“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens.” So said a friend, or rather so said her shared photo on Facebook. My immediate response was lovely idea, but if I do that nowadays I slightly wee. Then I thought some more and given the start I’ve had to the year (sad news, bad news and mad news all in the last week) it started to make sense. We had so many plans last year: weekends were spent mostly recovering from really busy weeks, and just as we got our breath back, it started all over again. So this year? My plan is to have fewer plans. That, and playing catch up on the pelvic floor exercises.
Current white in the fridge: Macrocarpa Tree Sauvignon Blanc 2011, £12, Oddbins
So, no apologies for not doing a dry January. Rather, on the drink less but better theme, here’s a £12 bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Oddbins. I had a glass before lunch on Sunday in one of my new favourite glasses, those lovely stemless ones (excellent Christmas present from my dad). It was so full of flavour – all gooseberries and passion fruit – but with a bit of extra weight thanks to a small part of the blend being oaked. Properly lovely Marlborough Sauvignon; perfect pre-roast material.
Current red in the rack: Tesco Finest Bolgheri 2010, £11.99, Tesco
OK, apologies that both of this week’s wines are over a tenner. But honestly, you will sip this so slowly, it will last you for days. It’s a beast, made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes in the Bolgheri region, near the coast in Tuscany. This is where the so-called ‘Super-Tuscans’ of the 1970s originally sprang from, with their rebel blends of Cabernet-dominated reds. The rules at the time said they should have more Sangiovese in the blend so instead of calling them Chianti, the producers made their own names up. Eventually, Bolgheri got its own set of rules, and so created a new generation of big, bold wines from Tuscany. Expect lots and lots of black fruit flavours, pepper and allspice. And make sure you are sitting down when you take your first sip, with a big plate of food in front of you. Super stuff.
Peace out, winos x
Hi Helen,
Agree, the Bolgheri is a big wine, initially quite tannic and dry. I decanted mine for about 4 hours and I enjoyed it, dark fruits, smoke, spice all there but it needs food, even better on day 2.
For this you need patience and a hearty meal, then you are rewarded with a pretty decent wine.
It's fab, isn't it? And agree, definitely gets better with time, even in the glass.
"Drink less but better" sounds like a perfect New Year's Resolution for me after what felt like a 2013 of "Drink too much, too fast", which again has implications for the pelvic floor. Happy New Year x
Ha! Love that…HNY x
Ha ha! Was that me? My New Year mantra is to … do less and enjoy more … this year. Adding the above wine to shopping list for tomorrow. Thank you for being part of the 'enjoy' part! Love to you for 2014 x
It was you! Let me know what you think of the Beast of Bolgheri. And thank you for such kind words, do like to think I am helping somewhere along the way! x