Following two weeks away on holiday (we did a Bromsgroves, Mrs T), I feel somewhat restored by my break from the norm. A bit of sun - tans fade, wrinkles don't blah blah - and a couple of snatched half-hours with my book and I'm happy. Determined to not fall back to pre-holiday ways including 1) talking to my children in that awful tone of voice that implies annoyance at everything they ask and 2) relying on sugar hits from the children's biscuit tin to get me through the afternoons. Both are the direct result of my usually not-so-pretty knackered state. But thanks to the holiday, I have banked sleep. This is now the Slightly Less Knackered Mother's Wine Club. At least until next week.
Current rose in the fridge:
Stork's Tower Tempranillo Rose 2009, currently £4.61/bottle, normally £6.49, Tesco
Much of my holiday will be viewed through rose-tinted spectacles. We drank lots of pink, not least because the house was nestled between vineyards in the Gaillac region in France. It might be cold and damp here but wine has the power to transport, with imagination. This one is made in the Castilla Y Leon region in Spain and is resolutely summery, with red fruit flavours and a positively cheering colour, bright and jewel-like. OK, I'm struggling to transport myself entirely, but it is definitely helping and is delicious to boot.
Current red on the side:
Porcupine Ridge Syrah, 2009, currently £5.31, save 25%, Waitrose
I've long loved these South African wines, known as the 'Spiky Pig' wine by a friend (see label, I sort of know what she means). The winemaker once discussed fishing at length with my husband, leaving me to taste his wines on my own. Brilliant they were too, positively a cut above. This one is made from the Shiraz grape (or Syrah as it is called here) and is smoky and brooding, tempting me away from the rose and into Autumn. I think I'm ready to go.
Chin chin sweets x
Monday, 23 August 2010
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Mistresses on BBC1 makes me want to...
1. Smoke (I know, I know...).
2. Cry for all those failed pregnancy tests I used to do
3. Have a functional kitchen like Katie
4. Kiss my mother for not being nearly as dysfunctional as Katie's mother
It said in the paper today that this programme should be watched whilst eating tinned peaches and drinking white wine. I didn't have any peaches so made do with wine instead. It was the same Chilean Sauvignon as the other night. Husband still not back but is tomorrow, wine tasting better already.
KM x
2. Cry for all those failed pregnancy tests I used to do
3. Have a functional kitchen like Katie
4. Kiss my mother for not being nearly as dysfunctional as Katie's mother
It said in the paper today that this programme should be watched whilst eating tinned peaches and drinking white wine. I didn't have any peaches so made do with wine instead. It was the same Chilean Sauvignon as the other night. Husband still not back but is tomorrow, wine tasting better already.
KM x
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Flying Solo
I used to travel abroad alot in my old, full-time, pre-children job. In fact, so often I had a bag that remained permanently half-packed, ready to be topped up last minute. Nowadays, I don't get out much and honestly don't miss it. (Currently non-bearded) husband rarely has to go away for work but tonight he left for somewhere 12 hours away by plane with just 24 hours notice and is not back for a week. Having tucked the children into bed I came downstairs to a TV remote that was mine, all mine. I poured myself a cold glass of wine.
It didn't taste as good as it normally does.
Current white in the fridge:
Vina Casablanca Nimbus Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009, £9, Source
Made in the Casablanca Valley north of Santiago, this eponymous winery has made a really good Sauvignon Blanc here with that unmistakable floral nose and citrus and gooseberry-laden palate. The back label told me it had notes of maracuya but seeing as I have absolutely no idea what that is, I'm none the wiser. Often, what was labelled as Sauvignon Blanc from Chile was actually the inferior Sauvignonasse grape, giving a coarser, herbal flavour. Not here: this is smart single estate Sauvignon Blanc, much preferred. Drunk tonight without food but really sang last night with chicken kebabs cooked on the BBQ at the beach.
Current red on the side:
The Big Kahuna, Australia, £5.19, Tesco
There is nothing subtle about this wine. The packaging is garish (a bright orange surfboard that covers most of the front of the bottle), the wine is a non-vintage fruit bomb with blackcurrant, spice, chocolate and a smoky note at the end. But despite its rather shouty nature, I like. Australian wine is often no-nonsense: the label tells you clearly what grape the wine is made from for a start. This one is a crowd-pleaser but sometimes you need exactly that. Went down a storm last night.
Roll on Friday x
It didn't taste as good as it normally does.
Current white in the fridge:
Vina Casablanca Nimbus Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009, £9, Source
Made in the Casablanca Valley north of Santiago, this eponymous winery has made a really good Sauvignon Blanc here with that unmistakable floral nose and citrus and gooseberry-laden palate. The back label told me it had notes of maracuya but seeing as I have absolutely no idea what that is, I'm none the wiser. Often, what was labelled as Sauvignon Blanc from Chile was actually the inferior Sauvignonasse grape, giving a coarser, herbal flavour. Not here: this is smart single estate Sauvignon Blanc, much preferred. Drunk tonight without food but really sang last night with chicken kebabs cooked on the BBQ at the beach.
Current red on the side:
The Big Kahuna, Australia, £5.19, Tesco
There is nothing subtle about this wine. The packaging is garish (a bright orange surfboard that covers most of the front of the bottle), the wine is a non-vintage fruit bomb with blackcurrant, spice, chocolate and a smoky note at the end. But despite its rather shouty nature, I like. Australian wine is often no-nonsense: the label tells you clearly what grape the wine is made from for a start. This one is a crowd-pleaser but sometimes you need exactly that. Went down a storm last night.
Roll on Friday x
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