Fellow Wine Lovers,
You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!
I like this quote, it feels like something that might come in useful when dealing with recalcitrant teenagers or dinner guests who haven’t helped with the washing up and keep on drinking your wine….
Boris should have replied ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me’ in in true parliamentary playground style, however he chose instead the far more scholarly riposte: ‘I must say to him, I don’t know what he is talking about’ – take that Davis, how do you like them apples?!
Whilst we understand the excitement surrounding Mr Thick as Mince’s Cromwellian oratory, we feel that perhaps a better question was asked just beforehand, by Labour MP Diana Johnson:
When the prime minister has to spend his time trying to convince the British public that he is stupid not dishonest, isn’t it time for him to go?
Boom – get your coat, Johnson, you’re toast.
In anticipation of all this we’ve spent the week reading about Liz Truss on Wikipedia in readiness for her arrival at Number 10. However, it now seems that since Boris has single-handedly cured Covid and eradicated it from the British Isles simply by removing Plan B, nobody appears that interested in taking over from him. And no, of course there hasn’t been any blackmail or manipulation or more accurately, Boris hasn’t seen any evidence….
Shame, in every sense of the word.
I feel we need to move on. Today is Friday 21st January which means, encouragingly, that Wayne is now 3 weeks into Veganuary and I haven’t touched a drop since New Year’s Eve.
Have we told you how amazing we are feeling, how this period of abstinence has really made us reflect on previous life choices and how generally Zen we are and that perhaps we might even continue into February and beyond?
No?
That’s probably because we haven’t actually given anything up for this month, it’s all too darned bleak anyway and, if you just abstain Monday to Wednesday each week, that equates to roughly 22 weeks of purgatory per year, which we think is probably about enough.
And why would you want to give up when it’s Whisky season? Yes indeedy, Burn’s Night is upon us once more, next Tuesday to be precise, but I imagine a number of us will be celebrating this weekend.
Not long before Christmas we added two new Highland Whiskies to our range, from a new labelling called Canmore. Both of them are here open to taste should you wish to whet your appetite, if not, here are the notes from their website:
Canmore Original Single Malt – £33
A reassuringly complex and smooth Scotch – the search for the classic single malt can end now with this easy-going, easy-drinking whisky. “A well rounded and happy whisky with lots going for it. Would appeal to a novice palate but would also satisfy a regular whisky drinker as a session whisky. Quite moreish.” Dominic Roskrow, Whisky Consultant
Canmore 12 Year Old – £42
Rich and warming and matured in ex-bourbon barrels for over a decade to create a bounty of deep and complex flavours. “This is a very nice whisky. It’s not over-assertive – there is no peat, or heavy sherry influence, or over-heavy oak influences. There’s enough going on for it to hold its own in the company of malts such as Old Pulteney, An Cnoc, or Glen Grant.” Dominic Roskrow (again!)
Of course, we have plenty of other bottles open too, should you need to do a full evaluation
TASTING THIS WEEKEND
Should Uisge Beatha not be your thing, we’ll have a couple of wines open too
Chatelain Desjacques Chardonnay 2020 – £10.49
Absolute cracking value this from the Val de Loire in France. A light, crisp and appley Chardonnay given a bit of depth by some time spent on its lees and no time spent in oak. This fits into that comfortable space where you’d like a glass of Chablis but don’t have a posh Burgundy budget!
Bodegas Staphyle Iris Malbec 2020 – £9.99
This is from Lujan de Cuyo, which is pretty high altitude wise and home to most of the smart names in quality from Mendoza, Argentina. The winery was originally built in 1930 but fully updated in 2002 by boutique winery Bodegas Staphyle. The wine is brilliant, youthful and bright with light tannins, cherry and berry fruit characteristics and a lovely easy going finish. Cracking with some of that haggis you’ve got planned!
That’s just about it from us – same time next week, perhaps with a new PM?
Slàinte!