Wine Wars - the next round

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Quiksilver · #11 Post by **Quiksilver** » Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:01 pm

While we're on the subject

Today's Colombelle day

For anyone who's partial to a dry, fruity white, it's a Côtes de Gascogne from the Plaimont co-operative in the Gers. Well worth a try, and not expensive. It disappears quickly, though, as a lot is exported to the USA.

Hotrodder · #12 Post by **Hotrodder** » Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:33 pm

After my best friend married a Polish lady he introduced me to Polish vodka.
I'll never forgive him. Smirnoff is only fit to clean paintbrushes in now.

Lori · #13 Post by **Lori** » Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:34 pm

I've not tried Polish vodka, but I have had some outstanding Russian ones, amazingly smooth. Course, now I wouldn't buy them, if I could find them.

Quiksilver · #14 Post by **Quiksilver** » Fri Oct 20, 2023 10:48 pm

Here's a tip for anyone who hankers after Ginger wine but can't get back to UK or doesn't have helpful visitors

Eristoff ginger vodka is a very good substitute. (Owned by Bacardi, so probably OK to buy at the moment

)

Spectrum · #15 Post by **Spectrum** » Sat Oct 21, 2023 8:28 am

The only Polish drink to have is "Spiytus Rektyfikawany" (Rectified spirt) they have it in a "shot" glass with a homemade syrup, usually cherry. Its also used for powering nuclear reactors and stripping paint

Wilbro · #16 Post by **Wilbro** » Sat Oct 21, 2023 12:28 pm

@Spectrum I
I wonder if that's what I had in the 1960's. Working in South Shields a colleague and I stayed in a small licensed guest house. Run by the wife her husband had a fishing boat and returning from one of his trips he said try this and gave us a shot glass of a clear spirit that he said was Polish. "Too strong to allow us to sell it" he said.
Back in one we were instructed and it went down like liquid fire and boom, we were very happy afterwards

Veem · #17 Post by **Veem** » Sat Oct 21, 2023 1:46 pm

Blaze wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 9:58 am
The French have always tried to keep out foreign wine - the choice has always been very limited. It's virtually impossible to get a good Rioja here - and sherry for those who like it - is near nigh impossible.

Sherry (Harveys Amontillado) has long been a favoured tipple and before Brexit I could source it reasonably easily from the UK. Once I could no longer do that, I began ordering from Spain. Several companies ship to France, so I shop around to find the best deals.

Blaze · #18 Post by **Blaze** » Sat Oct 21, 2023 4:00 pm

@Veem Oooh thank you for that. Is there any shipper/company you can recommend ? OH loves very dry sherry but it's very expensive when he can find it.

Veem · #19 Post by **Veem** » Sat Oct 21, 2023 4:56 pm

Blaze. Private celler (sic) is a company I've used a few times and there's another called Bodeboca. They have many different Amontillados, some of which are incredibly dry. I read a lot of their info and then bought a few different ones at the same time, to taste (and possibly mix to make less dry) before I found what I liked. I buy a box of 12 at the same time as it makes delivery less onerous.

The one I like most is Williams & Humbert Dry Sack Medium Jerez-Xérès-Sherry 1 L (the delivery is more reasonable for 12 x 1L than for 12 x 70ml), but that will perhaps be not dry enough for your OH.

Blaze · #20 Post by **Blaze** » Sat Oct 21, 2023 7:48 pm

Thank you Veem, all noted.
OH particularly likes Palo Cortado (very dry) and I like Pedro Ximenez (tasted like Christmas pudding !).
Will have a look at the companies you've mentioned. I don't know why we hadn't thought of looking at Spain before. Mind you, a dozen litre bottles will alst a fair amount of time !!

France in Focus

France in Focus