The Knackered Mothers' Wine Club Guide to Wine

So, I'm going to write a book, titled as above. It will be about wine but to be able to call it the KMWC Guide to Wine I need to know what you want to know. I've got ideas (grapes, countries, labels, food) but if you've got something you'd like to see in a wine guide please let me know, either here or at knackeredmother@gmail.com.

I'll do this week's wines tomorrow, I'm on water tonight.

KMx

Nigella

I've been watching Nigellaah cook on telly this evening. I love her. And, I. Want. Her. Kitchen. I have kitchen envy! How did it come to this? Surely I want the never-ending supply of jewel-coloured cashmere short-sleeved jumpers? Or, at least, the multi-millionaire husband and his art collection. Actually, no. I just want that kitchen. Although, must be said, the faux dinner kitchen supper parties at the end of the half-hour of gastro porn always look so painful. You just know she wants them all to bugger off so she can dive into that fridge in her dressing gown.

This week's white in the fridge: McGuigan Bin 218 Chardonnay Viognier, 2009, £4.74 on offer, Tesco

I've said this before, I'll say it again. Not all Australian Chardonnay is fat and oaky. In fact, most Australian Chardonnay is not like that at all anymore. Nowadays, expect a fruitbomb. This is one of those: peachy, ripe and full-flavoured. But not oaky. It has got a note of oak but the taste is vanilla rather than oak. It is a delicious wine: a blend of Chardonnay and the infinitely more interesting Viognier, adding a dash of lime flavour. Pair it with a gossip. Or fishcakes.

This week's red on the side: Vinchio Vaglio, I Tre Vescovi 2007 Barbera d'Asti Superiore, Piedmont, Italy, £6.07 on offer, Waitrose

Another Italian. I know I was on the Italian red last week but, as I said, once I have a good Italian red I am reminded how wonderful they are and resolve to drink more. This is quite a random one, made from the Barbera grape grown in the Piedmont region in north-west Italy. It is gorgeous: smells of forest floor (yep, I have tested this), sort of wet leaf and bramble-like. In a good way. Smooth, full-bodied, perfumed, seductive. Lumme, it's Clooney bottled. Again. Just add food: sausage and tomato-sauce pasta is a tried and tested success. 

Happy to be home x

The C Word

I've been to a Christmas Fair tonight in the local Stately. I drank warm white wine and discussed cushions. I bought socks and a magnetic dartboard as presents. This is what warm white wine does to you. Stay clear.

This week's white in the fridge: The Reach Sauvignon Blanc 2009, £6.49 on offer, Tesco

A reader - a reader! - told me they loved Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Me too. Some are better than others, obviously. Some are certainly better value than others. This is one of those, made by a great producer called Vavasour in the Awatere Valley, part of the Marlborough region. Not too shouty, rather quietly confident with passion fruit flavours. I had this, very cold, with our Chinese takeaway last night and loved it.

This week's red on the side: Ripasso di Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Fratelli Recchia 2006, £7.59 on offer, Waitrose

Italian reds are so varied and - when good - vibrant that I'm not sure why I don't drink more of them. Too many wines, too little time, I suppose. Anyway, this is a really interesting one, made from a blend of red grapes including Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. The term 'ripasso' refers to the practice of fermenting or macerating the juice with the expended skins of grapes already used to make the more robust Amarone wines. For me, it seems to add a note of Christmas to the resulting wine: nutmeg perhaps? Whatever it is, it works.

Chin chin x

Growing (Old) Pains (Me)

I went out on Monday night. It doesn't happen often so I made the most. I wore an adored emerald green dress (Ghost), nail varnish (Rouge Noir), matching underwear (old vintage Myla) and really high heels. On Tuesday, I wore track suit bottoms, couldn't walk properly and had two mouth ulcers.  My body has decided to slope about doing everything at half-speed ever since, leaving me trapped inside shouting THIS NEVER USED TO HAPPEN! THIS IS NOT ME! But the evidence seems to suggest otherwise, dammit. Suddenly seeing the bright side of this not happening very often.

This week's rose in the fridge:  Tesco Finest Navarra Rose 2009, £6.79, Tesco

This is a jewel-coloured rose made from the red Tempranillo grape grown in northern Spain. Navarra is the region and is a pretty sure bet when looking for a bright, juicy, modern style of rose wine. It is not a shy wine, full-bodied by rose wine standards with strawberry fruit aromas and flavours. Doesn't need food but went with my yah-grilled salmon quite beautifully.   

This week's red on the side: Catena Malbec 2008, Argentina, £8.99, Waitrose

Such a lovely wine, this one. I visited the winery years ago. Set in vineyards near Mendoza, it looks like something out of a Bond/Bourne film from the outside. Inside, it is crammed with barrels and stainless steel tanks. The producer, Catena, is one of Argentina's largest and certainly one of the best. This is a moody, brooding red with blackcurrant fruits. Licensed to swill. Just add red meat.

Chin chin x

The Perfect Wine

Here in the cyber-playground, I've been tagged by the Merlot-swilling loving Eh, Mummy? and asked to write about my Perfect Man. Actually, she says I'm allowed to write about my perfect wine, which is a great relief because I couldn't top her description in which she references John Holmes, dirty cow. My perfect wine has been, at various times, a Vintage Champagne (when proposed to*), a beautiful red Burgundy (in memory of a loved one) and a first growth Claret (when someone else was paying). As with most things in life, it is as much about the who and where as it is about the what. Right now, my perfect wine is in my glass, chilled and within reach from my position on the sofa. It is an inexpensive but absolutely delicious white from a supermarket. What would make it more perfect is if it made me thinner, younger and less knackered.

This week's white in the fridge: Tesco Finest Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc, 2010, on offer at £5, Tesco

Chenin Blanc is the grape and it is such a player. Often overlooked - probably because it commonly associated with cheap and not-that-cheerful wines - it can actually do really good things when grown in the right place and handled with care. The Loire Valley in France is the natural homeland for Chenin Blanc - try the sweeties, dahling - but it seems to love South Africa too. Here,  we've got a lime-scented crisp dry white with lovely apple fruit flavours and a kick of acidity that reminds you to eat.

This week's red on the side: Tesco Finest Nero d'Avola 2008, on offer at £4.83 Tesco

Wines sold under the Tesco Finest* label first came on our shelves ten years ago, This makes me feel old. I worked there as a wine buyer at the time and was given an unbelievably brilliant shopping list in terms of wine to go and source for the range. This wasn't one of them. Wish it had been. Can't believe you can get this for under £5 on offer at the moment. Delicious, bramble fruit, a touch of raisin and a kick of spice, all in one glass.

So, now to tag a few more. You're it! English Mum, Shit Mummy, Bush Mummy, Nappy Valley Girl, Potty Mummy , your thoughts on your perfect man/partner (or anything else you fancy). 

Kick on x   

*proposal came in a random pub car park after a massive row about his driving. Shut me up, though.