Fellow Wine Lovers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Charles Lamb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, did someone prank you yet today? To explain, for those of you less date obsessed, today is 1st<\/sup> April, April Fool\u2019s Day, the day on which the most irritating people you know get carte blanche to play a joke on you, tell you a tall story or perform some sort of silly stunt all of which is supposedly excused by them exclaiming \u2018April Fool\u2019 which somehow allows them immunity from retribution. As you can tell, we\u2019re not totally on board with all this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some though, it seems silly season started early. Will Smith is the obvious example here, crossing many boundaries and in the process making the story all about him whilst Jada just rolled her eyes. Then we have our Chancellor saying that he empathises with the Fresh Prince\u2019s situation, something that won\u2019t do either of them any favours. Honestly though Rishi, people criticising Infosys continued involvement in Russia isn\u2019t quite the same as someone deriding your physical appearance. Plus, the claim that Akshata Murthy doesn\u2019t have anything to do with the company\u2019s operational decisions is undoubtedly true, however that \u00a3400 million bank balance didn\u2019t just spring from the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rishi also referenced Joe Root in his quest to appear down with the kids, opining that he too hadn\u2019t had the greatest weekend. True that but it\u2019s not just young master Root who should take the blame for the dismal England batting performance last weekend. As they slumped to a ten wicket defeat, there was silliness from top to tail but I imagine they all said \u2018April Fool\u2019 to each other in the changing room and thus will get away with it and be picked again when New Zealand pop over in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst on the cricket though, it is worth mentioning that England will face Australia in the Women\u2019s World Cup Final on Sunday \u2013 if you just get the chance to admire Sophie Ecclestone\u2019s finger spin for a few minutes you\u2019ll be in for a treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it seems the weather has decided to act the silly sausage too. Last weekend we were getting complaints that we\u2019d run out of a couple of our Ros\u00e9s whereas right now it\u2019s gone so bloomin\u2019 Baltic we\u2019d probably struggle to give them away. Oh, and look, the fuel prices are going up today too, what timing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Returning to the scene of Mr Smith\u2019s Sunday night slapfest, the real reason for the great and the good (and the not so good) to be assembled was for the Oscars of course. It would seem that not only did Agent J win a Best Actor Oscar but he also was one of the lucky few to scoop the Oscar swag bag of free goodies that redefines excess and good taste. Having trawled the gossip columns it would seem that amongst other goodies, the most expensive item in the bag is a $50,000 three-night stay at Turin Castle in Scotland, complete with butler service and a bagpiper welcome when they arrive. Other treats include, according to our chums at E!News:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because, like, that\u2019s what your average Hollywood A-lister needs, right?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, back here in Blighty, Wayne & Alex have keenly tasted wines again and as a consequence have a couple of new listings worth a mention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amotera Vino Biologico Trebbiano d\u2019Abruzzo 2020 – \u00a312.29 \u2013 <\/strong>a delicious white from Abruzzo with floral notes on the nose leading to some nice, easy orchard fruit character on the palate \u2013 a proper pre-prandial quaffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another organic Italian white, this time from Sicily, is Colomba Bianca Vitese Zibibbo 2021 – \u00a311.99.<\/strong> Now, as you are all well aware, Zibibbo is more commonly known to us as Muscat of Alexandria and so has a charming nose of apricot, almonds and orange blossom. What made us sit up and pay attention was the lovely dry finish it showed on the palate. We\u2019ve often been told that a dry Muscat is a great sparring partner to asparagus, which is handy as the season is just starting. Oh, and a fun fact we just learnt, asparagus has enzymes said to fight a hangover, which sounds like the makings of a very fancy breakfast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In red we have Peninsula Vinicultores Vino de Monta\u00f1a 2018 – \u00a313.69.<\/strong> This is a wine from high-altitude vineyards in Sierra de Gredos and other historic growing areas in the Sistema Central, the mountain chain that divides the Iberian Peninsula in its Northern and Southern halves. This is a field blend based mostly on very old Garnacha vines but with some Rufete and Pi\u00f1uela in the mix too, all grown on granite soil and in the glass we have lovely fresh red fruits and hints of white pepper \u2013 the altitude gives the wine a delicious freshness that one doesn\u2019t always associate with Spanish reds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And finally, an old favourite of Wayne\u2019s, Ktima Gerovassiliou Avaton 2018 – \u00a328. <\/strong>As his tasting note states, this feels like a Bordeaux blend but with entirely the wrong grapes. The reason for the wrong grapes is because it comes from Epanomi in Central Macedonia, Greece and the grape varieties are 60% Limnio, 20% Mavrotragano and 20% Mavroudi. Try it, I think you\u2019ll like it\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s about it from us, we\u2019ll be opening a couple of bottles of wine as usual this weekend with the Amotera Trebbiano<\/strong> doing the heavy lifting on the white front whilst the red team will be represented by Le Ciel Vide – \u00a313.49<\/strong>, from Domaine Treloar, in anticipation of Jonathan\u2019s visit later in the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over and out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fellow Wine Lovers, \u201cHere cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.\u201d \u2013 Charles Lamb So, did someone prank you yet today? 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