Fancy some peach melba with a bite of minerality to grip the mouth and let pleasure linger?
Then buy a bottle of this fine Italian Fiano made just north east of the Amalfi Coast in Campania. It's great... pure Rabelais in it's accidental ability to corrupt! Fine colour - a midway between pale ochre and primrose. Nose is alluring peaches, sweetness... corruption.
When the “I don’t drink Chardonnay” crowd come chirping along, it’s worth nodding acquiescingly in their direction but then simply ordering a bottle of Pouilly Fuisse and sploshing it into the glass bowls of our protagonists.
Wines made in this appellation are bright, refreshing and delicate… more than that, they are lip smackingly gorgeous… and gorge we might. This offering from Louis Jardot is a perfect thirst quencher after a day of sweating it out in the office or perhaps just boulevardier-ing around town. The light grapefruit and lemon citrus tingles on the sides of the mouth. The delicate mineral characteristic comes from the alkaline clay and limestone in the subsoil.
This is a perfect wine to wash down any shell fish dishes...king prawns with garlic and fresh parsley... scallops with pancetta...
This wine is often at the affordable end of juicy Burgundies to die for but once one starts tasting these numbers there is only more adventure to embark upon. Go forth… be strong – and tell the “don’t drinkers” they’re very much wrong!
£13.99 from Tesco's, Sainsbury's, Telford wines, Everywine.co.uk
I´m in a pueblo near La Coruna Galicia called Ares and have been tasked with purchasing vino for tonight's weekly ping-pong match that takes place at my parent’s house. Guests (the same every week) start arriving around 9pm and are normally all gone by 2am, not bad for a school night. So that's a fair bit of wine I need to source. Not many are blanco drinkers so I stuck to the reds. El campo is a huge supermarket that sells everything from legs of jamon iberico, baskets of clams, salt cod, octopus, TV, videos, bikes, clothes and everything in between including a large vino section. I bought a selection of young reds that ranged in between 1 and 4 euros. As the guests started to arrive the bottles began to open at an alarming rate. The first bottle was an unexpected surprise, a vino tinto from the Ribeiro region with the increasingly common stamp of authenticity "denominacion de origen". The cosecha (harvest) year is 2008, so I was expecting a young fruity lively red, which is exactly what I got. What I didn't expect though was the frizzante fizz that each mouth full came with. You wouldn't call it a sparkling wine but it wasn't flat either. The Ribeiro region in Galicia Spain is known for its old vineyards dating back to Roman times and its whites, notably Albariño; in fact 80% of the region produces whites, so this is a rare red with a pleasant fizz and a splendid pre lunch drink as it´s only 10,5% vol, so heading back to work after a vino tinto´s lunch shouldn't be to much of an ache in the cajones!
When the days start to lengthen, the suns rays tingle warm on the skin and the howling British winds reduce to a mere whistle on the windows, we know that it must surely be... GAMAY time. The last winter was a long one and those of us condemned to serve out our damp sentence on Pudding Island can do nothing else but raise our glasses cheerfully and wait for them to be filled with this delicious summery grape variety.
The Louis Jardot Beau Village 2007 is young, thirst quenching and ideally suited lightly chilled and in your glass. If you're feeling particularly Bacchic then why not let a little run down your chin... I do!
The fruits are light raspberry and glistening red on the tongue. One glass inevitably leads to the next and the next to all things summery and mischievous. I noticed this wine being served in bars around the capital which is a bonus... look out in the shires!
RRP from £8.05
Stockists: Tesco, Budgens, Booths, Waitrose, Matthew Clark, www.everywine.co.uk
A really pleasurable wine! Though I tend to coy away from oakiness in brews these days, I found the vanillery tones subtle and attractive but perfectly fused with the black cherry fruit. A pleasant surprise considering the number of Chilean miss-hits that fly by my wry lips!
Must confess I treated my belly to a few receptions (not that she minded - in times of quietude she pounds the walls screaming in sirenic verse!). Accompanied a dish of spaghetti with fried chicken, peppers and herbs very well.
Gorging oneself in London can be as stressful to the system as running too many marathons in any given week. It was with this thought in mind that my better half and I decided to board the Great Western and follow our noses west to Cornwall, and in particular Trebetherick on the north coast.
After arriving in Daymer Lane (a well trodden slopey drive down to Daymer bay – familiar to all Betjeman fans), we settled ourselves in the evening sun looking up the Camel estuary towards Bray Hill and cracked open a chilled romantically fruity and refreshing Reisling Trockenfrom Dr Burklin-Wolf, 2007. I gargled and gulped, swirled and yelped. In the evening light this wine slipped down so nicely guided by the mouth watering gush of the gums.
That consumed we immediately left for the very discerning St Kew Inn in the village of the same name which has recently acquired a chef who, I am told, acquired Michelin star status in his previous posting. The best thing for me about the St Kew is getting a good pint of HSD (Local ale where the “s” stands for “Strong”) and planting myself in front of the large fire constructed in such away that it is literally chest high. The second HSD combined with the fire and shining huge slabs of Delabole slate flooring create an ambience of north Cornish hospitality.
We settled down to the table to the right of the fire and my gracious lady ordered the mackerel paté and I another HSD. We often have this dish as a light starter as that is exactly what it is. Local mackerel in these parts is absolutely amazing, loaded with flavour and freshness and often such good value there is little point in eating much else (though pointless pleasures are where we are so… ).
For the mains we opted for crab cakes with salad for she and pork belly with apple puree for he. My pork was cooked and presented exceptionally well. My mouth puckered with gorgeous flavours and my mind gratefully blessed the animal that provided this meal. For the crab cakes they too are a local treat. It is worth being down in Port Isaac when the fishermen bring in the crustacean catch. At first one feels alarmed that they could quite possibly wipe out the whole species in just a few cathes but this feeling is soon subsumed by hunger and desire and there are plenty of places in the area to sample (either The Slipway restaurant in Port Isaac or Port Gavern Inn over the hill (in Port Gavern), offer great food and different levels of pricing).
With the food done and the porky bellies full we sat and read. I, Robert Peston’s ‘Who Run’s Britain?’ and she, The Daily Wail, before heading bedward to Daymer Lane.
Quite a big complex wine and very enjoyable. I drank it on its own and enjoyed the black cherry flavours and licquorice characteristics. It's a fine wine alright but could do with a couple of years in the horizontal position.
A fine example of how nice it is to drink a decent Australian wine outside of Australia (as opposed to the swimming pools of branded puke that has for so long clogged the shelves of our wine sellers).
Cune Crianza is widely consumed in Spain and not surprisingly. If I was going to wax lyrical I'd say that this wine is bursting with red fruits - cherries and strawberries - with subtle hints of a balsamic glaze.
One glug is not enough, try another... and another... throw in a charcuterie and enjoy.
This is a lovely drop and not that frequently seen in Britain. In fact, having just returned from San Sebastian I couldn't help noticing how freely available Cune Crianza 2005 is. If you see it, grab it!
Well at Bavarian bier café’s, beer goes with food. In fact bier in the form of cold Lowenbrau, with matching 300ml Lowenbrau glass, Lowenbrau doily around the base and matching Lowenbrau beer mat went very well with my mixed Bavarian grilled sausage, Sebago Mash and Sauerkraut. It went just as well with my dinner guests Bavarian Tasting Plate of Succulent Pork Belly, Sausages and Schnitzel. Unlike wine it tends to bloat me out especially when you throw on top Bavarian meat and mash. An occasional smoker I did the obligatory walk outside to the street seating to have a fag, finish off my beer and digest the rest. With no lighter I asked the only other smoker outside for a light. A slim build sub-continent Indian looking young fella with an eight inch cigar sat puffing away. He agreed to give me a light but warned me that his three burner butane jet lighter might disintegrate my pathetic cigarette.
“What’s with the lighter?”
“It’s a cigar lighter, it burns at 600 degree’s and can light a cigar in one second flat.”
“They normally use matches don’t they?”
“Yes, Cedar matches. Regular matches and regular lighters ruin the taste of the cigar. It’s the lighter fuel and the sulphate of the match that screws things up.”
“Cedar wood?”
“Yep, they use it to build the humidifiers and also you will find that a lot of cigars are wrapped in a thin layer of cedar wood within the metal containers. Here look....”
“Where did you pick up your cigar knowledge……”
He went on to tell me that he picked up the weekly habit of enjoying a cigar in the states. An 18 year old student with an academic literary career ahead of him he told me how he has a list of 3000 books to read and that in a few months time he starts a degree in English literature at Oxford University. He plans to spend most of his time working his way through books written in the middle ages and post modern literature from the 21st century. Not your average cigar smoker. My dinner companion and I finished our cigarettes and beer wished the young man good luck and headed to a salsa bar for a glass of 21st century rum and coke and to watch the Cuban salsa dancers tear up the middle of the dance floor. We planned a return next week and to gate crash the intermediate class after a few cuba libres and may be a cedar wrapped cohiba esplendido or two.
‘peep peep’ “where r u? can you pick some wine up on the way home?”
“on bus. Yes”
‘What you looking for?” asked the welsh accent.
A girl with exceeding large breasts, beautiful looking barmaid come page 3 looking girl with black hair and black front buttoned short dressed stood behind an out of place looking wine tasting stand in a ‘bottle shop’ (Australian off license) with barely enough room to swing a flaming gala in it.
Half bottle of fizzy wine I replied. She rooted (sic) about in the fridge almost dropping a bottle when she opened the door, her top gaped open and I couldn’t resist taking a glimpse of her beautiful buxom chest.
“how about these?”
Wonderful I thought.
“Actually no you don’t want them their shit. Try these much nicer.”
I decided to follow her sound advice and picked up a three pack of mini bottles of German fizz. I also decided to ask some more information about her. I ask her if she’s from north Wales?
“No, south Wales, but I live with a scouser so my accent changes now and then. That’s what people tell me any way.”
I tell her that I had a welsh grandfather and she pours me a sample of red into a plastic shot beaker.
“It’s a red.”
I thanked her and downed it without tasting single drop as I was too
busy listening to her response when I asked if she was married.
“No not married, me and my boyfriend split after seven years and now I
have visa problems, but luckily my work sponsor me and I will get my
permanent visa in a couple of months, expensive though.”
I thank her and leave with three mini bottles of white fizz, I also
pick up a clear skin shiraz and pay for my vino at the counter. Three
people were at the counter, must be expecting a fair bit of traffic in
here tonight.
The walk home was short but muggy and I striped out of my clothes upon
entering the flat. The in-laws were home and I put the bag of booze on
the table. That’s when I noticed the extra bottle in my bag. How it got
there I don’t know. One of the three shop assistants must of put it in
by mistake.
It was a 2008 BimBadgen Estate Verdelho from the Hunter Valley. Bit on
the sweet side for my taste and full in flavor, very fruity. Next was
the shiraz clear skin which was much more to my liking and a quarter of
the price. Quite a young tasting shiraz and not as heavy as others I’ve
tasted. It went down well with the arabiata style pasta I cooked for
our guests. I didn’t try the mini bottles of Henkell Trocken German
fizz as these were reserved for the in-laws.
Pursuit of pleasure ... Oh come on? eating too many puddings can lead to o... About Alcohol Info It seems that few people understand that getting d... V Expensive fish n c... I'm not sure I could stretch to that, even as a cheaper option. Sounds lovely though. Sorry mate Didn't see the tv last night... it's Christmas. Probably wont catch a single program until January!
Fancy some peach melba with a bite of minerality to grip the mouth and let pleasure linger?
When the “I don’t drink Chardonnay” crowd come chirping along, it’s worth nodding acquiescingly in their direction but then simply ordering a bottle of Pouilly Fuisse and sploshing it into the glass bowls of our protagonists.
I´m in a pueblo near La Coruna Galicia called Ares and have been tasked with purchasing vino for tonight's weekly ping-pong match that takes place at my parent’s house. Guests (the same every week) start arriving around 9pm and are normally all gone by 2am, not bad for a school night. So that's a fair bit of wine I need to source. Not many are blanco drinkers so I stuck to the reds. El campo is a huge supermarket that sells everything from legs of jamon iberico, baskets of clams, salt cod, octopus, TV, videos, bikes, clothes and everything in between including a large vino section. I bought a selection of young reds that ranged in between 1 and 4 euros. As the guests started to arrive the bottles began to open at an alarming rate. The first bottle was an unexpected surprise, a vino tinto from the Ribeiro region with the increasingly common stamp of authenticity "denominacion de origen". The cosecha (harvest) year is 2008, so I was expecting a young fruity lively red, which is exactly what I got. What I didn't expect though was the frizzante fizz that each mouth full came with. You wouldn't call it a sparkling wine but it wasn't flat either. The Ribeiro region in Galicia Spain is known for its old vineyards dating back to Roman times and its whites, notably Albariño; in fact 80% of the region produces whites, so this is a rare red with a pleasant fizz and a splendid pre lunch drink as it´s only 10,5% vol, so heading back to work after a vino tinto´s lunch shouldn't be to much of an ache in the cajones!
When the days start to lengthen, the suns rays tingle warm on the skin and the howling British winds reduce to a mere whistle on the windows, we know that it must surely be... GAMAY time. The last winter was a long one and those of us condemned to serve out our damp sentence on Pudding Island can do nothing else but raise our glasses cheerfully and wait for them to be filled with this delicious summery grape variety.
A really pleasurable wine! Though I tend to coy away from oakiness in brews these days, I found the vanillery tones subtle and attractive but perfectly fused with the black cherry fruit. A pleasant surprise considering the number of Chilean miss-hits that fly by my wry lips!
Gorging oneself in London can be as stressful to the system as running too many marathons in any given week. It was with this thought in mind that my better half and I decided to board the Great Western and follow our noses west to Cornwall, and in particular Trebetherick on the north coast.
Quite a big complex wine and very enjoyable. I drank it on its own and enjoyed the black cherry flavours and licquorice characteristics. It's a fine wine alright but could do with a couple of years in the horizontal position.
Cune Crianza is widely consumed in Spain and not surprisingly. If I was going to wax lyrical I'd say that this wine is bursting with red fruits - cherries and strawberries - with subtle hints of a balsamic glaze.
‘peep peep’ “where r u? can you pick some wine up on the way home?”
Pursuit of pleasure ...
