Fellow Wine Lovers,
It’s been a week of hardship for many of us.
My mother-in-law flew to Australia last Monday, current temperature in Sydney 22°C – but it is the middle of the night.
Wayne’s Uncle is currently in Queensland – 36°C in the shade yesterday.
A friend of mine, who happens to live sporadically in Dubai when not flying to Mauritius or some other paradise, sent me a distraught message on Tuesday moaning that it was raining. 23°C and 61% humidity – probably a relief.
One of our suppliers has taken a trip to New Zealand to visit, amongst others, Dog Point Winery in Marlborough and Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson before going off bungying in Queenstown. We know this through Instagram – the photos of picnics and beach barbecues giving us the impression of warmth and sunshine.
Another of our suppliers, with a distinctly Braveheart surname, voyaged to Murrayfield on Saturday and came back smugger than Billy McSmug from Loch ma Smug.
We sat in the shop and watched the mercury oscillate between -4°C and -1°C and wondered where had we gone wrong?
Snow Day
Is it or isn’t it? Apparently it has nothing to do with snow depth but actually availability of public transport, we’re told.
Anyway, Ricards Lodge called it yesterday on the strength of weather predictions. My sons’ school is closing at 1pm today (it’s currently raining here, just so you know). To be honest with you, judging from our visit to the Pig & Whistle last night, I suspect that a number of people had already called it too and have decided to work from home today – sensible. You don’t have to risk the commute, you don’t have to risk slipping over on unsalted pavements, and most importantly you don’t have to risk being the only one who did make it in and thus spend the day answering other people’s phones and making your own coffee. Plus, because you obviously started work earlier, you can obviously stop work earlier and start the weekend early with a visit to your local wine shop!
Since I live just around the corner and Wayne lives in nearby Balham, we can never justify a snow day, Shanks’s pony or velocipede being our preferred transportation methods, so will always be open to provide you with vital vinous survival packs. If you fancy something a bit more fortifying, we always have an array of spirits open for tasting, should you need something character building before scaling Arthur Road – particular hipflask favourites are currently:
The Kings Ginger – £23.99
King Edward VII was a trailblazer, trendsetter and maverick who broke tradition throughout his life.
The King literally lived life in the fast lane. He would endlessly drive his horseless carriage (a Daimler), whatever the weather. So much so, that in 1903 the Royal Physician became concerned about the monarch’s health. So, he called on Berry Bros. and Rudd for a solution, a high strength liqueur that would warm and revivify His Majesty. Crafted from ginger, (for centuries celebrated for its medicinal properties) The King’s Ginger was born.
Rich, golden and delightfully crisp in flavour, it helped King Edward stay colourful and ready for whatever came next.
Bepi Tosolini Amaretto Salizá – £25.99
Nel sestiere di Castello, non lontano da piazza San Marco, è possibile giungere alla SALIZA’ o SALIZADA DEL PIGNATTER, sotto il cui arco è incastonata una pietra rossa a forma di cuore: la leggenda vuole che le coppie che vi si recano assieme si ameranno per sempre”. Questa è la storia veneziana che ricorda il nome dell’amaretto Salizà, un vero distillato di mandorle nato dalla ricetta di Bepi Tosolini, senza coloranti ed aromi artificiali.
As you have no doubt gleaned from above this is traditional amaretto from Venice. Salizada refers to a red, heart shaped stone found in the arch Salizada del Pignatter. Then there is a whole load of guff about the significance of this stone and lovers loving each other forever and such-like. Suffice to say we love it, on its own or with company….
However, should Gin be the only spirit that passes muster nowadays, we are very glad to have welcomed two more Gins from Sacred in Highgate. Sacred Gin With Exotic Notes Of Cardamom and Sacred Gin With Intensely Fresh Notes Of Juniper (both £38) are both gracing our shelves and open for tasting – no prizes for guessing the key botanicals!
Vital vinous survival pack
With differing views as to what the weekend weather might bring, we have made the decision to open two new listings today that match all seasons – it is spring now after all!
De Wetshof Estate Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2017 – £13.49
Soils rich in limestone and broken mountain rock on De Wetshof’s site-specific vineyards allow this wine to emit optimum varietal expression. An unwooded wine, Bon Vallon has a brisk and clean freshness leading into a wide spectrum of classic flavours including citrus, wild flowers and grilled nuts, with a nuanced minerality on the aftertaste
We tasted this last week for the first time and revelled in its unoaked charm, a nice contrast to Lesca Chardonnay, the oaked wine from the same stable. A nice balance of fruit and lees character, perfect with your Sunday roast or as an aperitif whilst the coal warm up on the Barbie…
Wine & Roses 2015 Tempranillo – £12.19
Wine and Roses is a project which was set up by 5 friends who wanted to produce contemporary wines with equally contemporary packaging. Their wines are not classified as Crianzas or Reservas as they did not want to be limited by the DOC regulations for Riojan wines. They took the name from their mutual appreciation of Axl Rose and his chums so we quite expected to meet a group of denim clad black t-shirt wearing mavericks but in fact we met with a couple of sharply be-suited characters who clearly know how to keep work and play separate – what goes on tour stays on tour etc etc
Delicious, velvety damson fruits and blackberries, plums and spicy chocolate also pop their heads in to make it really a rather decent drop. Perfect with your Sunday roast or as an accompaniment to those chops on the Barbie…
And with that we shall leave you. We’re off to Sunny Surbiton and Bahamian Balham this weekend, how about you?
Ciao Ciao!