Fellow Wine Lovers,
After last week’s email being all about learning life lessons, it seems this week has been all about firsts.
We have the Fresh Prince of Berkshire, the first royal to be named after the Queen’s favourite Beatle, or Charles’ favourite Star Wars actor, or William’s favourite agricultural machinery supplier in Cambridge, you choose.
We have two English teams in the Champions League Final, certainly not a first for Liverpool but definitely for Spurs – perhaps, in a few weeks, it’ll be the first time Liverpool lose to a debutant?!
We have two English teams in the Europa League Final too – the first time two English teams have faced each other in the Finals since Tottenham beat Wolves in 1972 – with these stats, I predict a London club lifting the trophy on 29th May….
It’s the first time the UK has gone more than a week without using any electricity produced by coal – no mean feat and quite exciting in fact. Wind energy provided 10% of the power, anyone who ventured outside last weekend will not find that surprising, solar around about 5%, again no surprises. The one potential parade raining moment might come from the 10% of ‘imported energy’. Where does this come from and how is it produced? A little research shows it to be from France, the Netherlands, Eire and NI. France is largely nuclear but I fear that the other three have a heavier lean towards fossil fuels – let’s hope the bits we got were wind generated shall we.
The BBC achieved a first of some sort, not quite sure how to describe it beyond the fact that it just goes to show the state of the news arena nowadays. Danny Baker tweeted that tweet. The BBC reported his apology. They then, more eagerly reported his sacking, from the BBC. Since then, they have constantly had a Danny Baker story in their headlines. I don’t know, for someone they sacked, they seem very keen to keep him on the front-page, far more so than many other new outlets. As I said, a first of some sort not sure exactly what but not a good one.
Since our cycling correspondent is halfway through a beer/hillclimb in Mallorca right now, it seems it’s up to me, for the first time, to remind you all that the Giro d’Italia starts tomorrow and pedals on until 2nd June. It also means that, for the first time, I have to divine who might win without any help from Dr Dave, Will or Guy – who are all clad in Lycra somewhere too, no doubt. Anyway, having consulted the pinstickers in the pub I’ve gone with Simon Yates, as my main man, and Robert Power at 2500/1 because I believe in nominative determinism…
Another, more local, first comes to mind.
ROSÉ WINE TASTING – £25 – THURSDAY 13TH JUNE AT 8PM
Picture the scene, a barmy evening in mid-June. You’ve just googled ‘air conditioning’ because, perhaps, it might be worth investing this year if summers are going to continue to be so hot and standing by the open doored fridge is not the most sustainable method of keeping cool.
‘Gosh, I fancy a glass of wine and I think this weather demands a nice glass of rosé…’
Well, how about going one better than that – how about coming to our rosé tasting? We’ll be opening a Champagne, a Cremant, some Provence and others beside for your delectation and delight.
We last held an event like this in 2015 that sold out overnight so we thought it was high time we did another one.
This one hasn’t sold out overnight though, in fact is largely unsold, which is a surprising first!
So, if you fancy getting some pals together it should be a fantastic evening!
On the tasting table this weekend
One old friend and one making a first appearance.
Barton Chenin Blanc 2015, Walker Bay, South Africa – £11.29 – Walker Bay is considered to be an area with exciting potential: the region has varying altitudes and ideal soils that help produce some world class, elegant wines. This Chenin has a lean, green apple and white pear nose whilst the palate has a full, rounded mouth-feel, still with the apple and pear but also some hints of spice and lingering acidity. Peri peri prawns and a cucumber salad, I reckon, if the weather is summery enough!
Sierra Grande Pinot Noir 2017, Valle Central, Chile – £8.99 – A delicate and elegant Pinot Noir showing ripe fruit flavours of plums and wild strawberries, balanced with subtle smoky notes and a deliciously lingering finish. Very pleasurable on its own mainly due to the winemakers lightness of touch.
So, that’s it from us this week, do try and stay dry – on the outside at least!
Wayne & Alex d