vb. pootle
to move leisurely, with or without purpose
Now, no great shakes but I'm usually in a hurry. Whether it is shouting getting the children into the car for the school run, racing to get a train on my work days or tearing round the supermarket at break-neck speed, the big Countdown clock looms. In my head, anyway. But last weekend, we walked to the pub before lunch, and I had to pootle. Partly owing to the fact that Youngest Girl only pootles and partly because that pesky sacroiliac joint is playing up, but whatever, I found myself pootling. And it was lovely. There's no real finish to this story. It is without purpose. Still pootling, obviously.
Current white in the fridge: Caixas Albariño 2011, £6.99 if you buy 2 bottles, Majestic
This is a properly super white, made by Martín Códax in the Rías Baixas (sound that one out) region in northwest Spain. Made from the Albariño grape, this is peachy - as in fruit as well as that being an adjective - with fresh, lemony flavours too. I had a glass of this as I pootled about the kitchen earlier, before finishing off the leftover smoked mackerel pate with a pile of pitta bread. A cheery Tuesday supper for one indeed.
Current red in the rack: Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir 2011, £7.99, Tesco
This really is one of the most delicious Pinot Noir wines I've tasted from Chile - in fact, at this price from pretty much anywhere - for ages. It is typically light in colour, with kind of spicy strawberry fruit. Like putting actual black pepper on actual strawberries (like Nigel Slater told me to once, and it was delicious). Anyway, it is a great way to do Pinot without it costing too much. And I like to think the Bicicleta-thing stays with pootling theme. Needs food, but not huge flavours. Roasted salmon fillets, say. Or smoky bacon crisps.
Chin chin x
Labels: 2011, albarino, Chile, Majestic, Pinot Noir, red wine, Spain, Tesco, white wine