One Sunday a few years ago Sainsbury’s locked my car in their Huddersfield car park causing me massive inconvenience. Combined with their stock replenishment problems at the time, I swore I would never shop there again.
Regular readers will know that my grudges don’t hold much resolve so last week saw me nipping into Sainsbury’s on Regent Rd in Manchester looking for Malbec. Ciaran had recommended the So Organic Free Trade one.
Exactly how many quarters has Manchester got? Can a city have more than four? I hear tell in the press of the latest campaign to create an “Irish Quarter” which is bringing England’s second city to the point of fractional incongruence.
Personally, I like the Spanish quarter and one of my fave tapas places is on Deansgate two forward rolls from the new Beetham Tower – Evuna.
Did you know that the Beetham Tower at 47 floors is the highest residential building in Europe. Has anyone told the residents on floor 36 that the fire brigade can only reach the fourth floor? Food for thought!
Have you ever heard of the Fratellis? I bought their new album, Costello Music, recently and I was not impressed. I may be showing my age here, but I have heard it all before. One track sounded like Status Quo, the next was reminiscent of The Clash and the next could have been (maybe was???) written by Ray Davies. One hit wonders, if ever I made such a prediction.
So why did I buy it? Because I heard someone on BBC Radio 2 mention it as the latest thing. And this is broadly the same reason I bought 2003 Bordeaux en primeur.
I am reminded of the old joke where a farmer’s son asks his dad how much land he will get for his inheritance. The dad kicks his son in the nuts and says “well there’s a couple of achers to start with”.
To get a Friday night reservation at the Three Acres, required several month’s notice. Was it going to be worth the wait or would I be kicked in the nuts?
The Three Acres to which I refer, is a gastro-pub that nestles beneath Emley Moor transmitter in Shelley, 5 miles south of Huddersfield, West Yorks. Its reputation reaches much wider than the transmitter’s signals, however.
Wow – the Wine Society sent me an enticing offer. “A first taste of 2005!”. Twelve bottles for a mouthwatering 67 of my English punts.
Now really…. It’s in their interest to big up the supposed best year in Bordeaux for several millennia – well according to the venerable Robert Parker at least. (Personally I am amazed that an American has any understanding of how to get out of his own state, let alone gain a deep understanding of European culture). I mean how many of you Europeans has met an American who knows the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?
Just a quick post to say that in an earlier post I mentioned that I had found a pure Malbec at Asda for only £3.78 and now I have tried it I can report that my new found love for Asda’s wine buyers has flourished again.
They described the wine as a “delicious glass of smooth juicy pleasure” and for once I agree with the label!
Everyone who knows me, knows that I think that Malbec is the best thing to come out of Argentina since news of Maradona’s (drug abuse enforced) retirement.
On my last Malbec post, Denis requested a recommendation for a good starter bottle. This prompted me to think about both ends of the value spectrum.
I have just tasted a superb Malbec from Asda (UK subsidiary of Wal-mart), at time of writing on special offer at just four of our English pounds (I think it’s still less than a fiver at full price!). The wine is Malbec Reserve, Famatina Valley 2004 which the label says is produced by some outfit called “La Riojana”. I guess it must be blended from a variety of sources then, but no harm in that if it tastes good. And my hand of god says it does!
In September 2005 I had the great pleasure (?) of driving from Leeds to the Beaujolais region.  Having stayed with family in Essex, passed through the Dover to Calais ferry and spent a night in Epernay (never mind Reims, this is the centre of the champagne universe for me) we arrived in Belleville about 40 hours after we set off.
The reason for the trip? A 40th birthday present was a “rental” of a number of rows of vines at a Morgon vineyard related to 3D Wines, owned by the absolutely charming Bernard Collonge and his even more charming wife, (who could speak about as much English, as I could French) Christine.
OK sorry guys but it is a claret. Most people probably don’t consider Bordeaux reds to offer remarkable value for money, especially given the en primeur prices quoted for the 2005 vintage which made my eyes water. However its probably fair to say that if you consider quality independent of price, then Bordeaux would be near the top of most wine enthusiasts’ lists.
This is why, despite the exorbitant prices I broke the bank to reserve a few bottles of 2005. Something I may post about in 2015 (if I am still alive) when they are ready for drinking…
Anyway, back to the wine in question which I opened on our balcony in the summer of 2006 with my good mate Tony the self styled Lord of St Helens and his charming wife Jeanette.
In 1988 I was at the cafeteria of a motorway service station buying a sandwich and I asked where the corned beef was from. I advised the assistant that I hoped it wasn’t from Argentina.
“Oh, you’re not still sore about the Falklands are you?” she retorted.
“No, actually it was Maradona’s 1986 Hand of God goal. I’ve boycotted Argentinean products since that day”
Wind forward several years and with the self righteous ban a distant memory, I had occasion to visit the Gaucho Grill on Chancery Lane in London. An Argentinean “Grill” restaurant and probably the best steak I have ever tasted. During that meal I ordered a bottle of Malbec and was wowed.
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