Fellow Wine Lovers,
Good morning, how has your week been? I noticed we had some kind of wet substance fall from the sky yesterday morning. The park still looks like shredded wheat, but perhaps it’s a start, certainly the Bank Holiday arriving normally triggers such behaviour from the skygods. Looking up and down Arthur Road it seems that parking around here is still remarkably easy so I suspect you’re reading from Devon, Wales, the Lake District or Provence and that traffic will be challenging on Sunday or Monday.
Andy Burnham has abandoned plans to cap political donations; it seems he was got at by vested interests that fund the Labour Party. Seems a bit of an error to me, I think we’d rather the entire funding was reformed to keep the dirty money and bad influence away from our politicians. In unrelated news, it seems Thames Water is not about nationalised either. I guess that’s more dirty water than dirty money, but who knows?
In the US, Facebook owner Meta has paid $18 billion to 48 states, the District of Columbia and three US territories to settle a lawsuit that claimed Facebook and Instagram harms children. There will also be a host of protective measures implemented. As you’d expect, Meta claimed they have done nothing wrong. Seems a lot of money to pay to stay out of a public trial though, doesn’t it?
In football, UEFA are pursuing criminal legal proceedings against both FIFA and Gianni Infantino over his, now binned, attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup. Closer to home, ever larger amounts are changing hands in the transfer window, and rather oddly, Savinho of Manchester City has changed his name to become Sàvio of Tottenham Hotspur.
We’ve had the Champions League draw, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and two Manchesters now all know who they’ll be facing. There are of course other British teams available, but not in the Champions League.
Way down in the National League, a place we visit scarcely, I’d just like to point out that Southend United are top. Mostly because 14 year old Wayne can’t imagine writing “Southend are top”. Even if it is the National League!
In real sports, La Vuelta finished stage six yesterday withTadej Pogačar winning the stage (his third!) and remaining in the red jersey with a lead of over 3 minutes. He almost came a cropper on a descent, overcooking a corner and coming off the road so it’s not over till it’s over! Honourable mention to British Rider Matthew Brennan who has won two stages already and this is his first Grand Tour! The Tour of Britain starts next Wednesday in Lincoln with most of the world’s best sprinters on the start list.
In wine news, Majestic staff has, according to The Sun, been busted buying Bollinger from Sainsbury’s after receiving an internal email stating “Please visit Sainsbury’s today and buy as many as possible using petty cash. If there are fewer than six bottles available, top up the order using Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc to secure the 25 per cent discount.” The email continued: “park in a discreet position” and to “wear plain clothing over your uniform so you are not recognisable as Majestic staff”. Sounds all a bit peculiar to us!
Tasting This Weekend
In the white jersey we’ll head to Haute Vallée de l’Aude in the Languedoc and start with Altugnac ‘Turitelles’ Chardonnay 2024 (£15.99). Burgundian in style but without the Burgundian price tag. This makes a lot of sense when you learn that the two owners have a very successful Domaine in Mâcon and have brought their skills across to the sunny south. Refreshing acidity and notes of peach, hazelnut, all rounded off with an elegant finish.
Sharing the red jersey with Tadej will be Duas Quintas 2023 (£22.49). The Duas Quintas of the name refers to the two Ramos Pinto Douro vineyards where the grapes for this wine are grown. The hotter Quinta de Ervamoira produces ripe rich flavoured fruit, while the high altitude Quinta dos Bons Ares adds freshness and balance. The wine has an expressive, vinous nose with spices, tobacco leaf, sweet peach and orange blossom notes. Rich and full in the mouth, with fine tannins and body followed by floral and spicy notes and a long finish.
Lastly, thanks to Dolly Parton for the songs, entertainment and the books, Tim Curry for playing Dr. Frank’n’Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dr. Yevgeniy Petrov in Hunt for Red October and especially Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island.
Cheers!