Fellow Wine Lovers,<\/p>\n
It\u2019s that time of year when the Big Dog stubs out his stogie, stretches his legs, buries all his bones in the back garden and takes a well-earned holiday in the sun.\u00a0 This year he is chasing cats and squirrels around C\u00e1diz, Jerez and Sevilla, hopefully whilst refreshing himself regularly with mucho Tinto de Verano, Rabo de Toro and perhaps PX.<\/p>\n
Which means, as a consequence, it\u2019s the time of year that I get to arrive at work on time (as opposed to the standard 3 minutes past the hour); I get to stand behind the computer looking important and business-like, writing important sounding emails to impressive sounding people; I get to gaze into the middle distance, arms folded, with the expression of a man busy working out a complex problem; I also get to sit in the big leather swivel chair and, if there\u2019s no one around, turn myself into some sort of human fidget spinner, careening around until giddiness becomes nausea.\u00a0 And that\u2019s just Monday morning covered; I\u2019ve got two weeks of this.\u00a0 Freedom, sweet, sweet freedom!<\/p>\n
Plus I get to answer the phone.\u00a0 This is actually nowhere near as exciting as he makes it seem when he is here:<\/p>\n
Ring, ring, ring<\/em><\/p>\n And so the conversation goes on and on \u2013 I\u2019ve watched Wayne, over the years, fielding these daily cold calls with the finesse of Jonty Rhodes and admired the length of time he can keep them hanging on the telephone.\u00a0 Yesterday I broke his record \u2013 8 minutes and 47 seconds – plus there was no swearing from either side and we parted on civil terms \u2013 I think the poor lady at the other end hadn\u2019t realised she was the first person I\u2019d spoken to for 4 hours and that I wasn\u2019t going to let her go without a fight!<\/p>\n What else has happened?\u00a0 Well, apart from sidling off into town yesterday morning to 67 Pall Mall to taste Armand de Brignac Champagne (google it, it\u2019s bonkers) I\u2019ve been chained to the shop.\u00a0 I\u2019ve bought some wine, I\u2019ve sold some too, which is good for business;\u00a0 I\u2019ve taken my first Christmas order and I inadvertently listened to 3 hours of experimental jazz on Spotify on Wednesday which almost sent me loopy \u2013 elevator muzak on steroids –\u00a0 God, how I miss the cricket and La Vuelta\u2026.<\/p>\n And now it\u2019s Friday \u2013 the weekend is beckoning to us to hurry up and the gym can train itself tonight, we\u2019re all having a glass of wine.\u00a0 If it\u2019s any help at all I\u2019m planning on opening a couple of bottles here if you fancy coming and having a quick tasting snifter on your way home tonight, or anytime tomorrow (I\u2019m here from 10.03am)<\/p>\n In homage to the guvnor\u2019s trip to Spain I thought I might open some Iberian treats but from the opposite end of the country.<\/p>\n Dressed in white satin we have Quinta de la Erre Albari\u00f1o 2016 – \u00a315.99<\/strong> which is a small, 10 hectare estate in the O Rosal area of Rias Baixas, coastal Galicia, an area widely regarded as a stand out region quality wise.\u00a0 A cracking wine with a touch of orange blossom and nectarine fruit in the nose, nectarine fruit on the palate joined by spice, minerality and a lively dash of citrus. Hangs around in the mouth flavour wise, and is great as a partner to shellfish, or even on its own as an aperitif.<\/p>\n Sporting the red flares we have Alodio 2015 – \u00a312.99<\/strong> hailing from Ribeira Sacra which is just a little inland from the Albari\u00f1o\u2019s home turf.\u00a0 A delicious, medium-bodied red, made predominantly from Mencia a grape variety that perennially reminds us of the great Cabernet Francs you find in the Loire Valley of France.\u00a0 Blackberry fruit leaps out on the nose with some lovely tea caddy leaf notes.\u00a0 Zesty on the palate with those dark fruits once more, a bit of spice to the fine tannins and crunchy dark fruit into the finish.\u00a0 This is a lovely quaffer, \u2018a real second glasser\u2019 as the boss would say!<\/p>\n Finally a few notes of admin and dates for your diary.<\/p>\n Wine School<\/strong> starts in two weeks\u2019 time \u2013 Wednesday 4th<\/sup> October<\/strong>.\u00a0 We\u2019ve told you loads about this already so won\u2019t labour the point; suffice to say it\u2019s filling up so if you\u2019re planning on joining in, I\u2019d suggest signing up sooner rather than later. \u00a3150 per person<\/strong>, bring a pal or two!<\/p>\n Wine & Cheese tasting \u2013 Thursday 5th<\/sup> October<\/strong> \u2013 still a couple of spaces left, \u00a320 per person<\/strong>, just space for one pal!<\/p>\n\n