Cool find at Liquor Store

Well I made a run to the liquor store tonight and a particular wine caught my eye so I had to buy a bottle. May have to buy another for an official christening of "Nelly" when she is all put back together and running.

Had a bottle of that last week. It was good, but not quite up to Norton Commando standards. ;-)

I bought a bottle just because of the label....maybe I am a wine snob...I was disappointed.

Slick

texasSlick said:

I bought a bottle just because of the label....maybe I am a wine snob...I was disappointed.

Slick

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I don't think so Slick, it's just not a very good wine, and you're being more direct than I was (and rightly so).

I really should have said that it was so-so (as a second or better yet third bottle, after the good wine is gone) but certainly not anything I'd buy more of and I've got a pretty broad range of what I find acceptable. But didn't really care for this wine, however, for fear of being considered a wine snob I was perhaps a bit more generous than I should have been in my assessment of it and I should have thought more about that before posting. I've definitely drank worse, but then, I've done plenty of things in the past that I perhaps shouldn't have. ;-)

After a few bottles you might get the wobbles in the corners :roll:

@AlanColes

I think you have admirably summed it up.....you should become a sommelier.....

Slick

Ya have to agree with the bad reviews, just cracked this bottle tonight and it's nothing great. After all the hard work to strip Nelly down and rebuild her I think we both deserve something better than this wine for the official christening. Reassemble started yesterday so I have a few months to find the special bottle. :lol:

Some Argentines aren't bad. Did you decant or let it open up?

Hey all....

It was pretty good when added to a pot roast!

Slick

850cmndo said:

Some Argentines aren't bad. Did you decant or let it open up?

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I dated an Argentine gal long ago....had to let it breathe and swirl it 'round a bit before tasting the fruit.

Slick

Its One of my favorites.
Nice with a barbecued steak, some tatters steamed asparagus. What more can you ask after a good run on the “Road Norton”. Don’t mix the two.
Yummy.
Cheers,
Tom
CNN

Moved to the pub.... so appropriate. LOL :mrgreen:
Cheers,
Tom
CNN

Here is another offering from the Argentine winery ....

I rate this one "Good" in the $16-18 / bottle price range. If it sold in the $12-15 price range, I would give it a "Very Good" rating. It is a 40% Malbec, 30% each of Merlot and Cab.



Slick

The Malbec grape is native to the Cahors area of southern-ish, western-ish France. Originally famous as the "black wine" and was held to be better than its neighbour, Bordeaux. So the Bordelaise stopped it letting be shipped down river for export. Sort of put a crimp on things.
Much later, and up to about 30 years ago the youngsters wrested hold of the vinyards and chais and started replanting and re-equipping. There wine out of there now can be really good. As has often been shown, the French know how to work their vineyards and how to make wine since they opened their minds to new technologies.

One of our xmas wines to go with the bird was a Chateau Ponzac. Presently they are making 3 reds, using grapes from different parts of their vineyard, with different soils and aspects, combined with differences in vinification and storage, but all really great to drink.
The vinyard was literally a few 100 yds from the gite we used last year. The gite owner left us a bottle to try when we arrived, and after trying and enjoying, we stocked up. Enough to bring home a few, sufficient to last until now at least.

Here in UK, we can get Argentinian Malbec from quite few producers. Some can be quite good, but tend to be rather "mass produced", not so much bland but lacking scope.

nickguzzi said:

Here in UK, we can get Argentinian Malbec from quite few producers. Some can be quite good, but tend to be rather "mass produced", not so much bland but lacking scope.

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Well, I bought and overpaid for another bottle of the Norton Privada. Your "mass produced" not so much bland but lacking scope" description fits it well. I think I am done with wines under the Norton label.

For those who would appreciate a good Argentinian Malbec, I recommend Archaval Ferrer Quimera. If you can find a 2012, vintage under $80, jump on it. The '13,'14, and '15 vintages are very good and priced commensuably. If you find any of these under $30, buy all you can find. The '16 Vintage are young, good buys at $20, and have good potential to age well. I have two cases aging in the basement.

Cheers,

Slick

Edit: 20 minutes into the opening of the Norton Privada, it has mellowed out and brought forth some flavor and bouquet. I think I still overpaid for it ..... about $25 IIRC, but I will buy more if I can find it under $20, for sure, if well under.

I got that beat.... knife maker named Norton...

You have to get a sheath made to go with that. .. Like that drop point.

I've got it!

Good show.

AlanColes said:

Had a bottle of that last week. It was good, but not quite up to Norton Commando standards. ;-)

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Are you saying it didn't leak?