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The Independent On Sunday

Published:  23 July, 2008

RICHARD EHRLICH has generally assumed that 'the cosmopolitan sophisticates of London are more receptive

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The Guardian

Published:  23 July, 2008

As yet another 'down-at-heel local' bites the dust in favour of a 'spatchcocked quail-serving gastropub', VICTORIA MOORE wonders what on earth happens to the 'old men seemingly welded to the old, sticky-topped bar'. It is in deference to these 'honest folk who know their place' - and in defiance of the 'arriviste middle-class riffraff' - that Moore finds herself recommending 2004 Cao (2.99, down from 4.49; Tesco). 'So outrageously cheap', she says, 'that it prices no one out of the market. And it comes from a cooperative, too. How much more egalitarian can you get?'

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The Sunday Times

Published:  23 July, 2008

JOANNA SIMON talks cheese in honour of a new report from the Department of Enology & Viticulture at the University of California. The report says that wine and cheese don't go together; Simon asks: 'What took them so long?' One of her exceptions to this rule is 2003 Domaine des Schistes Cuve Tradition (9.45; Berry Bros & Rudd).

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The Observer

Published:  23 July, 2008

A wine drinker is more likely to get laid than a beer drinker, so says TIM ATKIN MW. It's all about compounds in wine that resemble human pheromones, so dab some behind your ears - particularly Pinot Noir if you are a man.

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The Daily Telegraph

Published:  23 July, 2008

JONATHAN RAY goes green this week and pays homage to the environment-friendly, organic end of the market. 'Think of the synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides that might have been used in the vineyards,' he warns. 'Perhaps we should now be thinking organic?' Unfortunately, it isn't always that simple, he discovers. Due to reasons such as differing regulations across markets and a desire to be judged purely on quality, a lot of producers choose not to advertise their organic side. To give his readers a helping hand, Ray picks out some organic greats, such as 2004 Bonterra Chardonnay, California (8.99; Sainsbury's) and 2004 Domaine de Pontcher, Sauvignon de Touraine, France (5.99 as part of a case; Majestic).

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The Observer

Published:  23 July, 2008

'You'd think I'd questioned the manhood of half the blokes in South Australia,' says TIM ATKIN MW of the Aussies' rather hostile reaction to his suggestion that 'cheap Australian wine was in danger of turning into the Liebfraumilch of the 21st century'. But Atkin is undeterred, declaring: 'Any consumer who buys one of the big Aussie brands at its full retail price is a fool.' It's not all bad news, though: Atkin cushioned the blow with a visit to the recent Australia Day tasting and the concession that, while the big brands may have let things slip in the cheap stakes, the more expensive (10+) category 'illustrated the complexity, diversity and downright quality of what Australia has to offer'. Good examples include 2003 Suckfizzle Sauvignon/Semillon, Margaret River (15.99; Alliance Wines) and 2002 Penley Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra (25; Moreno Wines).

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The Independent

Published:  23 July, 2008

Anthony Rose muses over Madonna's new wine range, launched despite the material girl's usual advocacy for 'bottled Kaballah water': 'Not all so-called celebrity wines are simply monuments to their egos,' says Rose. 'Sir Cliff is serious about his Vida Nova as are England cricketing legends Ian Botham and Bob Willis with their BMW Chardonnay and Shiraz.'

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The Daily Telegraph

Published:  23 July, 2008

It's been 150 years since the 1855 classification of Bordeaux, and JONATHAN RAY is only too happy to raise a glass in celebration. Dewey Markham, author of 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification, tells Ray: 'The list serves as a fascinating snapshot of Bordeaux in that year, and when it comes to setting Bordeaux apart from other wine regions, it is a unique tool.' While David Roberts MW adds: 'Despite such occasional quirks, which I equate with Wigan Athletic's current form in the football Premiership, I'd say that the list is still relevant and accurate.' But Ray doesn't need to be convinced, saying: 'The mere fact that it is 150 years old this year is good enough for me.' Readers are given a chance to order a 220 case of five cru class wines and one cru bourgeois, including 2001 Chteau Mouton-Rothschild.

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The Times

Published:  23 July, 2008

JANE MacQUITTY also went along to the Australia Day tasting, and, in her view, what Australia needs is far more 'superior 6-10 swiggers'. They've tried this, she says, with 'a quest for regionality', but this 'has not gone far enough to woo British drinkers'. Although she agrees with Atkin and finds a number of winners on the higher-priced 'Iconic Australia' table. Two examples are 2003 Cullen Chardonnay, Margaret River (24.95; Liberty Wines) and 2002 Tamar Ridge Batman Selection Pinot Noir (19.50; Vinus Vita).

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The Daily Telegraph

Published:  23 July, 2008

Jonathan Ray completes

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The Sunday Times

Published:  23 July, 2008

Joanna Simon gives praise to those high-street shops that give space to Austrian wines - stand up Oddbins, Majestic and Marks & Spencer. 'It hasn't been an easy sell, and it is hard to pinpoint exactly why: I can't believe that the notoriously misnamed "antifreeze" wine scandal of 20 years ago is still

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The Independent

Published:  23 July, 2008

ANTHONY ROSE just can't quite get his head round Australia's Clare Valley. 'How is it that an evidently warm wine region has developed a reputation for Australia's most powerful, aromatic yet delicate Riesling?' Either way, the reputation's justified, concludes Rose, and his favourites include 'brilliant newcomer' Kilikanoon's 2005 Morts Block Riesling (11.99+; D Byrne, Clitheroe, Noel Young Wines) and 'top of the range' 2004 The Florita, from Jim Barry (14.99+; Handford).

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The Observer

Published:  23 July, 2008

Fresh from judging at the third annual Wines of Chile Awards Tim Atkin MW praises the long, thin country's wines, expressing regret over his infamous Volvo remark: '"What sort of car are we now?" people kept asking me.'

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The Daily Mail

Published:  23 July, 2008

MATTHEW JUKES has 'travelled far and wide to track down some of the unlikeliest wines on the shelves', such as 2004 Nepenthe Tryst, Cabernet/Zinfandel/Tempranillo, Adelaide Hills (6.99; Waitrose) and 2005 Santa Julia Viognier, Mendoza (4.99; Sainsbury's).

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The Guardian

Published:  23 July, 2008

Victoria Moore spent January without the singleton's favourite dinner companion, the ready meal, and instead committed herself to preparing 'a proper meal' - 'not as easy as it sounds when you live on your own and cannot be bothered cooking'. As part of her reformation, she recommends two 'inexpensive and versatile' wines from Northern Italy: the 'smoothly textured but rife with flavour' 2003 Da Luca Alto Barbera d'Asti from Piedmont (6.99, Somerfield) and the 2003 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico (5.99, Marks & Spencer).

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The Sunday Express

Published:  23 July, 2008

As a 'seasoned skier', JAMIE GOODE reports on some good matches for 'that typical mountain fare'. These include 2005 McPherson Family Vineyard Alexandra's Reserve Verdelho, Murray Darling (6.25; Laithwaites) and 2004 Heartland Dolcetto/Lagrein, Langhorne Creek, Australia (8.99; Oddbins).

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The Sunday Times

Published:  23 July, 2008

JOANNA SIMON takes on the role of ice queen this week as she takes a look at some of the 'extraordinary wine' that is Eiswein from Germany and Austria or Icewine from Canada. For a good bargain, she suggests 1997 Darting Estate Eiswein Scheurebe (12 for 37.5cl; Marks & Spencer).

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The Daily Mail

Published:  23 July, 2008

MATTHEW JUKES surveys the January sales and comes up with a few quality bargains.

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The Independent On Sunday

Published:  23 July, 2008

The subject is detox, and Richard Ehrlich is a non-believer: 'There's no such thing as detox.' However, he does concede that 'there is such a thing as the detox industry', and he's keen to add some advice of his own. Option number one involves 'getting more flavour into the glass of whatever virtuous drink you

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The Observer

Published:  23 July, 2008

'Which country is the new Australia?' asks TIM ATKIN MW. Perhaps Australia itself, he suggests: 'It's easy to forget that Australia can still surprise.' But Atkin is putting his money on South Africa, claiming it holds the edge over Australia in 'Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Pinotage (by default)'. Atkin even dares to share his view that Aussie favourite

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