Some of you will have noticed that the Rugby World Cup is currently underway and that yesterday England managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by converting a seven point lead, with not many more minutes left to play than the points difference, into a three point loss. A feat all the more remarkable considering that their Welsh opponents had lost three of their best to injury during the game. The result now means Australia need to be competently restrained next week to avoid the host nation becoming the first in the history of the competition not to make it through to the knock out stages. The other way to look at it is that they have already made it to the knock out stage, and earlier than other teams in their pool, too.
Even if England do beat Australia it simply increases the chances of them meeting the All Blacks in a later round. Now, there's a lot of things I like about New Zealand, even if I have never been there, but losing to them at rugby is not one of them. However, part of the enjoyment of watching the egg-chasers is the sense of respect and fair play that sets the game apart the allegedly 'beautiful game' (an expression which would be better reserved for venison, in my opinion).
I was drawn to this week's selection by the label. If you can't see it, then let me explain that it shows a series of little cartoon All Blacks doing their 'head, shoulders, knees and toes' thing that they do to welcome and / or intimidate their opponents.
Week E (2015) Earth's End Pinot Noir. Central Otago. 2013. M&S £16
Not exclusively by the label, but also by the fact that it was attached to a Pinot Noir from Central Otago. We had one of these in red week O (2013) which I remember liking, and another for red week W (2015) which was less interesting, but what puts this style of wine up front and centre for me at present is that earlier this week I spent an evening with a couple of friends at a WSET School tasting event where Nigel Greening, the owner of Felton Road which is a highly regarded Otago producer, led us through a four year, two wine vertical exploration of the effects of vintage variation on the wines from two of his vineyards. A fabulous event.
That's enough blather about why I chose it, was I pleased?
Yes. I has a nice combination of flavours and I would call cherry if I had to, plus some floral, almost herbal, tones together with slightly separated oak. I suspect the maker intends this to be drunk fairly soon after bottling, but it is only two and half year's since its southern hemisphere harvest and so the oak may well 'integrate' later as we wine bores are prone to saying.
Sixteen of your earth pounds is a fair demand in return for this drink. Of the two previous Otago Pinot Noirs, the first mentioned above cost AUD 28.99, which at the time was about £17.35 but today would be £13.87, and the second was £9, but dull. The Felton Road is about £38 a bottle and the 2011's were easily good enough to justify the difference, sadly, 'cos that's a bit steep for me. On the bright side the Felton Roads are sufficiently hard to find that it is unlikely to be much a recurring problem.
Lastly, but far from leastly, if that is a permissible word, today is my son's 28th birthday, I hope he has a great day and knows how much I love him.
Even if England do beat Australia it simply increases the chances of them meeting the All Blacks in a later round. Now, there's a lot of things I like about New Zealand, even if I have never been there, but losing to them at rugby is not one of them. However, part of the enjoyment of watching the egg-chasers is the sense of respect and fair play that sets the game apart the allegedly 'beautiful game' (an expression which would be better reserved for venison, in my opinion).
I was drawn to this week's selection by the label. If you can't see it, then let me explain that it shows a series of little cartoon All Blacks doing their 'head, shoulders, knees and toes' thing that they do to welcome and / or intimidate their opponents.
Week E (2015) Earth's End Pinot Noir. Central Otago. 2013. M&S £16Not exclusively by the label, but also by the fact that it was attached to a Pinot Noir from Central Otago. We had one of these in red week O (2013) which I remember liking, and another for red week W (2015) which was less interesting, but what puts this style of wine up front and centre for me at present is that earlier this week I spent an evening with a couple of friends at a WSET School tasting event where Nigel Greening, the owner of Felton Road which is a highly regarded Otago producer, led us through a four year, two wine vertical exploration of the effects of vintage variation on the wines from two of his vineyards. A fabulous event.
That's enough blather about why I chose it, was I pleased?
Yes. I has a nice combination of flavours and I would call cherry if I had to, plus some floral, almost herbal, tones together with slightly separated oak. I suspect the maker intends this to be drunk fairly soon after bottling, but it is only two and half year's since its southern hemisphere harvest and so the oak may well 'integrate' later as we wine bores are prone to saying.
Sixteen of your earth pounds is a fair demand in return for this drink. Of the two previous Otago Pinot Noirs, the first mentioned above cost AUD 28.99, which at the time was about £17.35 but today would be £13.87, and the second was £9, but dull. The Felton Road is about £38 a bottle and the 2011's were easily good enough to justify the difference, sadly, 'cos that's a bit steep for me. On the bright side the Felton Roads are sufficiently hard to find that it is unlikely to be much a recurring problem.
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