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Is that all?
Is that all? 101 points for the best picture ever of a tomato on a stick! Beaten by yellow paint and a frozen teddy bears arm. Live is harsh... ;-)
http://www.iheartbacon.com/
http://www.iheartbacon.com/
Technorati Tags: DMBLGiT food & drink
Champagne: Nicolas Feuillatte.
Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne
Nicolas Feuillatte ChampagneWhat and Where: Feuillatte is the alternative face of champagne: a young, thrusting brand produced and owned by a co-op and making no claims to tradition. Millions of people are drinking it - perhaps a good many at the contemporary art events it sponsors.
What does it taste like? Fresh, moderately fruity, but not very memorable.
Who should you serve it to? People under 35, art groupies and anyone else who doesnt mind, just as long as it's champagne.
Champagne House Website: http://www.feuillatte.com/intro.htm/ The flash version is really annoying - the sound doesn't switch off fully and, even though the UK version is selected, references to the USA abound. Pop-ups, masses of moving text and bubbles. Must have cost them loads... hate it.
Prices: Nicolas Feuillatte NV Oddbins £20.49 Majestic £20.99 although on Buy 3 save 33.3% deal. Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé Oddbins £25.49
Nicolas Feuillatte Cuvee Palme d'Or 1990 EasyWine £120.00
English Wine Triumphs.
An English wine has been voted the world's best sparkling wine - against competiton from 55 countries. The RidgeView Merret Bloomsbury 2002 took World Wide Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine at the 2005 International Wine and Spirit Competition. The wine is available from Waitrose at £89.94 for a case of 6 the equivalent of �14.99 a bottle.
Decanter.com
"The recent 'Best Sparkling Wine' award was won in the Sparkling Wine category, in which Champagne does not compete. But, marketing manager Mardi Roberts told decanter.com, it was up against world-renowned labels from California, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Australia. It was 'an unbelievable success,' she said."
Decanter.com
"The recent 'Best Sparkling Wine' award was won in the Sparkling Wine category, in which Champagne does not compete. But, marketing manager Mardi Roberts told decanter.com, it was up against world-renowned labels from California, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Australia. It was 'an unbelievable success,' she said."
Champagne: Mumm.
Mumm Champagne
Mumm ChampagneWhat and Where: The days are gone when Mumm Cordon Rouge was one of the cheapest non-vintages; so too is the era when it tasted of boiled cabbage and sour cream. A makeover has put quality back in the bottle and tied the sponsership knot with mountaineers and explorers.
What does it taste like now? Fresh, fruity, gently creamy and well roounded.
Who drinks it? Polar explorer Tom Avery, Ellen MacArthur and the rest of the sailing fraternity.
Anything else?: Get to the smart new Mumm Grand Cru before anyone else.
Champagne House Website: http://www.mumm.com/
Prices: Mumm Cordon Rouge Sparkling Direct £35.99 (box) Oddbins £23.99 DrinkOn £21.29
Mumm Rosé WineDancer £25.90 Fine and Rare Wines £17.66 (case sales only)
Mumm Cordon Rouge 1996 Fine and Rare Wines £18.66 (case sales only)
Mumm Grand Cru Halifax Wine Company £35.50
The Grand Cru is made from fruit from 5 of the 17 Grand Cru vineyards; 58% Pinot Noir from Bouzy, Verzenay and Ay and 42% Chardonnay from Avize and Cramant.
What is FrenchDuck?
French Duck Logo
My good friend John Boutall has just launched a new website - French Duck. John is passionate about France and during his 18 or so years running the online wine merchant Allez Vins! built up a host of wine contacts throughout the wine regions and information on the country. Although he has recently closed the wine merchant operation his passion continues through the just launched French Duck.French Duck
Although we no longer sell wine direct, we can still point you in the right direction for:-
- finding great value, top quality French Regional Wines in the UK
- finding gourmet French foodstuffs in the UK
- travel recommendations to and in France
- French vineyard visit recommendations and details
- French Duck Wine Tours (from 2006)
- What to do, where to stay, where to eat in France
- ASK US - have a question about France, French food, wine, travel - try us
Calling All Cooks! Update.
It is NOT a quiche
Thanks to all who emailed and left comments regarding my little whimper for help. Spinach.. dandelion leaves... fresh beans.. pea shoots... potatoes... lettuce... what do to with the contents of my first freshly picked veg-box?Thanks to Christina (Thorngrove Table) for the salad idea - lemon juice and olive oil over the pea shoots/lettuce/dandelion leaves. Nice, quick , simple, tasty. Jenni (Pertelote) suggested adding bacon. As luck would have it we had some lardons lurking in the fridge. These were crisped up in olive oil and tossed with the potatoes (boiled and thickly sliced). All were tossed with a big handful of Parmesan and and olive oil-balsamic vinegar-Dijon Mustard dressing, served on a bed of wilted pea-shoots and leaves. Lovely as a lunch.
Steven's recipe for a watercress and cress tart looked great but the watercress was substituted with wilted spinach. Chopped dandelion leaves were mixed with cress for the topping. Pity I didn't manage to fully cook the pastry - very undercooked in the middle, but fine on the outside.
Fish Cakes
Rob found a recipe for fish cakes online (Helen Porter's Fantastic Fishcake Recipe) and constructed said cakes with great aplomb and verve. They didn't taste too bad either! These were served with wilted spinach (do we really need two HUGE bags guys?) was also hugely successful. They were served with two winesSaint-Pourçain Réserve Spéciale, 2003, Loire France.
Waitrose £4.75.
Tart, lean, very crisp and lemony. Harsh drinking on its own - gets those cheeks puckered and the mouth watering. The Waitrose website describes it as 'easy-drinking'; I couldn't disagree more. It is a cool-climate wine made from 60% Tressallier grapes which seems to relish in producing high acidic wines; even as here when mixed with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Nice enough with the fish-cakes although I think cockles/welks/mussels etc would be better.
Scribblings Rating - 82/100
More successful was another Waitrose wine which had a little more weight and a softer approach. At a fiver good value.
Excelsior Estate Sauvignon Blanc, 2004, Robertson, South Africa.
Waitrose £4.99
Full of grassy, fresh flavours. Lemon with a mineral edge and characterful too with grapefruit and nettles adding interest. Very good value.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Still to come on the culinary front are Eggs Cocotte with Ham and Spinach (thanks Julie) and some sort of bean/oil/lemon/mozzarella pasta sauce that I am about to invent. Still have loads of pea shoots lurking at the bottom of the box; they are looking a little past their best...
More photographs, taken with my trusty camera phone, uploaded to Flickr
Technorati Tags: wine food & drink wine tasting
Champagne: Moet & Chandon
Moet & Chandon
Moet & ChandonWhat and Where: Sponsoring London Fashion Week means it is found at some of the capital's most glamorous parties. Otherwise, Moet would merely be seen as the mass-market giant it is.
What does the standard non-vintage taste like? Brut Imperial, its official name, is a soft round, easy-drinking style. But it quickly becomes toasty, so, if you like th emore mature, toasty style, stock up a year or so in advance.
Who drinks it? Models. supermodels and just about everyone else: Moet produces about 24m bottles of champagne a year.
Will it ever turn heads?: The Swarovski crystal-encrusted bottle might.
Anything else? Don't forget to sound the 't' in Moet.
Champagne House Website: http://www.moet.com/
Prices: Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV Oddbins £25.99 Last Orders £31.99 (boxed)
Moet et Chandon Brut 1996 Berry Brothers £29.95
Moet & Chandon Rosé Swarovski Cristal Nickolls & Perks £33.62
Champagne: Louis Roederer
Louis Roederer
Louis RoedererWhat and Where: The impeccably turned-out and understated parent of Cristal. Family-owned and run, its vineyards provide two-thirds of the grapes it needs, which is reflected in consistently high-quality champagnes.
What does it taste like? Pure and fine-boned, with the deep, biscuity flavours of careful maturation. Dominated by Pinot Noir Grapes.
Who drinks it? Wine enthusiasts (every wine writer I've ever come across) and cultured, intellectual types. John Rocha is a devotee.
Champagne House Website: http://www.champagne-roederer.com/
Prices: Louis Roederer NV AR-Empoira £29.25 Easy Wine £22.95 Waitrose £27.99.
Louis Roederer Rich Sec Barrels and Bottles £28.94
Louis Roederer 1996 Vintage Barrels and Bottles £49.95
Louis Roederer 1997 Vintage Majestic £48
Closing Down Sale.
It is always sad when a dynamic merchant has to shut up shop for whatever reason. Recently long running specialist Allez Vins closed due to retirement and now I find that Modern French Wines - he of the fascinating website - is to concentrate on the trade side of the business. They are clearing stocks in preparation - a sale in other words - click over to grab such delights as Kuentz Bas Pinot Blanc at £5.50 (down from £7.99).
Technorati Tags: wine food & drink
Wines for Picnics.
Coming to our Henley picnic? The Telegraph supplies a list of wines, including Champagne, to accompany...
Telegraph.co.uk
"And not only is their Champagne sublime, their half-bottles (and in Gosset's case, its quarter-bottles) look simply gorgeous, darling, and will set just the right tone for any picnic, be it caviar and paté de foie or Scotch egg and melted Twix."
Telegraph.co.uk
"And not only is their Champagne sublime, their half-bottles (and in Gosset's case, its quarter-bottles) look simply gorgeous, darling, and will set just the right tone for any picnic, be it caviar and paté de foie or Scotch egg and melted Twix."
All the best Champagne News...
Is it because of the current spittoon emphasis on the bubbly-stuff that champagne news stories abound? Take the fascinating snippet that the Beckhams spent £20,000 on a bottle of champagne. The report fails to mention which brand but the bottle came with dimmed lights and sparklers. Classy.
If you fancy your own personal Champagne Taittinger is up for sale. Going back a bit - but it has only just shown up in my aggregator - Monty Don at the Observer reports that "I really liked Tom Stuart-Smith's Laurent Perrier garden, despite the giant urns." Shame. I rather enjoy an urn or two, admittedly not in my Champagne flute, they don't leave much room for the wine.
Out to the provinces where Chav Drinkers turn city into Champagne Capital (more class down Birmingham way) but Glasgow claims the crown in Scotland as the only city north of the border to make Tesco's Top 10 list, based on the number of bottles sold across the company. And I thought the drink of choice up there was Buckfast.
Perhaps they mix the two; a new cocktail perhaps for Charlotte. Another fascinating revelation reveals she DOES NOT LIKE CHAMPAGNE. Shocking. Ten double vodkas and a Cheeky Vimto (double port and a bottle of WKD Blue in the same glass) are her drinks of choice despite the innumerable free bottles of bubbly that flow her way. She also disclosed that she likes to go out on the town with her mother, Maria, and her aunt because they, too, are "party animals".
If you fancy your own personal Champagne Taittinger is up for sale. Going back a bit - but it has only just shown up in my aggregator - Monty Don at the Observer reports that "I really liked Tom Stuart-Smith's Laurent Perrier garden, despite the giant urns." Shame. I rather enjoy an urn or two, admittedly not in my Champagne flute, they don't leave much room for the wine.
Out to the provinces where Chav Drinkers turn city into Champagne Capital (more class down Birmingham way) but Glasgow claims the crown in Scotland as the only city north of the border to make Tesco's Top 10 list, based on the number of bottles sold across the company. And I thought the drink of choice up there was Buckfast.
Perhaps they mix the two; a new cocktail perhaps for Charlotte. Another fascinating revelation reveals she DOES NOT LIKE CHAMPAGNE. Shocking. Ten double vodkas and a Cheeky Vimto (double port and a bottle of WKD Blue in the same glass) are her drinks of choice despite the innumerable free bottles of bubbly that flow her way. She also disclosed that she likes to go out on the town with her mother, Maria, and her aunt because they, too, are "party animals".
Technorati Tags: champagne food & drink
New Magazine: Beers of the World.
From the publishers of Whisky Magazine comes a new publication; Beers of the World. Well it will come August. Every two months, for the sum of £3, will be the UK's first dedicated consumer magazine on beer. Subscriptions are available for residents in the UK, America, Canada and elsewhere and you can also sign up for a free trial issue.
BeersOfTheWorld.com
"One of the defining drinks of the world, beer has been a part of all our lives for centuries. Beers of the World brings beer to life; exploring its history and its heritage, its flavours and production processes, where you can drink and buy beer and who is shaping this very living product.
Launching on August 26th, Beers of the World is written by the leading beer writers of our time, and will cover all the beers of the world - ale and lager, from the UK and Germany, the Czech Republic, US and beyond."
BeersOfTheWorld.com
"One of the defining drinks of the world, beer has been a part of all our lives for centuries. Beers of the World brings beer to life; exploring its history and its heritage, its flavours and production processes, where you can drink and buy beer and who is shaping this very living product.
Launching on August 26th, Beers of the World is written by the leading beer writers of our time, and will cover all the beers of the world - ale and lager, from the UK and Germany, the Czech Republic, US and beyond."
Champagne: Laurent-Perrier.
Laurent Perrier Rosé
Laurent PerrierWhat and Where: The largest family-owned champagne house, with one of the biggest non-vintage brands. Its rosé has made pink champagne fashionable and even respectable - and now the company wants to do the same for its Ultra Brut Style. There is no final sweetening in this champagne, making it bone dry and only about 65 calories per glass.
How does that make it taste? Very, very dry and a bit tight-lipped.
How does it compare with the ordinary non-vintage? Brut Laurent-Perrier is softer and rounder, but is still crisp, appley, mineral style dominated by Chardonnay.
Who drinks which? Kate Moss had Ultra Brut at her last birthday party. As for the ros�, even real men drink pink these days.
Champagne House Website: http://www.laurent-perrier.co.uk/
Prices: Laurent-Perrier NV Le Bon Vin £23.99 Laithwaites £24.83 (gift box)
Laurent Perrier Rosé Sparkling Direct £59.99 (box)
Le Grande Siecle Berry Brothers £49.95
Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut Edencroft Fine Wines £29.87
International Australian Wine Delivery Service.
Villa Maria Pinot Gris Label
A small Australian wine exporter has made boutique Australian wines available online and offers delivery direct to the customer's door worldwide. Shipping to the UK and USA starts at US$120 per case (US$10 per bottle) which is a not inconsiderable £65. AussieWinesToYourDoor.com
"�Australian boutique Wineries produce some terrific wines and they are Australia's best kept secret� says Wayne Moore, Director and founder of Aussie Wines Online. "These wines are lovingly produced by independent winery owners who take great pride in their product. Each wine shows individual characteristics of the soil and growing region, giving more taste and variety than bulk wines".
Champagne: Lanson.
Lanson Champagne
Lanson ChampagneWhat and Where: The non-vintage Black Label can be seen on duty at Wimbledon, the Albert Hall and premiership football matches. Only Moet manages to sell more bottles in shops and supermarkets.
What does it taste like? A distinctly crisp, dry, relatively neutral style.
Should you be seen drinking it? If you're not a footballer's wife, stick to Lanson's Gold Label Vintage or the more expensive Noble Cuvée.
Champagne House Website: http://www.lanson.fr/
Prices: Lanson Black Label Averys £20.95 Sparkling Direct £34.99 (gift box)
Lanson Rosé TheDrinkShop £22.99
Noble Cuvée Naked Grape £59.99
Champagne: Krug
Krug Website Screenshot
Krug ChampagneWhat and Where: It is possible to find more expensive bubbly, but there's no posher name. Krug has always had an old-money, Rolls Royce feel.
What does it taste like? Grande Cuvee, which Krug calls multivintage rather than non-vintage, is deep, rich, complex and dry.
Why does it taste so different? It is fermented in small oak casks (large vats are the champagne norm), it includes a high proportion of mature reserve wines, and it is aged for much longer than other non-vintages.
Who drinks it? Joseph Ettedgui, Jane Birkin, Terence Conran, Placido Domingo - and anybody else, given the chance.
Champagne House Website: http://www.krug.com/ Although the Events section has not been updated since October 2003. Tsk Tsk.
Prices: Krug Grande Cuv�e Berry Brothers £85.00 Hailsham Cellars £45.99 (half) TheDrinkShop £89.45
Krug Rosé Hailsham Cellars £148.00
Krug Vintage 1990 Berry Brothers £127
The Bulgarian Five.
Five wines from Bulgaria as supplied by Churchill Wines a new company concentrating on the importation of quality wines.
Unfortunately, as happens occasionally, the strawberry coloured rose had a little cork taint so I have not reviewed that specific bottle. The other five wines were fine and demonstrated just how individual and distinctive wines from Bulgaria can be.
There is a excellent site dedicated to the wines of Bulgaria that gives details of the fascinating history of the country and a few of the other producers.
Technorati Tags: wine food & drink wine tasting bulgaria
Unfortunately, as happens occasionally, the strawberry coloured rose had a little cork taint so I have not reviewed that specific bottle. The other five wines were fine and demonstrated just how individual and distinctive wines from Bulgaria can be.
There is a excellent site dedicated to the wines of Bulgaria that gives details of the fascinating history of the country and a few of the other producers.
Technorati Tags: wine food & drink wine tasting bulgaria
Damianitza Chardonnay
Wine Tasting Note: Damianitza Chardonnay, 2003, Bulgaria.Churchill Wines £5.99.
Deep golden yellow colour with a greengage, pear and honey nose with touches of orange and sherbet lemons. Dry, medium-bodied, pure oak-tinged fruit. Golden Delicious apples, hints of pear and melon. Also coming through on the finish were hints of rhubarb and custard, a creamy edge and a gravelly, lime-acid finish. Alcohol 12.5%. Very nice.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Uniqato Melnik Label
Wine Tasting Note: Damianitza Uniqato Melnik, 2003, Bulgaria.Churchill Wines £13.99.
Full red-blooded colour and an aroma to match - all stalky cherries, blackcurrants and smoke. A full-bodied and distinctive wine with juicy un-ripened blackberries. A green edge to the inky finish. Hefty tannins needs some chunky rustic food to match. Alcohol 13%. Very individualistic and expensive; but very small 'hands-on' production.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Redark Merlot
Wine Tasting Note: Damianitza Redark Merlot, 2000, Bulgaria.Churchill Wines £14.99.
Small production - just 6,000 cases and, again, dedicated attention to wine-making hence the high price. Full and ripe with a really classy (refined) blackfruit aroma. Supporting an abundance of rustic tannins are some super blackfruit flavours. Quite complex with raspberry and intriguiing hints of spices peeking through. It is a big wine requiring similar foods - thinking barbecued meats here or warming autumnal stews.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
"The territory, which separated Bulgaria from its southern neighbours - Greece and Turkey was divided into two parts. The first zone of restriction from Bulgaria was a 12 kilometre wide strip for which a special pass from the authorities was required. Beyond this was an electric fence, which signalled every time it was touched by a living creature. This marked the start of the next 5 kilometre wide strip of land, which reaches the real border. This band is called No Man's Land and was previously used as a buffer zone between the world of socialism and that of capitalism. It was a place of horror for those who dared to escape in pursuit of a better life outside the socialist countries.
The complete absence of human habitation and industrial activity has resulted in this area becoming an environmental paradise with no pollution and a preserved wildlife. Nowadays the area is home to excellent quality vines, which bask in the sun of south western Bulgaria. It is hard to believe that a better wine could be produced than that from the vineyards in this No Man's Land - a wine with a sad story, but with a future full of spirit and adventure."
No Mans Land Label
Wine Tasting Note: Damianitza No Mans Land Silver Label, 2002, Bulgaria.Churchill Wines £6.99.
Trendy packaging, but no obvious mention of Bulgaria on the front or rear labels. Medium to full bodied with gravelly tannins wrapped up in plenty of blackfruit flavours. Certainly highly drinakable with food - some juicy beef sausages with creamy cauliflower cheese went very nicely. Alcohol 13%. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Wine Tasting Note: Damianitza No Mans Land Gold Label, 2002, Bulgaria.
Churchill Wines £7.99.
Red currants all the way - on the aroma and on the palate, with touches of oak adding complexity there is also blackberry and a licorice edged finish. This was superb with a few chunks of Cheddar cheese.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Calling All Cooks!
Three Greens
I have just taken delivery of my first Vegetable Box from Local Tastes. As well as eggs, spinach and potatoes the box has two huge bunches of pea shoots, red dandelion and lettuce. Help needed - hence the call to the blog worlds cooks - what can I do with this lot? Any ideas? All were picked, laid or dug-up this morning. Do you eat all the pea shoots or remove the stalks? Do you cook dandelion leaves? Can I use the bean pods for anything? I have no idea...
Technorati Tags: food & drink
Champagne: Heidsieck Monopole.
Heidsieck Monopole Poster
Heidsieck MonopoleWhat and Where: One of the cheapest of the famous names and it is often discounted further. It sells in vast quantities and you get what you pay for, although the vintage often looks like a bargain.
What does it taste like? Simple, fruity, frothy. You'll hardly notice it, which may not be a bad thing.
Should you be seen drinking it? Only with your hand over the label, or on those desperate-for-a-drink occasions.
Champagne House Website: none that I could find.
Range Includes: Blue Top, Little Blue Top, Green Top, Red Top, Rosé Top, 1ers Crus, Extra Dry, Gold Top Millesime.
Prices: Blue Top NV Oddbins £24.99
Green Top and Red Top also available
Chocolate Academy.
Although Henley is blessed with its own specialist chocolatiers in the shape of Gorvett and Stone (their own website is not up and running yet) lovers of chocolate may be interested in the hybrid online shop/blog/info portal that is Seventy Percent. What is interesting is the announcement of the UK's own Chocolate Academy. The Academy's own website gives few details but wine and chocolate matching has been mentioned!
SeventyPercent.com
"After months of planning, discussion and hard work, I'm very happy to announce that the UK Academy of Chocolate was finally launched last night (15 June 2005) at the Bluebird restaurant in London's famous King' Road, Chelsea. The Academy has been setup to promote fine chocolate in the UK, support fine chocolate makers and chocolatiers and provide information to all those interested, as well as to create an education programme for schools and professionals."
SeventyPercent.com
"After months of planning, discussion and hard work, I'm very happy to announce that the UK Academy of Chocolate was finally launched last night (15 June 2005) at the Bluebird restaurant in London's famous King' Road, Chelsea. The Academy has been setup to promote fine chocolate in the UK, support fine chocolate makers and chocolatiers and provide information to all those interested, as well as to create an education programme for schools and professionals."
Champagne: Dom Perignon.
Dom Perignon Champagne Label
Moet Dom PerignonWhat and Where: The original prestige cuvée, launched by Moet in 1936 and named after the monk who, as we now know, did not invent the champagne process. Mo�t won't say, but it probably sells about 2.5m bottles a year - more than four times as much as Krug and six times as much as Cristal. Big is beautiful.
What does it taste like? Each vintage has its own character, but it always has a seductive creamy taste and satin-smooth texture.
What else should you know about it? Most of the grapes all still come from vineyards that were owned by the abbey of Hautvilliers in Dom Perignon's time.
Champagne House Website: http://www.domperignon.com/
Prices: Dom Perignon 1996 Sparkling Direct £99.50 (gift packaging) The Drink Shop £84.95 (bottle) £219.95 (magnum) The Naked Grape £82.99
US Threatens Wine War with Europe.
The Tocqueville Connection reports that the US government is threatening a wine war with Europe as French producers taget American consumers with brands such as 'Fat Bastard' and Red Bicycle'.
AdeTocqueville.com
"Washington is demanding a new wine accord by July 15 to replace one which expired in 2003 and which would enshrine American wine-making practices banned in Europe. These include adding oak wood chips to barrels of wine to hasten the ageing process, adding water to must (the grape juice before fermentation is complete), and the use of ion extractors to reduce acidity.
European Union officials, pushed by traditionalists, are so far refusing to extend a current dispensation allowing the American practices, but US officials say that if no agreement is reached they will tighten application of the Bioterrorism Act.This law, introduced after the September 11 2001 attacks in the United States, covers imports of all food and drink."
AdeTocqueville.com
"Washington is demanding a new wine accord by July 15 to replace one which expired in 2003 and which would enshrine American wine-making practices banned in Europe. These include adding oak wood chips to barrels of wine to hasten the ageing process, adding water to must (the grape juice before fermentation is complete), and the use of ion extractors to reduce acidity.
European Union officials, pushed by traditionalists, are so far refusing to extend a current dispensation allowing the American practices, but US officials say that if no agreement is reached they will tighten application of the Bioterrorism Act.This law, introduced after the September 11 2001 attacks in the United States, covers imports of all food and drink."
Technorati Tags: wine food & drink
French National Vin De Pays.
A concept that is an anathema to many French wine growers - a national wine category - is to be revived. The Vin De Pays de France or Cepage de France allows blending between different regions but critics say negates regional differences.
Technorati Tags: wine food & drink
Crocuses and raisin wine - the key to good health.
It contains the usual mix of good sense and utter nonsense. But the Tacuinum Sanitatis is no ordinary lifestyle manual - it was written 500 years ago.
Guardian.co.uk
"When it comes to lifestyle gurus, you can forget Carole Caplin, Nigella Lawson, Kabbalistic rituals, Atkins diets or total-makeover TV shows, because a Renaissance manuscript, the Tacuinum Sanitatis (Table of Health) got there first. A series of 130 coloured drawings (on view at a London gallery next month before being sold), it contains all you need to know about living a more "balanced" life and covers anything from what not to wear, to how to exercise, eat, farm, shop and cook. It is, according to medieval manuscripts specialist Dr Alixe Bovey, "a cross between Gillian McKeith's You Are What You Eat and Mrs Beaton's Household Management", and like all good lifestyle manuals it has "some highly sensible advice and some absolutely crazy stuff mixed in".
Guardian.co.uk
"When it comes to lifestyle gurus, you can forget Carole Caplin, Nigella Lawson, Kabbalistic rituals, Atkins diets or total-makeover TV shows, because a Renaissance manuscript, the Tacuinum Sanitatis (Table of Health) got there first. A series of 130 coloured drawings (on view at a London gallery next month before being sold), it contains all you need to know about living a more "balanced" life and covers anything from what not to wear, to how to exercise, eat, farm, shop and cook. It is, according to medieval manuscripts specialist Dr Alixe Bovey, "a cross between Gillian McKeith's You Are What You Eat and Mrs Beaton's Household Management", and like all good lifestyle manuals it has "some highly sensible advice and some absolutely crazy stuff mixed in".
Champagne: Louis Roederer Cristal
Cristal Champagne
Louis Roederer CristalWhat and Where: The cult fizz drunk by film stars, supermodels, pop stars, rappers and footballers, mentioned more frequently in hip-hop lyrics than any other drink, and a sellout in Harrods at £125 a bottle. You might think that the people at Louis Roederer, which owns Cristal, would be delighted but, in fact, they are desperate for the lable to be taken more seriously.
What does it taste like? It is made from a slightly higher proportion of Pinot Noir than Chardonnay. On the rare occasions that I have tasted it, it has been superb. Perhaps we could ask Naomi Campbell for her tasting note.
Anything else? It's a vintage Champagne so it's only made in the better years. The current vintage is 1997 and there will be no 1998, so get in there quick.
Champagne House Website: http://www.champagne-roederer.com/
Prices: Cristal 1997 1855.com £151.76 Champers Direct £169.99 Butlers Wines £136.99 Wine Dancer £370 (Magnum)
Champagne: Charles Heidsieck
Charles Heidsieck
Charles HeidsieckWhat and Where: The sophisticated older sibling of Piper-Heidsieck; mature, serious and complex.
What does it taste like? The non-vintage Brust Reserve is rich yet dry, with classic butter-and-vanilla brioche flavours.
Who should you serve it to? Yourself first, then your nearest and dearest.
Champagne House Website: http://www.charlesheidsieck.com/
Prices: Charles Heidsieck Brut NV Naked Grape Booths £21.99
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve 1996/7 Wine Buy The Case £37.99
UK Merchant Roundup.
Unit� Sparkling Burgundy
A quick round-up from across the UK merchant arena. Unwins has released a sparkling counter-part to the (popular and very drinkable) white Cave de Lugny White Burgundy. The Unite Sparkling Burgundy is describe as produced exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, (rather than the more traditional blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay), this wine has a fine, soft mousse with huge amounts of fresh fruit character, great finesse and an impressive balanced finish. Our winemaker has crafted a wine which he believes bears many of the qualities and characteristics of Champagne, but at an affordable price and packaged in a style that will appeal to today's highly competitive market�. Price is £7.99.
AdVintage Wines has returned from the SouthWest of France with a red and white wine discovery! Chateau de Tariquet (Chardonnay, Cuvée Bois and Tete de Cuveé) and Georges Vigouroux (Tournelles, Pigmentum, Leret Monpezat) no details of prices but they request your feedback. Are they any good?
Le Bon Vin has just taken delivery of a range from Mission Estate, New Zealand. Stylishly packaged the 10 strong range retails in price from the £9.69 Chardonnay to the £15.99 Jewelstone Syrah. Currently the range is offered at Buy 2 get £2 off per bottle.
With a closing date of the 11th July there is plenty of time to enter the DrinkOn competition to win a set of 4 designer martini cups and a bottle of Hendrick's Gin, vermouth and fruit syrups. Free entry.
Enter Here
Champagne: Canard-Duchene
Canard Duchene
Canard DucheneWhat and Where: The French are mad for it: it's said that across the Channel they open a bottle every 10 seconds.
What's so special about the style? Nothing, actually. It's light-bodied, fruity, slightly sweet and a bit bland.
Who would it be a good present for? Pinot Grigio drinkers and anyone who won't serve it the next time you call round.
Champagne House Website: http://www.canard-duchene.fr/
Prices: Canard Duchene NV Oddbins £21.99 LastOrders.com £20.99
Canard Duchene Rosé Oddbins £22.99 Fareham Wine Cellar £21.99
There is also a Grande Cuvée Charles VII in brut and rosé styles but I have not located a UK online retailer for these.
Dessert wines with... guacamole!?
One of the more facinating and perhaps bizarre tasting combinations I discovered today was the matching of guacamole with dessert wines. Yep, leave you stilton and chocolate tart alone and head to the Mexican shelf with your Beerenauslese or Icewine.
This surprising revelation was uncovered at today's/Saturday's Ultimate Wines Dessert Wine tasting. I guess that, as with creamy fatty cheeses, the high acidity i
This surprising revelation was uncovered at today's/Saturday's Ultimate Wines Dessert Wine tasting. I guess that, as with creamy fatty cheeses, the high acidity i