Two supermarket wines break our writer’s block (From The Oxford Times)

Two supermarket wines break our writer’s block

6:30am Thursday 8th July 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

I do not know if it is the sticky heat, the endless ‘where did England go wrong’ narrative or the exhaustion of watching tennis’s longest-ever match but I seem to be incapable of stringing together a coherent article this week. So, humour me as I do have some lovely bits and pieces to throw at you instead.

I failed to mention last week that the promotional body for Sherry have published a book entitled The Perfect Marriage: The Art of Matching Food and Sherry Wines from Jerez. It is, I fear, one of those books that will serve to alienate even further a whole generation of potential Sherry drinkers containing, as it does, recipes such as Roasted Foie Gras with Smoked Halibut and Choucroute and Deep-Fried Frogs’ Legs & Chillies with Butternut Coconut Curry.

The much-respected and admired wine critic, Steven Spurrier flicked through the book’s pages before putting it down and remarking: “It’s just the sort of thing that makes me want to go and eat pork pie.”

Ah yes, the rest of us were thinking it but nobody else was brave enough to say it. I should point out that the contributing chefs have all generously agreed to donate their royalty fees to The Parkinson’s Appeal. Well done them.

Those of you that follow the wine column in The Oxford Times’ Oxfordshire Limited Edition magazine will have read about Tracey Smith’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Challenge.

However, if you missed the piece, then let me tell you that Tracey — who works for the Oxford wine merchant, Stevens Garnier — will be taking part in the 4750-mile leg from South Africa to Western Australia in 2011.

It is a journey that will see her spend the best part of a month at sea in some of the world’s most demanding waters. You can follow her preparations and support her fundraising for See Saw (Oxfordshire’s grief support charity for young people) at www.tazoceanchallenge.com Lastly, I have had two exceedingly impressive supermarket wines this week that deserve a mention. The first is the 2009 Henry Fessy Brouilly (£9.49 www.waitrosewine.com) which is a brilliantly aromatic, vivacious red (think red cherries and strawberry) with a lovely smooth texture. It received a unanimous thumbs-up from everyone round the dinner table.

In the past I have been a bit sniffy about the Champagne offerings from Marks and Spencer. Not because I have thought them poor but just because they have not struck me as all that interesting.

Well, I am always happy to stand corrected and the NV Louis Chaurey (£27) did just that. It delivered bright, invigorating citrus fruit, a lovely creamy mousse and a gentle, lingering finish — a quality Champagne.

To read more about Sarah and to sign up for her wine postcards, please visit www.wine-talk.co.uk