Last night we held a Knackered Mothers' Wine Club tasting at a local restaurant (the amazing Graze) to raise a bit of cash for our local nursery. It was a heady mix: eight wines + inquisitive people up for trying different wines + company of friends both old and new. The result was delicious. Lots of laughter, slurping, a bit of spitting, far more swallowing (no giggling at the back) and generally great chat about wine.
Crushed grapes can bind people together and make life taste better. I love that.
This week's white on the side:
Camino San Pedro Sauvignon Blanc/Verdejo 2008, £6, http://www.sourcewines.com/
This Spanish white is as lovely as its maker, Sam Harrop, a Kiwi Master of Wine. Blending the ubiquitous SB grape with the Verdejo grape gives this wine an international feel with a truly Spanish twist. Lime-scented with deliciously long flavours, this was a great match for our griddled salmon fillets tonight.
Current red on the side:
Cosme Palacio Rioja 2006, £8.49, http://www.tesco.com/
There were a few open bottles left over after last night's tasting and this is the one I took home. The wine goes like this: blackcurrant, black cherry, vanilla, white pepper, blackcurrant again, hint of tobacco. I am not making this up. Drink it.
Chin chin xxLabels: 2006, 2008, red wine, Rioja, Sauvignon Blanc, Spain, Tempranillo, Tesco, white wine