Fellow Wine Lovers,
So, I’ve been banned, apparently for my own good. Or perhaps I could say I’ve given up for Lent and then perhaps it will seem more worthy. Whichever way you put it, Wayne has put his foot down and declared that I am no longer allowed to do it, at least until he goes on holiday at the end of next week, after which he doesn’t really care what I do as he will be shoulder deep in yoga and sundowners.
So, what is this nasty habit that has got me this ban? Nose picking? Playing B*Witched on Spotify? Cattle rustling? No, none of these, in fact it’s something far more prosaic, that we all do, and get away with, everyday – yep, it’s called reading the news. Now, I’m not talking about doing my best Moira Stewart impersonation or wearing Sir Robin Day bowties, since these are already on the blacklist, but more about the keeping-myself-up-to-date-with-current-affairs aspect.
By all accounts it makes me ranty. Ranty, moi, how very dare you? It all starts over breakfast when I flick through the BBC News whilst the dog patiently waits for his walk. Whilst on the common with Rufus, the aforementioned dog, a particularly annoying and seemingly unstoppable App that Samsung have installed, pings me constantly with breaking news. This news is never about cats being rescued from trees or old ladies being helped across the road but more about bigger cats becoming extinct, trees being destroyed for ‘industry’, or old ladies being knocked down whilst doing the shopping. As I still only have Rufus to talk to at this point and his feelings for cats are typically canine, I have to continue with my inner seethe until I get to work.
And then my exasperation becomes too much as I explode in indignation. Poor Wayne has to nod and tut appropriately, whilst surreptitiously placing his bets for the 2.15 at Lingfield, as I rant about the state of the world, the cruelty of mankind, the seemingly flippant attitude of some to the value of a human life, the overpayment of footballers, the parlous nature of politics and politicians and …. well, you get the gist.
So I’m banned, which is a bit of a bind when it comes to writing this email, since it is usually heavily propped up by some sort of news roundup. So I’m not entirely sure what to write about now, as there is also an embargo in place on writing about football or rugby – for many of the same reasons as the news ban is in place – such is the life of a Spurs fan and an England rugby fan. And let’s not talk about cricket. But if you fancy a rant about footballers and haven’t seen it already then
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8579607/edin-dzeko-pepe-roma-porto-champions-league/
should make you smile, whilst also gently simmer at such poor sportsmanship.
However, if you are banned like me, then take a look at this feel-good story and restore a bit of faith
NEW WINES!!!!
But I am allowed to talk about wine though, which is handy as this is the main purpose of this missive and excitingly this week we have received some of our new listings…
FIZZ
Champagne Vauban Freres Brut NV – £30.49
WHITE
Australia
Pauletts Watervale Semillon 2016 – £14.99
Chile
Naciente Chardonnay 2017 – £11.99
Czech Republic
Sonberk Riesling 2015 – £22.39
Germany
Deep Roots Riesling Trocken 2018 – £12.99
Italy
Monte Schiavo Pallio di San Floriano Verdicchio Classico Superiore 2017 – £13.99
Vignetti Le Monde Friulano ‘Grave del Friuli’ 2017 – £15.99
Tenute Pieralisi Villaia Verdicchio Classico 2017 – £19.99
RED
Argentina
Pablo y Walter Malbec 2018 – £11.39
Chile
Metic Carmenère 2018 – £10.99
Italy
Cantina Crociani Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015 – £22.49
Spain
Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel Lecco Crianza
2014 – £19.29
And we also welcome back lots of wine from our favourite Yorkshireman, Jonathan at DOMAINE TRELOAR
One Block Grenache 2015 – £13.99
Three Peaks 2016 – £14.99
Le Secret 2013 – £17.99
Motus 2015 – £18.49
La Terre Promise 2015/16 – £18.49
Tahi 2011 – £25.99
And also in Magnum – Tahi 2010 – £50.00
TASTING THIS WEEKEND
As we’ve got so many new wines it would seem sensible to open a couple of them. We’ve opted to go New World this week and will open the Pauletts Helmsford Semillon 2016 and the Pablo y Walter Malbec 2018.
The Semillon is a single vineyard wine from their Watervale property and, compared to its counterparts in the Hunter Valley, has more flesh on its bones, as it were. A typically zesty, tangy citrus nose leads onto a riper palate with plenty of crisp fruit – potentially more interesting than a lot of Sauvignons but in the same vein.
The Malbec is a wine we have known about for some time but never really had shelf space for. That all changed as some if its peers became more expensive but not necessarily better and a slot appeared on the shelf. A thoroughly decent drop, plenty of dark fruit and richness without knocking your socks into the middle of next week – we think this will gather a bit of a following.
So come and taste the wines, admire the new listings, bring joy to my curmudgeonly existence and perhaps let me know what’s going on in the world!