Fellow Wine Lovers,
Not going to do too much heavy lifting in the email this week – we’ve all been warned to be careful not to overdo it, amber alert, extreme heat and all that jazz – so we’re sitting here in our sombreros and sandals, doing very little!
What you need to know this week:
- If the queues are too long at Lilywhites, you will now be able to buy your Everlast Punchbags, Lonsdale underpants and Slazenger tennis balls at 109-125 Knightsbridge
- Demi Vollering (FDJ United–Suez) won Le Tour de France Femmes 2026
- In real sport, reigning champion Alexandre Voisine won The Beachy Head World Championship Penny Farthing Hill Climb Time Trial last Sunday, in a new record time
- We currently have 292 cold bottles of wine and 70 cold beers and ciders on site, awaiting consumption
- There are 2 spaces left for the Wine & Cheese Tasting on Thursday 10th September
- 2 spaces left for the Wine & Cheese tasting on Thursday 15th October
- 5 spaces left for the Wine & Cheese tasting on Thursday 12th November
- £30 per person, you know the rules
- On Wednesday, Aston Villa lost 2-1 to PSG in what is known as the Super Cup with the Villa goal scored by 17 year old Brian Madjo – remember that name, he’s 6 foot 4 inches and seemingly scared of nothing
- Matt Vigurs may have hit the longest hole-in-one in UK history after completing a 411-yard par-4 in one shot at Great Barr Golf Club
- August 14th is Falklands Day, commemorating the first sighting of the Falkland Islands in 1592 – a jolly long time ago
What you don’t need to know:
- Nigel Farage is still MP Farage for now
- 28 men, 5 women and 1 intergalactic space warrior faced off in the Clacton by-election yesterday and everyone got at least 7 people to vote for them
- The Farage share went up to 63.34% but significantly fewer people visited the polling stations – 10,000 fewer than in 2024
- Essex Police did not advise any candidate to not attend the by-election count
- Closer to home, the current population of Wimbledon Park is hovering around 107 but this is likely to change as many more of you go on holiday this weekend
- The Costa del Sol Cervezas Victoria Cup stays at home as Málaga drew 2-2 with Fulham in their final preseason fixture. Fulham opted not to take part in the penalty shootout, meaning the 36th edition of the trophy stays at La Rosaleda.
- 38.1 degrees in Kew yesterday, which is 5.2 miles west of us, so we were probably 38.2….
- Zach Holland, an amateur golfer, faked making a hole-in-one at a tournament WingHaven Country Club in Missouri, having fraudulently placed a ball in the cup at the fourth hole earlier in the morning, before his round
- Andy Burnham’s favourite Greggs’ amuse bouche is the Sausage, Bean & Cheese Melt
- 133 days until Christmas
- Thursday 13th August was International Left-Handers Day
- It was also International Prosecco Day
- There’s a joke in there somewhere – mini bottle of Prosecco for whoever finds it…
Anyway, enough of this piffle, what shall we taste this weekend? Given that we haven’t tasted this in the shop for a couple of years, we thought we would open Les Vignobles Foncalieu Piquepoul Rosé 2025 – £15.99 which is from close to Beziers and is the palest of pinks in colour, with a delicate nose of cherry blossom, strawberries and peaches. The palate is bone dry and fresh with summer berry flavours and notes of crushed rose petals. The fruit notes are balanced perfectly with a lovely, crisp citrus acidity – frankly, it ticks a lot of boxes!
The red will be, understandably, at the lighter end and will also be a new wine to many of you, having only landed with us a few weeks back. Domaine de la Mariniere Chinon Vieilles Vignes 2023 – £21.99. We always enjoy Cabernet Franc from the Loire and this old vine character is just the ticket. All the vines are at least 25 years old and has been certified organic since 2018. A very classy drop, the epitome of the modern take on classic Chinon. Perfumed, with youthful intensity whilst still maintaining that tell-tale crunchy fruit mid-palate. Who knows, we might pop it in the fridge too!
That’s all from us for now – if it’s your birthday today, just remember, as the highly respected philosopher said:
“Age is just a number, maturity is a choice” (Harry Styles, Redditch)