Last weekend, Youngest Girl was 5 years old. She had a little party at home with her friends from school, involving a game of Pass the Parcel, Musical Statues and an early Easter Egg Hunt in the garden. I decorated the house with bunting and the cake with a tub of Betty Crocker chocolate fudge icing. Then there were the balloons. Pink heart balloons. At least, that’s how I saw them. Only, every other grown up who walked into the kitchen that day asked why I’d gone for Hen Party ones. Personally, I’m deflated.
Current white in the fridge: The Society’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013, £9.50, Wine Society
A gooseberry-scented, lime fruit filled gem, sent to me by The Wine Society. Now, you do have to be a member to order their wines. But at £40 for lifetime membership, you could join on on behalf of – say – a godchild and then make use of it until they’re 18. Just a thought. Anyway, this super savvy Sauvignon is made by masters of NZ SB Villa Maria and the grapes come from their own Marlborough vineyards. At Youngest Girl’s family birthday lunch on Sunday (the day after the party: like the Queen, she had two birthdays) my father denounced all Sauvignons as cheek-suckers. So I didn’t let on how lovely this one, from the vintage of a generation, was. All the more for the rest of the table.
Current red on the side: Asda Extra Special Marques Del Norte 2008, £6, Asda
This is normally £8.50, so at £6 it’s properly good value for money. A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano (v. smart grape in Rioja blend), this is delicious thanks to good quality grapes, great winemaking and three years ageing in barrels and bottle. It’s all blackcurrant and black cherry fruit and spice, just as good Rioja should be. This was also on the table on Sunday, along with a butterflied leg of lamb and Diana Henry’s sekenjabin sauce (a Persian mint syrup, apparently). Make it, it’s delicious. My mother, mother-in-law and step-mother all asked for the recipe (it’s here).
Peace out, winos x
Good grief! Well, it could have been even ruder I suppose if there'd been more balloons hanging together. (If you know what I mean.)
They're starting to deflate now 🙁
Ooh, er, missus.
Mmmm…Tempranillo and lamb sounds like a great pairing.
I know. Rude.
And lamb + tempranillo = delish.
That's hilarious!
I hope you had some nice wine for the grown ups….to take their mind off the mammaries.
But of course…this year, it was demi-sec champagne in paper cups, a great match for chocolate cake as it turns out!