Fellow Wine Lovers,
Welcome to Friday, how has your week been? We’ve been through sunshine, rain, thunder, hail – and that was just riding between Balham and here on Wednesday. Let’s not get too excited about blaming climate change though, since ancient times the period between 11th -15th May has been well known for its cold spells. The feast days of Saints Mamertus, Pancras, Servatius, Boniface, and Sophia, known as the Ice Saints, all fall in this period and this meteorological phenomenon is known to bring the last nightly frosts of spring, often damaging crops.
In China, Donald has been to check out a selection of ballrooms, beg Xi for some help with the mess he has got himself into in the Middle East, and to ask him to put the price of Chinese cars up because it’s making American cars look bad!
Over here, we have moved to that part of the political cycle where we take the lock off the revolving door and start spinning through contenders for the top job. The main thing to avoid on your CV is the name Kier Starmer. Apparently, we’re not looking at a quick change candidate as PM but a discussion and an exchange of ideas. Now, call me old fashioned but I thought the entire problem was caused by a lack of ideas. Either way we suspect the Prince of Darkness will finish him off when the final documents are released next week.
We thought this government were elected specifically to move away from keep changing the mask on the dummy in No.10 but perhaps we read the wrong newspaper.
We wondered if we shouldn’t just launch a consultation to see if it can be proven that changing the PM every 20 months actually benefits the country or not? There are currently thousands of consultations running, each one using the time and expertise of a ridiculous number of civil servants and MPs. Is the best use of taxpayer’s funds? We’re going to launch a consultation into why we can’t have 25˚C sunny days from now until October with a rain every other night between 3.30 and 6.00am. Seriously though, don’t we elect politicians to get on and do things?
On that note, Reform Councillors in Doncaster have got right to the heart of the problem facing all their constituents suggesting that the council forms a panel to investigate UFO sighting over the skies of Doncaster. That’s taking border control further than anyone else.
Meanwhile, that no strings attached £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire to wee Nige is now being investigated. He claimed it was for his security, that same security that a lack of prevents him from holding constituency surgeries in Clacton. Then he claimed it was a reward for Brexit. Strangely, he paid £1.4 million in cash for a house shortly after receiving said no strings attached gift. I wonder if that’s a coincidence.
In sports news, the PGA Championship has started while the FA Cup sees Chelsea and Manchester City face off at Wembley with both hoping to rescue something from a troubling season. In real sports, the Giro d’Italia is providing its usual drama and excitement.
Which brings us nicely onto wine. The Bordeaux En Primeur campaign seems to be drifting on, apparently without much enthusiasm; this week saw chat about vintage port but here in the shop saw us chatting about Tuscany as Alex has just spent a few days visiting some suppliers.
Tasting This Weekend
We’ll go with the Giro d’Italia’s drama this weekend, starting off in Piemonte for Folli e Benato Gavi 2025, Piemonte, Italy (£17.99). Folli & Benato are long-standing friends and colleagues for over 20 years. Italian born and bred, they met whilst living in England, working in the drinks trade. This wine comes from Cortese grapes grown on 30 year old vines that are fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged on the lees for three months. It’s delicious with a medium bodied palate with a mineral core and stone fruit notes and would be just the ticket with a creamy smoked salmon and pea pasta.
Then we’ll whizz down to Tuscany to where Alex has been hanging out for a few days and get a sample of Fattoria di Calappiano ‘Vinciano’ Chianti Riserva 2022, Tuscany, Italy (£22.49). Fattoria di Calappiano was founded by the Medici in the 1500’s but this wine is a little younger. Mostly Sangiovese with a splash of Canaiolo it has that lovely dark cherry fruit we’d all expect, fine tannins and herb and smoke notes adding complexity. Medium bodied with a juicy finish, Alex is going for a Bistecca alla Fiorentina as a partner, Wayne is suggesting a pork ragù (or wild boar if you can get some), what are you having with yours?
The cork recycling is taking off nicely, feel free to bring your natural corks and pop them in the receptacle.