Graeme (shaggybreeks)

It's that time again! Who will win tomorrow in the Euros final! Will it be the swift and skillful Spanish, or the enigmatic and elusive English! Representing both sides we have Vina Tondonia, the excellent and refined Spanish Rioja! And the young upstarts on the wine scene, Nyetimber English sparkling classic cuv…

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Contrabandista Amontillado: Valdespino Classic Collection What a cool label right!? It makes me think of old action adventure movies from the 90s. The three musketeers, the legend of Zorro, Indiana Jones. The label depicts a Contrabandista (a smuggler) as he travels from Jerez, smuggling goods to and from Spain and British occupied Gibraltar. Here he waves to a beautiful innkeeper who looks after the inn, 'Venta Del Gato'. The cats Inn. Naturally they have decided to paint in a dog instead, despite the name. The horse is finely kitted out with beautiful red and gold fabrics, and the smuggler goes past in what looks like a uniform. What kind of uniform it is, I am not sure. Maybe an army uniform so as to better hide himself in plain view? Who knows! It's amazing when a label like this conveys a whole story within such a small tableaux. I am immediately transported to another time and place, and can almost feel the sun on my skin and taste the dust off the road from the horses hooves kicking up a small…

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Good day Phaver So as always, questions abound and last night's question led me down the path of researching a bit more about the actual meaning behind the term 'Langhe' on a wine. Thankfully as I studied, I had the opportunity to enjoy some Langhe Nebbiolo 2022 from Andrea Oberto. At this point I was digging more…

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'The Don' : The story behind an iconic logo Have you ever seen this unusual mysterious man on the bottle of Port Fortified wine? In the wine world, branding can often be as strong as the quality of the wine itself in determining its legacy, and this logo stands as one of the original examples. @sandemanporto is al…

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