someone has made some pistes by the weekend so I can co for a little sedate ski tour

Get up early and draw a big cock n balls

In urine.

Granted you may struggle given your lack of writing implement, so see if you can borrow one.

No cheating, either. It has to be in your hand writing.

[Count Steer]

While I was away recently I relaxed my gusset and had a glass of Primitivo (aka zinfandel)

I 'discovered' primitivo way dahn sarf in Italy years back. I liked it, but you couldn't really find it in the UK back then, as it was considered a bit rough, a bit working class, etc., and everyone was banging on about 'Super Tuscans'.

Fast forward a couple of decades and I find myself shelling out £80 on a bottle in a (granted, pricey) restaurant. I will admit, the producers have upped their game a bit down in Puglia. It was bloody lovely.

£80! Yoinks!

The most expensive bottle at The Wine Soc is £13.50 for a 2020 iirc. They're out of stock on several but they're due in soon.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/product/ ... -moro-2020

[cheb]

My electricity bill, well my meter readings really. I've been in for 18 days and I've used 50 units. That included bashing the air source heat pump on full for a day to test it.

[Skub]

My electricity bill, well my meter readings really. I've been in for 18 days and I've used 50 units. That included bashing the air source heat pump on full for a day to test it.

Is the heat pump up to the job in the frozen wastelands?

[cheb]

It was a couple of weeks ago. TBF it doesn't get that cold up here, the lowest is about -5c and that's rare. Heating is currently, and will be for the foreseeable, a multifuel stove burning old pallets or dried mud.

I'm close to peak scrat I think.

[Noggin]

Ooooo, looks like we might get another 20-30cms of snow this weekend