Fellow Wine Lovers,
Hasty
It would appear that Alex’s call on the cricket last week was just a little on the hasty side. The word ‘thumping’ was well deployed though, given the batting displays we witnessed.
News
In our coverage of the world’s biggest sports fest (apart from the Tour de France obviously!) you will need to mentally time travel. I have looked at the list of things we are not allowed to say, whisper, or even think, in the wrong places, and have discovered that even the season between spring and autumn has been purloined. We shall in future refer to them as ‘London 1948’.
It seems London 1948 got off to a slightly iffy start, with no-cog displaying the wrong Korean flag! More positively, Team GB got off to a flying start with the ladies football team beating the Kiwis (who were managed by AFC Wimbledon’s first league captain!). The men’s footballers were distinctly average, only managing a draw with Senegal.
For me the fun really starts with the road race on Saturday, but I know a lot of people will enjoy the opening ceremony. In 1948 they released 2500 pigeons, the results of which are all around us. Let’s hope this year’s sheep don’t all head for Trafalgar Square too!
Just as the holiday season hits us hard and fast, an 11 year-old who was caught mid-air after boarding a plane without passport or ticket said he found it ‘easier than my homework’. Makes you wonder why it takes so long with a ticket and passport!
Wine
Moving over to wine, news reaches us this week that Britons spent more on sparkling wine than champagne for the first time ever this year. At this point I’ll cheekily insert a sales plug for our Morton Estate Brut at £12.99, which is just perfect for a Fizz Friday! It’s certainly what I’ll be drinking with the opening ceremony.
Tasting this Weekend
Even if I am the only person left in Wimbledon Park this weekend there will be some wine open.
First up, a taste of sunshine with our favourite rosé, Chateau de L’Aumerade ‘Cuvée Marie-Christine’ 2011 (£12.49). It is a Côtes de Provence Cru Classé (Cru Classé since 1955) and a delicate blend of Grenache, Syrah & Cinsault, guaranteed to revive your taste buds.
Moving over to the red corner we will be breaking out Percheron Old Vine Cinsault 2011(£8.19), which is from 65 year old bush vines grown in Swartland, South Africa. Juicy and elegant with a light enough touch to count as a summery red, yet enough depth of flavour that it won’t be lost should the barbecue become involved.
So we wish good luck to all competitors, but may the really heavy yellow medals be placed on British necks.
As for Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, David Millar, Ian Stannard, Nicole Cooke, Lizzie Armistead, Lucy Martin, and Emma Pooley, I believe the correct terminology is “ALLEZ, ALLEZ, ALLEZ!”
Wayne & Alex