Every month*, we will offer a bottle of wine to the submission (anything from views to a restaurant review) that is considered by the judge(s) to be the most interesting factual piece. We are looking to share in your experience – be it good or bad. Please note that you are responsible for the accuracy of your submission. The judge(s)’s arbitrary decision will be final. No appeal will be entertained. The winner will be announced on the site and the bottle dispatched in around 7 days by registered post or hand delivered if you live near Reading.
* New rules as from 8th May 2011 – see bottom of page
January 2010 competition: a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille by Angelo Gaja
I am afraid that there was no winner for the December competition.
For January, I offer a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille by Angelo Gaja. This wine was made from his property at Santa Restituta. It is a single vineyard Brunello and 1997 was one of the best year in the 90s. I can’t find a score but Parker rates the 2001 at 94 and the 1997 is a better wine.
February 2010
The winner (s) of last month’s competition are:
David Lamont and Michael le Brocq.
David re his visit to Arborfield and Michael (again!) re his Scottish tour. I can’t separate them so I thought that I will be generous.
This month, we are offering an unusual wine. We have a (half) bottle of a vin de paille – sweet desert wine. There are very difficult to get hold of in the UK. They are made of grapes dried on straw mats – more likely in boxes these days. The quantity produced is minuscule. 100kg of grapes will yield 20 litres of juice for fermentation.
The half bottle we have is from Jura – 1996 Clos de Grives, made by Claude Charbonnier. It will go with traditional britsh puddings and will be great with a summer pudding this summer. Or put it into a blind tasting, nobody (ok, maybe a real expert) will identify it. Or, use it like vin santo with biscotti.
March 2010
The winner of last month’s competition is Demetris Savva. Well done.
This month, we are offering a bottle of 1966 Chateauneuf du Pepe from Chateau Beaucastel. Beaucastel is one of the first major grower to practice biorythm organic wine. It is at its peak and will go down well with game and duck. It will also go down well with aubergine/tomato/ beans based vegetarian dishes – chilli ok but not curried!
I am off travelling at the end of March to bring you write ups from some place far away. Please be prepared for no updates for 10 days at the end of March.
April 2010
The winner of last month’s competitionis PaulPlant for his excellent comment on sweet wines.
Just to keep the theme going, I am offering a half bottle of Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1996. This sauterne is rated by Robert Parker as 90 points and will last out till 2025. Its my favourite sauterns. It has honey, flowers etc
So keep those articles coming in.
June 2010
The winners of last (2) months cometition are Ken Hsia for his article on Kong (Paris) and Demetris Savva for his article on Pyxida (Nicosia).
For this month, I am offering a bottle of Horch Gobel’s 2008 Mosel Riesling. This is a troken (dry) wine and is excellent for the summer. You cannot buy this wine in the UK. In fact for some unknown reasons, the Germand only export their sweeter Mosel wines to the UK. I picked up a couple of cases of this wine on my overnight stay at Winninger.
July 2010
This month’s competition winner is Paul Plant for his reports on the dining scene in Melbourne.
Congratulations Paul.
For the next competition, I am offering a bottle of 2000 Comte de M, the grand cru of Chateau Kefraya (www.chateaukefraya.com). 2000 is one of their best year.
Lebaneses wine is geting more popular in the UK over the past 10 years. At one time, only Chateau Musar is available in this country.
For more information try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_wine
Chateau Kefraya is one of the top producers in the Bakka Valley. Comtede M is made from a mixture of Cabernet Savvignon and Syrah (Shiraz) grown at 1000m above sea level. I picked this wine up 6 years ago at the Enotria trade tasting. I rate it as between a 2nd and 3rd growth bordeaux in a good year.
August 2010
It was a difficult month to choose between the contributions. I have decided to award ALL our key contributors. Paul for his continuous “eating my way around Australia”, David for venturing into Wales (I thought that I was the only one that crossed the Severn Bridge to eat) and Ken for his hard hitting article on the mighty Robuchon.
Enjoy!
The next competition starts now. I am offering an Aussie wine this time. Its a bottle of 2002 Two Hands Lily’s Garden. This is a lovely shiraz, full of fruit. Parker rated it as 96 points and the wine is good from now to 2017.
Nov 2010
The winner of the Aussie competition is Jo for her article on Sabai Sabai.
For our next competition, I am offering a top Bordeaux (2nd growth) in one of the very best year 1990. Yes, it is Ch Leoville 1990, a 96 points wine (Parker). It will the wine for Xmas.
Dec 2010
Demetris is our winner in November for his articles on the Zaragoza dining scene.
There will be no DEC or JAN competition as its Xmas and I am off to Australia at the beginning of January.
All submissions in Dec and Jan will be considered in the Feb competition. I am offering a bottle of 1996 Richebourg from one of the great Burgundy vineyards. All will be revealed in Feb 2011
February 2011
The winner for the last competition is Demetriris Savva. He offerede a detailed study of dining in Palma, Majorca, Spain. Well done, Demetris a bottle of Richebourg is on its way to you.
I have a consolation price for Dave Lamont who submitted several articles. He gets a bottle Of Yalumba 1999 Signature. This is a very rare wine – not easy to get hold of as it is one of James Halliday’s top 100 wines for 1999 and Robert Parker awarded it 95 points. http://www.yalumba.com/library/Yalure_Barraz_99.pdf
The special Bordeaux First growth draw for reviewers and users of this site will be announced on Sunday 20 February.
March 2011
We are offering a bottle of Ch Lafite Rothschild 1989 for this months competition. The botle currently retails for over €1000 on certain sites!
Please note that I judge your submissing by the details (address, website if any etc) on the submission form as well as the content, please if possible, describe the place, ambience, food, service and prices) and make it interesting for our users. Do point out any problems but do not be derogatory about it.
April 2011
The winner of last month’s competition is Mike Hibbs – excellent article on The Five Mile House. However during the month, I also had an interesting comment from on Flame Restaurant from Maria and an article from Jane on Fielders Farm Store which resulted in a reply. I have a bottle of wine (not the Lafite but pretty good) for each of them. Well done.
The wine for April is a bottle of Vega Sicilla Unico 1990. It is a fantastic wine and from possible the greatest winery in Spain. This wine is considered by manay to be the equivalent of a Bordeaux First Growth.
May 2011
Demetris Savva is the winner (Vega Sicilla) for his reviews on Havana and Munch.
NEW RULES
As from today (8th May 2011), I will award a bottle of wine to a good review (restaurants or shopping) or comments. All previous rules are now no longer in use.
This new approach allows me to award articles that are outstanding – more than once a month if necessary! Previously, we only choose a winner each month. In certain months, there could be no awards!
Please note, to win, your article must be:
- factually correct re your experience;
- details provided where possible, location, URL, telephone number and a guide to the costs;
- a good description of your experience, the food, where possible, what you like or dislike.
My decision remains final.
The next bottle(s) on offer: Chabilis Premier Cru (Montmain) 2002 from Domaine Marie Berangere
8th May 2011
Eddie
