Ah, what joy! I am flushed with the pleasing warmth of a hard day's work in the garden, followed by a swift Tio Pepe and dolmades (is that how you spell it? It matters not on such a day). Now I am relaxing with a wonderful glass of William Fevre's Chablis 1er cru Vaillions 2002 and it is utterly delightful - cool to the taste, a hint of mineral zing, not too much body, and a very filling palate. It will go very well with tonight's swordfish, which I must soon prepare. For you UK pundits this is about £14 in Waitrose - go and get some!
I think I'd appreciate this wine at any time, but there is no doubt that a feeling of conviviality certainly adds hugely to the experience! The sun is shining and, though work beckons tomorrow (the curse of the drinking classes) I care not.
Talking of occasion, last weekend I had a bit of an Italian theme going, and two wines are worthy of note. Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Antico Riserva
1995 (bought from the vineyard - oh I can be such a snob at times!) was utterly splendid, full of those ripe, warm tones rising from the glass, and that glorious simplicity on the palate that I love from this wine - it is always lighter than you think, which ties in well with a previous post about buying it in restaurants.
Of less interest was Marmoretto 1997 from Frescobaldi, a Cabernet wine from that glorious vintage. It was OK, but then you don't want OK from a 'Supertuscan' with non-indigenous varieties. If ever a comparison proved why Italy should always focus on its own grapes, this was it.
As an added delight for you Italophiles, on the Sunday I lunched at the Crown Inn in Chiddingstone, Kent, and only when I emerged from this wonderfully old-fashioned restaurant, did I realise that the village had doubled for Summer Street in that most magnificent of movies, A Room With a View. I even saw the splendid Cissie Villa!
Ordinary life will resume on Monday!
Johnners