July 26, 2010
I almost always get a blocked nose when I drink most (but not all ) cheap wines.
It’s something I experience when I drink really cheap, preservative laden fruit juices too - I react instantly - in fact I can smell the stuff in both juice and wine and tell you before I drink it that I’m going to react to it.
So what causes the blocked nose?
I always thought it was the Sulphur in wine and the Sodium Benzonate in the juices - but perhaps not.
A recent tweet from myself led @diproc and @sampugh1 to suggest that the main culprit could in fact be the Histamines found in wine. Interesting.
They pointed me to the following article
Wine and Headaches - Maybe not what you think.
and I found one more that is really worth reading:
This wine is making me feel…Sneezy?
What have I concluded from this research? Nothing really - I still don’t know what cause my reaction.
A usefull tip though: if you think you have an allergy to Sulphur - then go and buy a packet of dried apricots and eat them. If you react after eating them - then you are probably allergic to Sulphur.
If not - then it may be the Histamines.
Failing that - just drink better wine!
Posted in Research, Tips, Trivia 
7 Comments »
July 8, 2010
Last week I won a set of Sally Little Sunglasses by following @TheFairwayMole (click to follow) on Twitter - it’s about the first thing I have ever won and it was darn easy too!
Spurned on by this recent success I have been entering other competitions at a rate of knots - as they say: you have to be in it to win it.
What a pleasure to discover the following competition - perfect for all us Wine Perverts!
Three readers stand the chance to win fantastic prizes courtesy of Black Knight Wines and Compleat Golfer magazine.
1st prize: a set of Muirfield 1959 and Augusta 1961 wines, both signed by Gary Player. 2 x 2nd prize: a case of Muirfield 1959 wines, valued at R1 800.
To enter, either SMS Player and your name to 34419 (eg Player Michael to 34419) or enter below.
Click Here to Enter!
(Each SMS costs R2, terms and conditions apply)
Good Luck - not sure why I told u guys because I’m hoping to win myself.
Posted in Competitions 2 Comments »
July 1, 2010
Inspired by a recent tweet by Jeanri-Tine of Ruby Tuesdays and some follow ups from Cathy of Drunk! - as reproduced below:
Jeanri-Tine
OMG is that a worm in my gnocchi? That’s a big oops Balducci’s. http://twitpic.com/21gwcx
thecru
@JeanriTine that’s a delicacy in some countries. must be fusion cooking by the head chef.
Cathy Marston
@JeanriTine Well, you know what’s worse than finding a worm in your salad don’t you? Half a worm…..
thecru
@CathyMarston @JeanriTine i found someones full finger nail in my ice cream once - sorry I didn’t just find it - i bit into it.
Cathy Marston
@thecru @JeanriTine Nice. Well, we once got ciabattas delivered to the restaurant with a razor blade baked in one of them. Beat that?!
I thought I would write a quick post and ask all of you the following question:
Whats the worst thing you have found in your food?
Leave some comments and/or send me some pics if you have any!
email: thecrusa@gmail.com
Posted in Food 4 Comments »
June 29, 2010
When I think about KWV - my immediate thought is “big co-op with no soul” producing mass market wines - harsh, but a reality in my mind and I suspect that of many others.
So when I was sent a bottle of KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2008 I was quite interested in the concept as a whole of The Mentors range of wines.
I think it’s an attempt by KWV to shed that big co -op image - which is a tough ask - but a noble effort nonetheless.
The whole marketing push for the Mentors Range seems to be centered around the notion of premium, climate and terrior specific wines. The wines are beautifully packaged and the supporting press docs are top notch too. I do think they could have been a little more specific on where the vineyards are though - some mention the estates, others don’t.
You can read more about The Mentors wines here - let’s move on to the wine I was given.
I opened it last night to share with me mates Dave and Custer and of course Lovely Lis. Their reaction at first sip said it all - we had a good wine on our hands.
KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2008
Dark in colour and dark in fruit flavour profile. Plums, coffee, mocha. The standout for this wine is the mouthfeel - sensuous and soft velvet texture with gentle, mouth tickling tannins. Savoury finish.
The wine retails for about R250 - so it’s not cheap. It has won some prestiguous awards recently but I personally wasn’t convinced. While the official tasting note suggests “fresh red berries” I did not experience that - it had a flat note that I can’t put my finger on.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s an excellent wine that will please many (and I have a feeling the ladies in particular) - I just think that for the price point, there are other Shiraz’s from South Africa that express themselves and their terroir with more flamboyance and intrigue.
Perhaps that’s just my taste in wines though - so give the wine a go and let me know what you think.
Posted in Red Wine, Wine Reviews 2 Comments »
June 23, 2010
Last Saturday I went wine routing with some good friends and ashamedly it’s been a while since I’ve done so.
Which is criminal if you think about it - I live on the doorstep of some of the most spectacular wine scenery in the world. I have an excuse though - for the last year I have had to attend lectures every Saturday morning for 4hrs. Now that that is over it’s back to my wine alcoholism ways!
It was a great day out - good friends, good food, good wine and peachy weather - hard to beat.
We started the day at the Lourensford Farmers Market which had a cool food hall, some second hand clothing stalls, an awesome bird sculptor and a fun “closest to the pin” golf station. The whole market (for me) is a little cheesy and not very farm like at all - so I’m not sure I’ll race back anytime soon.
Onward we marched (with full bellies) to Starke Conde in the Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch. I don’t think many people venture out this way but they should because my goodness the scenery and wine is spectacular.
The standout wine at our tasting at Stark Conde forced the following description out of me - “crisis this wine is sexual”.
Starke Conde Three Pines Syrah 2006
Dark and aromatic . Intense cherry, tar, coffee and violet flavours. Silky smooth tannins with a finish that will leave you with that afterglow satisfaction. In personification it is a Colombian drug lord.
From there we sped off to my favourite wine tasting venue - Camberley.
I have never ever left Camberley feeling disappointed and neither have the friends and family I have continued to take there over the years.
Perhaps it’s the intimacy of the setting, the down to earth nature of host John Nel or the wines he produces that make it all so special - I suspect a combination of all three qualities.
A number of wines stood out for me- namely the Pinotage, Shiraz and Philosophers Stone - but one in particular took the pole position for the incredible value it offers:
Camberley Charisma 2006
Forest floor nose - herbs and a hint of mint. Red fruit flavours. Some cigar box notes. Soft tannins and a seriously long, mouthwatering finish.
Retailing at R70 a bottle - I would buy cases of the stuff.
Time got the better of us and we had to rush off to find a bar to watch the Springboks wallop the Welsh and I guess that just put the cherry on top of a great day out with friends.
Posted in Boutique Wines, Estates, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine Routes, Wine Tours 2 Comments »
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