Fellow Wine Lovers,
Forty nine years ago a chap came up with the idea of doubling the lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and beef patties in one burger. There was the special sauce too, and the Big Mac was born, creating a lasting impression on McDonalds and now sold in over 100 countries worldwide. That chap was Jim Delligatti, who passed away this week, aged 98.
Thanks Jim, for your culinary contribution, but what would you drink with a Big Mac? Clearly Cola, or a shake will have their fans, and I’m sure an argument could be made for a nice, hoppy pale ale, perhaps but what wine would you choose? Wayne quite likes the idea of a Brunello di Montalcino, that rich dark ripe cherry fruit being a decent foil, whilst Alex is thinking more southern hemisphere, with Pulenta Estate’s Gran Corte, a richly fruited Malbec blend from the lofty Lujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza. So what would you drink with yours?
Elsewhere, Gareth Southgate has been announced as the England manager. It would appear the last 4 games were just a rehearsal. He has stated he is keen to make up for the 1996 Euros and he knows that there is a “time and a place for a beer”. Clearly not after a penalty shoot-out!
Free Beer!
American Express launches their ShopSmall campaign on Saturday. It runs from the 3rd to the 18th December and is designed to encourage all you Amex card holders to shop with small businesses like us. Or, as Amex puts it: Shop Small from 3 December right up to 18 December 2016 and every time you spend £10 or more on your Card in a single transaction at a participating small business, you’ll get a £5 credit on your statement. I reckon that’s the equivalent to a bottle of beer or two don’t you? Terms and conditions are bound to apply, you’ll need to register your card and full details are here: https://www.amexshopsmall.co.uk/shop-small-for-shoppers/
Champagne and Birthdays
As long term readers may remember we like to fill December with birthdays and bubbles. We kicked the month off yesterday with one of each, so thanks to everyone who came along and made the evening such fun, apologies for Wayne’s singing.
Those of you who didn’t manage to get along though, do not despair.
It is our birthday this weekend (WE ARE SIX!) so tradition dictates that we open a bottle of bubbly on Saturday. We shall be opening Champagne Thiénot Brut NV (£32.99) a delicious drop that we thought was drinking particularly nicely when we opened a bottle at Wine School recently.
As you know, we offer six bottles for the price of five on most of our fizz and champagne.
For this weekend only, we’ll also offer the Thiénot on a three bottle deal of 3 bottles for £90 for those of you who’d prefer not to buy a box of six.
Port
We’ve chatted with several of you over time about the differing styles of port. We will be opening a bottle of the Kopke Colheita 1964 (£150). A very rare but really rather lazy beast. Rare because there really isn’t very much of it about, really lazy because all it has done since 1964 is laze around in barrels getting fabulous. If you’re lucky, Alex won’t have drunk it all before lunch.
Wine School
Several of you have asked and yes, a gift voucher for Wine School is available. Dates and full details attached.
Tasting This Weekend
The red corner this week will be inhabited by Château Fourcas Dupré 2006, Listrac-Medoc (£23.99) a delicious claret from the Pages family, who we feel have producing great, undervalued claret for a good number of years now.
Wearing the white shorts this week will be Uitkyk Chenin Blanc 2015, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£12.99). The name of Uitkyk (look out) is most appropriate given its situation on the southwestern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain looking across to Table Mountain in the distance. The estate’s neo-classical manor house, completed in 1788 is one of the only three 18th century, double story, flat roofed, Georgian style houses left in the country. But enough National Trust-like guff, this is a cracking drop of wine. Part barrel-fermented using wild yeasts, it has a touch of vanillin and candied apple notes on the nose. Once in the mouth we are treated to lovely crisp fruit characters supported by that gentle spice from the oak, and with a lovely lingering finish. Yum!
That’s it from us for now, I’m off to the Golden Arches with my bottle of Brunello!