Fellow Wine Lovers,
We did warn you November was coming and, now it’s here with horrific single figure temperatures and icy gales, you mustn’t complain. Alright, we may be exaggerating a tad, since the daytime temperature this week has rarely gone below 15 degrees – just in time for COP30 next week where the great and the good will gather to discuss the ‘state’ of the climate. Coincidentally, when I say the great and the good, this will not include the current POTUS since he has gone on very public record stating that climate change is a ‘con job’. Do I suggest that the POTUS isn’t great or good? Of course not, how could I…
Speaking of the great and the good, let’s talk David Lammy, who’s not been having a good week. Leaky Wandsworth prison released two prisoners by accident, which is not a good look for the Justice Secretary whilst a French court found a taxi driver, accused of stealing money and luggage from Mr Lammy, not guilty. Ignoring the fact that we were most likely picking up the tab for his 600km taxi journey to Flaine, for his ski holiday, what is more significant is that the taxi driver, since May, has been placed under judicial supervision with a driving ban and a 2,000 euro (£1,690) bail, which effectively took away his livelihood… given the not guilty verdict, who now picks up the tab for his loss of earnings and defamation? Sadly, I think we might be able to guess the answer to that and his name’s not Dave.
Now we’ve opened the Great & Good Pandoras Box, the G&Gs come flooding out. Next up, Rachel R. who is considering charging EV drivers a ‘per mile’ tax. All the encouragement and incentive to adopt electric vehicles naturally leading to an opportunity to profit from people’s environmental choices was always going to be too hard to resist. Having said that, rumours are circulating that the 5p Fuel Duty Freeze could be coming to an end; apparently, some retailers aren’t passing the savings onto their customers, who’d have thunk it! This move alone would add a few billion to the treasury coffers each year, which might be helpful…
Other G&Gs worth mentioning in passing: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the DWP and Joey Barton spring to mind but I’m sure you can add more.
Moving on, it’s another rugby weekend this weekend – Twickenham tickets in L4 are still available on Saturday for England v Fiji if you’ve got about £130; equivalent tickets, in the same block, for the New Zealand game next week are north of £500, which will you choose? Meanwhile, in cricket, the Indian Women romped to World Cup victory on Sunday, whilst the Australian Ashes selectors have already started playing mind games by choosing a Masters squad for the First Test in Perth.
Back here, we’re keenly selling wine and trying not to upset anyone. Definitely succeeding with the first, desperately hoping the second is as successful. Hopefully, if we open some wine this weekend, that might keep us in your good books?
For the white, we thought a brief trip to Spain with the Valenciso Rioja 2023 – £25.99. This is a blend of 70% Viura and 30% Garnacha Blanca, sourced from 80 year old vines and then fermented with wild yeasts before lazing around for 9 months in Caucasian oak barrels. Complex aromas combining pretty, floral characters with preserved lemon, truffle and smoky notes. The palate is broad and well integrated with nuts and stone fruit characters. Fresh candied peel, minerality and crisp citrus acidity on the finish.
For red, the Right Bank grabs our attention with Château Lucas 2016 – £24.99. Hailing from lovely Lussac Saint-Émilion, our first taste was during a summer heatwave (not this year!) and, even then, its class stood out. 50% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it has raspberry and black cherry fruits, a nice silky texture whilst still having a bit of oomph about it.
That’s it from us for this week – bonfire night tomorrow in Wimbledon Park, so traffic will be bananas from about 5pm, fyi. Apparently, Edenbridge are burning Keir Starmer this year (Starmer The Farmer Harmer) whilst Lewes already lit him up on Wednesday.
What a strange world we do live in!