Fellow Wine Lovers,
Come on Friday 13th, give it your best shot…
Many thanks for all the heartfelt messages, both on email and in person, regarding locking myself out of the shop last week. Some of the terms of endearment – pillock, dimwit, muppet, something to do with appendages on my forehead – were all things I’d heard before, too many times. However some of you were a bit more creative/abusive/educational and I can only thank you for expanding my lexicon and giving me some new phrases for when next I go to watch AFC Wimbledon play.
This week has been far more successful, if you ignore my constant battle with my email server refusing to send or receive in an appropriate manner, in fact I may well be talking to myself here if this doesn’t send properly and you’ll never know what you missed!
I’ve continued with the ‘buy wine-sell wine’ strategy and it seems to be working a treat, so much so that I’m going to send Wayne out for lunch when he gets back on Monday – it’s the Time & Leisure Food and Drink Awards Ceremony up at Cannizaro House and hopefully he’ll come back filled with canapés and Champagne clutching a certificate. Fingers fully crossed all weekend, thank you for your votes.
So let’s talk about what I’ve bought recently. Morton Estate finally landed so I have a stack of the ever popular Morton Brut NV (£12.99) sparkling wine, I also have its sister fizz Mimi (£10.99) slightly softer in style but a must try for all you Prosecco fans. All their still wines also came back in including the Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay (£10.99) an oaked Chardonnay that is a popular guilty pleasure for many of you.
Also back in stock are some Italian favourites. Gavi (£12.99) returns as does the Sesti Grangiovese 2009 (£19.99) – from one of the best producers in Montalcino, and an absolute gem. The Brezza Barbera d’Alba Santa Rosalia 2010 (£19.29) that was written up so nicely by Victoria Moore earlier in the year also reclaims its shelf space.
Whilst he’s away I thought I’d take the opportunity to buy a couple of new wines too, you know, make my mark etc. First up Domaine des Amphores Saint-Joseph 2010 (£19.99). We love the wines from the Rhone and don’t seem to have as many on the shelves as we should. Well this is a step in the right direction – my tasting notes were as follows:
Classic Syrah from the Northern Rhone that is smack bang in the middle of its drinking window. Farmed organically and using as little sulphur as possible in its production, it has lovely bright cherry and raspberry fruits on the nose, with the palate showing a bit more of that peppery spice you would expect. The tannins are beautifully integrated and it has an elegance of finish that would marry very well with some venison roasted with a bit of crushed juniper.
Finally the blockbuster that is Le Cigare Volant 2008 (£37.99).
From the Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, California this is winemaker Randall Grahm’s interpretation of Chateauneuf du Pape. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan all appear in the blend. Utterly approachable now, but like all good CNDP it will happily sit in the cellar for a few years to come. Oh and why the name of the wine? All related to the banning of alien aircraft from landing in the vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape, decreed by the village council in 1954, but then you probably knew that!
In order not to blow the years’ budget in two weeks I will be tasting some slightly less rich and rare wines this weekend, and you can come and taste the m too but don’t be too late since I sold out of the Riesling I had on tasting last week by Saturday mid-afternoon.
The white will be the Madregale Bianco (£7.79) from Abruzzo never tasted on a Saturday before it would seem. For the red I’ll be popping open the Gran Cerdo Tempranillo (£8.99), can you believe we have never put this on tasting – many of you already know and love it but for those of you who don’t it’s a treasure worth unearthing.
Finally a quick reminder about our Wine & Cheese Evening on Thursday 26th September here in the shop, starting at 8pm. We have four spaces left so don’t hesitate to give me a call on 020 8944 5224 or email me shop@parkvintners.co.uk to reserve your spot. Tickets are £15 each and a fun filled evening is anticipated.
Enough from me, it’s a muggy old day, my fridges are covered in condensation, it’s too hot to wear a coat but too wet not to – Friday 13th, is this all you’ve got?
Cabin crew, doors to automatic and cross check.
Alex & Wayne