Fellow Wine Lovers,
I must confess, I watched the Don and the Melan leave the White House inside Marine One with mixed emotions and also a little bit of trepidation. In the soap opera that has been the Trump Presidency it would not have surprised me at all if the helicopter had been eaten by Godzilla, attacked by aliens or, in a throwback to the famous scene from Dallas, we all woke up to discover that the last four years had just been a terrible dream and Democracy was having a shower before carrying as if nothing had happened!
However, not only have we lost everyone’s favourite President but more significantly we have lost the blog gift that has kept on giving. There have been many weeks that we have sat at the keyboard here, bereft of inspiration and muse-less, unable to find the words to kick off the weekly whiffle until we have looked at the news from across the pond and DT has careered in to save the day with his outrageous behaviour and extraordinary statements.
I never, ever expected to say this but Donald, The Donald, we’ll miss you and your soundbites so much!
“The only people brave enough to vote out this corrupt establishment is you, the American people.”
Speech Responding To Assault Accusations. www.npr.org. October 13, 2016.
But we wipe the tear from our eyes and we move on. However it’s not long before we reach for the Kleenex once more, as we read of two cult West Country festivals already cancelled for the second year on the trot; the little known Glastonbury Festival has shown the white flag as has the world renowned Dorset Knob Throwing and Frome Valley Food Festival – who will be next?
And here’s the answer:
“Good evening Mr Bond, I’ve been expecting you. Stay where you are!” – sorry Stromberg, you’ll have to wait a bit longer – No Time to Die will now not arrive until October….
Meanwhile back in the world of wine it was heartening to read that, in spite of all the restrictions we underwent in the latter part of last year, UK Champagne consumption was greater in 2020 than in 2019, with the most significant uplift being in December where people clearly treated themselves to the proper stuff, and on more occasions – that’s the spirit! Obviously this was detrimental to Prosecco sales but frankly, they’ve had it their own way for too long!
And now we’re almost at the end of January which brings our annual foray into Witchetty Grubs and Haggis.
Tuesday 26th is Australia Day. If you’ve manged to procure your Moreton Bay Bugs, your King Island Brie, a meat pie and of course some of the aforementioned grubs, we recommend you treat yourself to a bottle of Geoff Merrill Reserve Shiraz 2011 – £29.99 – come on, it doesn’t get much more Aussie than a McLaren Vale Shiraz.
However, before we go down under we need to go up North because we’ve got Whisky to drink. Monday 25th is Burns Night and, frankly, I like an excuse to have a dram on Monday and this week Rabbie has delivered!
Our Whisky selection is as follows:
Highland
Ardmore 1998 – £70.00
Tomatin 12 Year Old – £41.75
Islay
Bunnahabhain 11 Year Old – Discovery Range – £50.00
Caol Ila 13 Year Old – Discovery Range – £50.00
Finlaggan Old Reserve – £36.00
Speyside
Benromach 10 Year Old – £40.00
Benromach 15 Year Old – £60.00
Benromach Sassicaia Wood Finish 2011 – £50.00
Strathmill 2002 – Connoisseurs Choice – £50.00
Macallan Double Cask 12 Year Old – £61.00
The Glenrothes Whisky Makers Cut – £54.00
Longmorn 2005 – Distillers Label – £70.00
Blended
Mary Queen of Scots 12 Year Old – £35.00
Plenty of choice there we think!
That’s about it from us and, as we move into the last week of January and consequently the last week of our ‘6 for 5’ offer, so don’t be backward in coming forwards.
It’s the weekend, Trump’s gone and we clearly have been enjoying our Champagne of late, so let’s all raise a glass to absent friends…