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This thread is to hold recommendations of non-Port products from the list of The Wine Society.

Recently my wife opened a bottle of wine and brought me of glass of it, without identifying it. Lovely stuff, soft but having body and substance.

And it was The Society’s Claret, costing £6.50 a bottle. Splendid value for money.

Yes indeed.

Huet (Chenin Blanc, Loire). Make a great fizz, and excellent (and age worthy) sec, demi-sec and sweeter wines.

Recently bought 2008 Haut-Lieu demi sec and a mixed case of 2009 Moelleux (which was apparently a good year). I have tried a variety of vintages and styles. For me they combine what I like in Chardonnay with the way Riesling dances across the palate.

DaveRL wrote:Huet (Chenin Blanc, Loire). Make a great fizz, and excellent (and age worthy) sec, demi-sec and sweeter wines.

Recently bought 2008 Haut-Lieu demi sec

Link. (Link and image corrected to comply with next post.)


But my household’s fizz preference is very dry.

Ah, no.

http://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/prod ... 1&pc=&prl=
Described as bone dry, but I'd say just a little sweeter than bone - lots of fruit.

Your link is to the demi sec still wine. I haven't tried this one yet. Others have been delicious. These tend to work well with Thai food. As they age there are more honeyed notes, balenced with good acidity.

I've found the Alfred Gratien / WS champagnes slightly disappointing. See TNs. (Link not added as using Tapatalk - will edit later.)

http://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/prod ... &cc=WDRINK

Marvellously racy for an off-dry Riesling, and finishes well; from a highly regarded producer whose TBAs are sadly very difficult to purchase in the UK.

Ed.W wrote: http://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/prod ... &cc=WDRINK

Marvellously racy for an off-dry Riesling, and finishes well; from a highly regarded producer whose TBAs are sadly very difficult to purchase in the UK.

Pictured.

jdaw1 wrote:

Recently my wife opened a bottle of wine and brought me of glass of it, without identifying it. Lovely stuff, soft but having body and substance.

And it was The Society’s Claret, costing £6.50 a bottle. Splendid value for money.

With some trepidation I ordered 24 half bottles of this two days before you posted. Happiness.

It's gorgeous gear. I never noticed the half bottles. Off we go..

DRT wrote:half bottles

Halves, and of claret. Life coach pleased.

djewesbury wrote:It's gorgeous gear. I never noticed the half bottles. Off we go..

Two cases of small bottles ordered purely on this recommendation.

Ed.W wrote:http://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/prod ... &cc=WDRINK

Marvellously racy for an off-dry Riesling, and finishes well; from a highly regarded producer whose TBAs are sadly very difficult to purchase in the UK.

Interesting. I haven't tried many NZ Rieslings. I'll try some.

The Oz ones (often Grosset) are very dry and lemony to start with (but very enjoyable) - I tend to prefer them with a little bottle age when they soften a little. Good with fish and chips!

Here and here.

DaveRL wrote:

Ed.W wrote:http://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/prod ... &cc=WDRINK

Marvellously racy for an off-dry Riesling, and finishes well; from a highly regarded producer whose TBAs are sadly very difficult to purchase in the UK.

Interesting. I haven't tried many NZ Rieslings. I'll try some.

The Oz ones (often Grosset) are very dry and lemony to start with (but very enjoyable) - I tend to prefer them with a little bottle age when they soften a little. Good with fish and chips!

Here and here.

Haven't drunk much dry Riesling recently (tend not to at this time of year,) but I worked my way through quite a bit of Jim Barry Lodge Hill during the summer; at sub £10 a bottle, I struggled to find a better white! Stuff like Grosset Polish Hill is a bit pricey except as an occasional treat, and for £25+ I'd prefer to buy Alsatian or Austrian.

Cuvée de L'Arjolle Rouge 2012

A very nice Languedoc red, £7.95 a bottle or £95 a dozen.

The label simply says 'Cabernet Merlot' and the back label gives little additional information, but the Wine Society say that the 2012 also has a little Syrah.
This is very dry and very satisfying. I have drunk it over three days, and in the decanter it has not diminished. In fact today, as I slug the last glass, it has a really delightful, lively nose, blackcurrant and cherry coming through with pepper and even some notes reminiscent of Port in its secondary stage. Not at all 'over-woody'. Medium-bodied, with a very well-ordered, dry, cedarish entry that then enlarges to allow ripe soft fruit to come through; very fleshy and sensuous after a while, but definitely not flabby or too soft - structure remains throughout. It grows, but stays very dry and tannic, but there are good acids to balance, to prevent it getting furry around the gums. This is good wine, and this is the last one I have. The finish is delightfully long, peppery, with cigar box notes and a really excellent mouthfeel that lasts and lasts.

EDIT: And now I know how to use the ImageFloatRight tag.

DRT wrote:

djewesbury wrote:It's gorgeous gear. I never noticed the half bottles. Off we go..

Two cases of small bottles ordered purely on this recommendation.

I am not home yet, but a text message says 24 bottles and 24 half bottles arrived at Chez DRT this afternoon

DRT wrote:

DRT wrote:

djewesbury wrote:It's gorgeous gear. I never noticed the half bottles. Off we go..

Two cases of small bottles ordered purely on this recommendation.

I am not home yet, but a text message says 24 bottles and 24 half bottles arrived at Chez DRT this afternoon

Brilliant news. Enjoy!

Mr & Mrs T have thoroughly road tested the Wine Society Claret and found it to be quite splendid value with little or no bottle variation.

Highly recommended as a daily drinker.

2011 Château La Dornie 'Etienne' Saint-Chinian
Last night I enjoyed very much a bottle of the above from the Wine Society. I cannot find it anywhere on their website. It was purchased through the 'Wine Without Fuss' scheme - a good way to get daily drinkers from a particular region without having to spend time choosing them, and pretty good value too. (Incidentally I have found that this is the bit that I tend to neglect these days: I spend ages on Winesearcher plotting more extravagant purchases, and forget to buy a bottle to have with the roast beef or shepherd's pie.)

Anyway it's a thoroughly enjoyable bottle, very lively and full bodied, a mix of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan with a lovely ripeness and some balancing acids. Really wonderful on a cold night. Grown on schist, baked on south-facing slopes in the punishing Languedoc sun, aged for a year in old oak. Wonder why I like this.

2013 Reuilly Rouge 'Les Pierres Plates', Denis Jamain, Loire

Lovely - highly recommended for a light-bodied, very pleasant, fresh Loire. Didn't last in the decanter for a second night, but that was my fault for being too lazy to finish it off.

A report on The Society’s Exhibition Barolo 2011 would be very much welcomed.

jdaw1 wrote:

A report on The Society’s Exhibition Barolo 2011 would be very much welcomed.

In general I find the Exhibition range extremely good. I've not tried the Barolo.

jdaw1 wrote:A report on The Society’s Exhibition Barolo 2011 would be very much welcomed.

How bad can it be?

If you wish to spread the risk I will split a case with you.

DRT wrote:If you wish to spread the risk I will split a case with you.

Too much delivery hassle — especially given the state of your knees.

It seemed attractive, but it also seemed low-risk to ask whether ers knew more than nothing.

I recently had a delivery from the Wine Society, so don’t need to order quite yet. (Though — mysteriously — that delivery seems to be fast evaporating.)