Fellow Wine Lovers,
Watched any good sport recently?
England 0 – Germany 0; Sweden 1 – Italy 0; Italy 0 – Sweden 0; England 0 – Brazil 0.
Admittedly two of these were friendlies, but just 1 goal in four matches? You’ve got Germany, Brazil and Italy – three of the powerhouses of world football, two of whom were playing against lowly England, unable to score a goal. And Italy, fighting to stay in with a chance of going to the World Cup next year, failed to score in 180 minutes of regular play? Some people paid £100 to watch England v Brazil on Tuesday night, I suspect the costs weren’t far adrift in Stockholm or Milan – who says there’s no value in football?
Oh hang about, here’s a score form the Women’s Champions League:
Lyon Féminines 9 – BIIK Kazygurt Women 0 (Agg 16-0) – I think I’ve found the goals!
England 21 – Argentina 8.
It looked miserable at Twickenham last week and that’s before we discuss the weather. It’s been a long time since we’ve been bored by a game of rugby, that’s not how the modern game works but last Saturday came close. And we’ve got the Aussies this week – they must be quaking… although judging by their strange selection of the second choice wicket keeper for Tasmania for the first Ashes Test, perhaps John Eales might turn up on Saturday?
Read any good news recently?
Mugabe under house arrest was a bit of a surprise, him somehow managing to start negotiating some sort of deal with the army, less so. Otherwise it’s been pretty much business as usual: more sordid sex scandals emerge; another top banker suggests a second Brexit referendum; Trump tweeted; someone said something derogatory about Theresa….
Drunk any good wine recently?
Well, Alex has certainly tasted enough. 85 wines on Tuesday at the IWC resulted in teeth blacker than the night and a pummelled palate. However, Wayne has been more successful tasting-wise and as a result we’ve listed some more wines to cram onto the shelves:
Viña von Siebenthal Carmenère 2014 – £20.99 – a delicious red from the Aconcagua Valley in Chile, smooth rich damson fruits and a wine to give many Bordeaux a run for their money
Château Haut-Brisson ‘La Grave’ 2010 – £27.99 – Saint Émilion Grand Cru, from a tiptop vintage, on my table at Christmas, don’t mind if I do!
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo 2012 – £33 – oh no, not another Barolo we hear you cry! Well tough, it’s here now with all its lovely red cranberry and cedar wood notes and an elegant palate that has lovely tension between fruit and tannin – if you don’t want it we’ll have it…
Quinta da Falorca Garrafeira Old Vines 2011 – £50 – bit of an indulgence this one, a wine that we fell in love with and agreed that if no one bought it we were happy to drink it ourselves. Our note was ‘a serious wine for serious people’, which makes absolutely no sense at all I know. It’s extremely good, a blend of about 50 grapes all from old vines and with plenty of potential to age. If you like top notch Rioja then try this Portuguese version, it’ll knock your socks off!
Celler Sangenís I Vaque Vall Por 2006 – £25.49 – 11 year old Priorat is not that easy to find and usually when you do it is double this price. It still has a deep dark colour whilst the nose has a definite evolved character. Wonderfully smooth with a lovely richness of fruit and some resolved tannins that you would never find in a younger wine.
And away from wine we were bamboozled by the pretty label and bought Dolin Chambéryzette Apéritif à la Fraise – £16.99 – a strawberry spirit that is brilliant over ice and adds a certain frisson to a glass of Gin.
We also have a returning hero – MAGNUM OF THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK 2016 – £50 – knowing how much you all like these I thought I’d mention them as I only have a limited quantity available, so first come, first served I think is the fairest distribution.
Tasted any wine yet today?
If not, then perhaps you should swing by and see us this evening – we’re going to open the perennially popular Talmard Mâcon Uchizy 2016 – £15.99 and the Viña von Siebenthal Carmenère 2014 – £20.99, so lots to tempt your palate with…
Out and about this weekend?
Wimbledon Park Primary are having their annual quiz night this evening and if you are lucky enough to be going then I hear that the winelist is exceptional! Equally, if you find yourself in Raynes Park tomorrow, Alex will be at the St Matthew’s Church Winter Fair showing all sorts of Christmas tipples and treats.
That’s it from us now, stay warm and see you later on for a warming tipple!