Fellow Wine Lovers,
I know, we’re a day early this week.
This is not something that Alex could have been accused of on Sunday according to various fuming family members, all in spite of the continued reminders of BST in the last email but I think that, too often, he and timekeeping are not happy bedfellows.
Anyway, enough about that. We’re a day early this week because we’ve got the longest weekend of the year ahead of us with Saturday and Easter Sunday bookended by bank holidays. Plus, it’s the first weekend of the school holidays and I suspect, after what we have seen sales-wise over the last few days, that many of you have already made you run to the country this morning and are now reading this email on Tuesday 3rd April – hope you had a lovely time?
So, we’ll keep the round up short and sweet this week. We’ve seen an new interpretation of the term ‘leadership group’: Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft fill this group – with Smith on 64 tests, Warner on 74 tests and Bancroft on 8 tests it feels similar to us promoting Rufus the dog to the Park Vintners board – unlikely. Perhaps fighting with an England player is the criteria for entry…. anyway, not so many tears shed here for Mr Warner!
Conviviality gone? We think so, as Bargain Booze prepares to close its doors and Wine Rack too – it’s a difficult area for wine retail, that one between small indies and the supermarkets, as has been proven over and over again – Oddbins, Threshers, Wine Rack (again), Bottoms Up, Unwins, Victoria Wine have all been the wrong side of the red line. Potentially 2, 500 people without a job after Easter and all because the ‘leadership group’ couldn’t get round to paying their bills – shameful.
Julian Assange has had his internet cut off – makes updating WikiLeaks a little harder, I would imagine. Shame in some respects as he does keep everyone on their toes.
Whilst Sunday is all about chocolate eggs and bunnies do be warned, it is also April Fool’s Day so be wary of tall tales about spaghetti trees in Switzerland, Prince Harry marrying a famous actress from California, Wayne getting his Bollinger tattoo coloured in or Gareth Bale signing for Swansea!
Wine for the weekend
The joy of being a day earlier means we get to pull some corks a day earlier too.
White wine will be our new friend from Hungary. Koch Cserszegi Fűszeres 2016 – £12.59 is easier to drink than say. Gently floral on the nose, reminiscent of spicy Alsace whites but properly dry on the palate. Flavoursome, crisp, lively and really delicious – try it.
The red is another new chap, this time from Ribera del Duero in Spain. Pinna Fidelis Roble 2016 – £13.39 is 100% Tempranillo and has lovely aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and a touch of wood spice. Rich on the palate, with smooth and supple tannins, slightly darker fruits than the nose suggests and a rich, long finish – try this too!
Closed All Weekend
As mentioned last week, we will close at 8pm this evening and will not be opening the doors again until Tuesday 3rd April – have a wonderful Easter and whatever you do, take a brolly!
Last words go to Michael Vaughan:
“Steve Smith is a good guy who made a huge mistake. He needed punishing but I think this is too harsh. Bancroft was led astray and deserved punishing but again, too harshly, in my opinion. The other guy, I really don’t care about…”