Reply to: and the enfusion of a GOOD QUALITY red wine will add to the taste

[mcquiggd]

HyperD, it was indeed a treasure... Silvio knew exactly when to chat to his 'guests', and when to leave them to their own conversation.. his daughter would appear as if by magic to refill your glass from the decanter, and his son was head chef...

The decor was very, very understated... authentically Italian, nothing to distract from the food, wine, and conversation. The lady I took there was the daughter of a multi-millionaire, and she had eaten in some of the top restaurants in France - she was very impressed indeed.

[hyperD]

.. sadly he closed as his talent was wasted on the general populace.

Shame... I love these type of places...

There's a great restaurant hidden away in the deepest, darkest Hungary that serves original, Hungarian Gypsy wild boar, goose liver, fish and paprika pork stews etc for the price of a sixpence. I hope to god it doesn't get discovered by Thomas "**** it up" Cook...

Talking of gyppos, off to Woking by bike to exchange a piece of badly welded winerack tat that my wife got from some rejects store for my xmas present...

[mcquiggd]

Theres a chap named Silvio Scalini who used to run a restaurant here in Edinburgh - had a wine list that included a 1948 Barolo... probably the best food Ive had outside Italy.. sadly he closed as his talent was wasted on the general populace. Last time I was there he pointed out the people at the next table were drinking white wine with steak, and he just rolled his eyes. I was dating a half French, half Vietnamese beauty at the time - very useful when it came to ordering as she could pronounce just about anything!

Silvio now works front of house in the Vintners Rooms, which I have yet to visit, but apparently they have a part of the restaurant that is purely lit by candles - might have to book it for Valentines. If he works there, Id say thats a very good recommendation indeed.

[Lucifer Box]

Lucky man LB - where did you purchase that fine wine from?

The Fenchurch Colony on New London Street (just off Fenchurch St). Was my regular lunchtime tipple for a time. The problem is that although a fine wine indeed, the 1995 was so superior that all years since then have been disappointing.

[hyperD]

Yes, I've had the Cloudy Bay. The 1995 was a truly exceptional year (drinking in 1997). Years since then less so, but a mighty fine tipple it is.

Lucky man LB - where did you purchase that fine wine from?

[Lucifer Box]

Anyone had any Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc or Pelorus?

Yes, I've had the Cloudy Bay. The 1995 was a truly exceptional year (drinking in 1997). Years since then less so, but a mighty fine tipple it is.

[hyperD]

Laithwaites have the Chardonnay but the Sav Blanc is hard to find in the UK - a little easier in the UK and USA.

http://www.wineandco.com

are showing some. Best bet is wine merchants but there's this problem where the reputation for this wine is high and people deliberately inflate the retail price by as much as 50% or so (~£30).

[mcquiggd]

Mmm... I would imagine the output is quite small comparatively speaking... where have you seen it on sale, I might give it a go...

While on the subject of white wines, a nice crisp Chablis is very refreshing - goes very well with student nurses.

[hyperD]

NZ... supposed to have a reputation of being a "king of wines" and very difficult to get hold of. I've never bought the good vintages but wondering whether it is a hype thing or whether it is as good as people make out.

(Not to be confused with Oyster Bay Sav Blanc from Tescos, which is quite dry and pleasant nonetheless)

[mcquiggd]

Sounds Oz-tralian.... never had one as far as I can recall... another recommendation is most of the output from Conche Y Toro - Chilean, very reasonably priced, havent had a bad one yet.

Sorry, cute blonde on TV.

I also drink McGuigan wines sometimes, but thats because he is a relative.

[hyperD]

Anyone had any Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc or Pelorus?

[hyperD]

I'm in the wrong, sorry fellows, I don't have a Rothschild Chateauneuf de Pape, it is a Mouton. Maybe I should should drink less and then I could see the labels.

[mcquiggd]

For day to day drinking, around £4 to £7 - plenty of decent wines at that price... when out on the town anything up to £400.

Chianti, as previously mentioned, is usually a good choice, and Brunello di Montalcino, at least 10 years old, preferably 1982 or 1988 from the Soldera estate... had a very good Chateau Latour recently, 'twas lovely...

[Gibbon]

I'm in the wrong, sorry fellows, I don't have a Rothschild Chateauneuf de Pape, it is a Mouton. Maybe I should should drink less and then I could see the labels.

[Gibbon]

Got mine from Costco