Fellow Wine Lovers,
Forgive us, this week we have been, much like the PM, on our travels. We might mention Aesop’s assertion that “A man is known by the company he keeps” so not for us the charms of Peppa Pig World but something a bit closer to home. In this context, Alex found himself fully immersed in a Sparkle Evening with 170 people all out on a Monday night having a glass of bubbly. There was also some gift shopping and a raffle; it was a local school’s Christmas event.
Tuesday evening saw us whizz off to watch AFC Wimbledon for one of their rare midweek home games, a rather satisfying 3-2 home win against Crewe Alexandra. Wayne found a certain amount of hilarity in the away fans kept chanting “Alex”, must have been embarrassing as a youngster out on his first date etc… you get the picture. We managed some chips and a pint and at half time and even bumped into a customer and took an order!
Whilst chatting about things local, it would be absolutely remiss of us not to mention the Lighting up of the Christmas Tree at Christ The King. At 4.15 on this Saturday (27th November) will find the St Luke’s Choir leading the carols on the corner of the Crescent as usual. Do come along and join in, carol sheets will be available for the singers amongst you. Not you Wayne!
I guess with the lights going on and School Events happening we’re safe to mention the arrival of Foxdenton Christmas Gin Liqueur – £23. Made with Winslow Plums and a blend of traditional Christmas spices including Ginger, Clove, Cinnamon, and Star Anise, our Christmas Liqueur, is the ideal winter warmer. As usual there is limited stocks so don’t be shy.
We’ve also managed to wrestle some mature clarets out of the hands of our chum Jack, all bang in the drinking zone including d’Angludet 2006 (£60) from Margaux and Cambon La Pelouse 2000 (£50) a wine that seems to be forever under the radar despite offering great drinking for years.
The Fizz tasting on 2nd December has but one space left, so if you’ve nothing better to do on a Thursday night than drink some top quality fizz…
If you thought Stella Creasy being reprimanded for bringing her baby to Parliament (one of the better behaved in the chamber we thought!), Nadine Dorries talking about Channel Four’s “taxpayer funding” or Johnson’s cynically ridiculous speech to the CBI were the silliest things in politics this week then you may be mistaken. Forgive us, but you have to have a look at Nick Fletcher MP suggesting young men turn to crime because Dr Who is played by a woman. Do these people know they are actually talking aloud?
Whilst on the subject of silliness our attention is drawn to snooker player Shaun Murphy, who crashed out in the first round of the UK Championship to amateur Si Jiahui. His rather ranty take on losing, was that Si “played like a man without a care in the world” because he was under no pressure having not turned professional. That’s the same Shaun Murphy who failed to qualify as an amateur in the 2019 Golf Open Championship at County Louth with the words: “I won’t be under the pressure they are under. Most of them are trying to win the Open Championship. I’m just trying to have a good day.” What’s that saying about people in glasshouses?
Tasting This Weekend
We’ll start with Domaine Landrau Cremant de Loire Rose (£16.99) a fabulous party bubble and excellent for celebrating silliness, Christmas lights and Carols.
The cue ball will be represented by Domaine Lebrun Pouilly Fume (£17.99) a lovely example full of elegance and restraint that we all enjoy from the Loire.
Rolling us off with the red ball will be Tom and the Peleton (£14.49) a blend of Syrah and Grenache from Ventoux experts Domaine des Anges. I have this down as being a rather tasty partner to that venison you’ll pick up from the game man in the farmers’ market in the morning.