Fellow Wine Lovers,
I write this assuming that you have now successfully negotiated Dover/ Terminal Two at Heathrow/ the A303/ the M4* (*delete as appropriate) and are firmly ensconced in that cool beach bar/local pub/on a long walk up Helvellyn* (*delete as appropriate).
Just a quick line to keep you up to date on local developments, the cycle lane on Melrose is now nearly finished. Initially they took it out, but they have now put it back and moved the parking closer to the kerb. For cyclists the finish on the edge of the kerb on Arthur Road is a tad uneven if you take a tight line, but given there’s normally something parked there I doubt it will affect many.
Parking has been widely available all week and there has been little traffic despite the installation of a plunge pool and stop go traffic lights on Durnsford Road as well as a train strike. Turnover here at the shop has been a little slow as we’d expect with you all away, but we have managed to submit our VAT return and take in a couple of deliveries.
You may be wondering why this is all written in bold? The truth is we thought it’d be easier to read on the phone in the glare of sunshine that way. For those of you, like me, still at work and reading it there, you can just highlight the text and click on the fat letter B at the top left and it should return to normal.
On the political front, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak continue to take lumps out of each other in the race to be leader of the Conservative Party and successor to Boris Johnson as PM. They both promise to fix all the problems in the world, whilst being apparently ignorant of the fact they’re trying to lead the party that has been in power since 2010.
Meanwhile, with no apparent sense of ludicrousness, Labour have started up their very own brand of infighting, sacking the Shadow Transport Secretary in the process. We really do have a Palace of all the talents at Westminster don’t we?
What a splendid week for Women’s sport with the Lionesses getting through to the Euro final at Wembley on Sunday to face Germany. There have been some fantastic moments, not least the back heel goal from supersub Alessia Russo!
In real sport, the Tour de France Femmes is rolling its way through France. The racing has been rather fab, we’ve had gravel, cobbles and we’ve even seen Obelix cheering on from the side of the road. Jumbo Visma have the yellow jersey on the back of Marianne Vos but the mountains beckon, and Annemiek Van Vleuten seems to be recovering from an early bout of icky tummy.
An honourable mention is surely due to Moeen Ali, with the fastest half century in T20. That’s fifty runs off of sixteen balls, do go seek it out, it’s a real feast for the eyes.
The Commonwealth games start today in Birmingham with 72 teams competing and more medal events for women than men for the first time in a major event. Look out for three on three basketball, track cycling featuring Laura Kenny and a rather in form Geraint Thomas in his Wales shirt.
The Mercury Award Nominations for Best Album were out this week too, it’s a strong list that’s definitely worth lending your ears to so do investigate. I think I’d like Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler: ‘For All Our Days That Tear the Heart’ or Little Simz ‘Sometime I Might Be Inrovert’ to win but I suspect it’ll be Sam Fender or Harry Styles.
That just leaves us to talk about the wines. In the white corner we’ll be supping Mas Blanch I Jove Troballa 2020/21 (£17.99) – a great wine, 100% Garnacha Blanca with wild fermentation, aged for four months in concrete eggs. A rich and fruity wine with a lovely mouthfeel that would be splendid with a rare tuna steak. The wine is suitable for vegans too, so perhaps a lightly spiced vegetable and coconut curry.
Whilst over in the red corner we’ll go for Monte del Fra Bardolino 2020 (£15.49) – a winning blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara from a lovely family run vineyard in the heart of the Custoza region. Light to medium-bodied with lovely cherry fruit that could even have a light chill if you’re in the mood. Should you be in the area they’re very open to visitors and offer picnics, wine tasting and even yoga!
Lastly, a fond farewell to Bernard Cribbins who gave the Womble’s voice and told us so many stories.
Cheers!