New Year, New Me

OK, so perhaps a tad overstated but I do intend to do more (or less) of the following in 2013:

1. Drink more wine from left-field places. I'm talking Romania, Croatia, Brazil, Mexico...I'll report back on the good ones, obvs
2. Not drink any wine at least two days a week (I know, so worthy)
3. Only online shop on my wine-free nights (and not from Topshop anymore, too old)
4. Stop kidding myself that dark chocolate counts as health food

That's enough to be getting on with, especially since the dark chocolate one is a biggie. So, New Year's Eve looms and our evening will involve - excitingly - champagne and curry. To you *raises glass* and yours; wishing you a happy, healthy and wholly rewarding new year. And here's hoping we manage to stay awake to see it in.

Current white in the fridge: Pouilly-Fumé 'Les Cascadelles' 2011, £8.99 if you buy 2 bottles, Majestic
This was one of the bottles we've collected over the last week, brought by a passing visitor. Not sure who, but if it was you, I am really sorry we didn't open it when you were here. Actually, I'm not that sorry, because it is delicious and I've not had to share it. Made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape in the Loire Valley, wines from the Pouilly Fume region are similar to those of neighbouring Sancerre, with a trademark character often described as 'gunflint'. I find 'struck match' a better description. Don't often smell gunflint. Gorgeous, fresh gooseberry and lime flavours; properly crisp and refreshing. 

Current red in the rack: Domaine of the Bee 2010, £20, buy direct here
You might remember this one, I bought it last year for the Husband. And he loved it so much, this Christmas he got more from the newly released 2010 vintage. It is a HUGE red from Roussillon in the South of France, from vineyards near the town of Maury. It is a blend of Grenache and Carignan, aged in oak barrels for well over a year. Not for the feint-hearted, definitely needs food and best served on a cold winter's night in generous-sized glasses so that the wine can breathe and open up in the glass as you drink it. Such a beautiful, brooding wine, positively radiating black fruits and spice. And even better, it is made by a friend of mine, a fellow ex-supermarket wine buyer. See here for a great description & pics of how they make it. Love that he's gone on to actually make the stuff whereas I remain on the sofa simply drinking it (dark chocolate within reach, of course).

Now, if anyone is thinking of doing a new year, new you thing involving being your own boss, you might be interested in this event I'm doing with Red magazine in London on the 28th January. Shout if you are going to be there, would love to see you!

Cheers, dears x

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