Fellow Wine Lovers,
Sifting through this week’s news reminds us the world is a funny old place. We’ve got governments in disarray, getting a pay rise, and submarine bases costing zillions if Scotland gets independence. Then we have Government contractors under investigation for fraud, protesters scaling the shard, a chance to buy a share in Postman Pat and Popocatepetl, Mexico’s most famous volcano, getting uppity again.
The Ashes
I’m not sure there has been much press coverage, but the eagle-eyed amongst you may have spotted there is some cricket happening. It seems since 1882 England and Australia have periodically held cricket matches contesting a small terracotta urn. This year sees five matches and the first match is ‘in play’.
We thought we’d get in on the action as well.
Botham Merrill Willis – Ian Botham and Bob Willis are two of the biggest names in the modern era of world cricket. Geoff Merrill’s reputation on the international wine stage is equally impressive. A mutual passion for their respective professions, cricket and wine, drew them together during the English tour of Australia in 1978. Since then a lasting friendship has developed over many bottles opened and balls bowled. Winemaker Geoff Merrill has an enviable record as a winemaker and show judge spanning some 25 years in Australia, South Africa, The United Kingdom, Italy, USA and New Zealand.
The wines are all released with a bit of bottle age, bringing a rounded, food friendly nature.
2008 Chardonnay (McLaren Vale) – Lively citrus and melon fruits, subtle touch of oak and a crisp finish.
2008 Shiraz (McLaren Vale) – Classic blackberry and spice notes you’d expect from here, along with leather and aniseed notes.
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (McLaren Vale/Coonawarra) – Medium-bodied with dark fruits, a touch of menthol, and a touch of that olivey earthiness that Coonawarra brings.
We have all three wines in stock priced at £16.99 each.
ASHES SPECIAL: mix any six Botham Merrill Willis wines for £90.
If that wasn’t exciting enough buy 12 bottles and we’ll give you a free bottle of 2007 Chardonnay signed by Bob Willis (whilst stocks last obviously!). This wine commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Beefy’s first Charity Walk.
Votes
Thanks to all of you who have.
If you haven’t (assuming we’ve not upset you in some way) PLEASE DO IT NOW the voting closes today.
http://www.timeandleisure.co.uk/food-and-drink-awards/2279-best-wine-retailer.html
Memory
News reaches (via Forbes magazine and one of our eagle eyed spies!) that Champagne that is made with red grapes can help improve your memory. Luckily Moutard Grand Cuvée (£26.99) is made of Pinot Noir. If you can remember where we are form an orderly queue.
Tasting This Weekend
The sun is shining, tans are getting topped up, the plants on the patio are thirsty, not to mention us wine drinkers so we thought we’d charge your glasses this weekend with the BMW wines.
All three will be open from this evening and will hopefully stay in bat until the close of play tomorrow. If they get run-out, we can offer tots of our Zuidam Gin and Finlaggan Whisky should there be a need for some nerve steadying, harder liquor!
Some of you do it, some of you don’t, which is fine. For those who do, here’s a bit of fun. Whilst Alex was dossing down in Kew Gardens last night he tweeted this: https://twitter.com/ParkVintners/status/355412361064116224
Which got us to thinking… the best photo we see of a bottle of Moutard in an unusual place, on Twitter, by the 1st October 2013 will earn you a bottle of Moutard Champagne. I’m sure there are technical/legal details I need to add here, but suffice to say
· our decision is final,
· bribery is thoroughly appreciated but will not sway the judges,
· it’s all just a bit of fun!
Follow us on Twitter @parkvintners to see what it’s all about.
Wayne is cycling to Brighton in the dark tonight, for fun apparently, so I suggest you all stick to the pavements if you’re out and about after 11pm, we don’t want any broken legs now do we!!
Over bowled.