Wine
Chekhov once said that “people don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy”. I wonder if Anton would have reached a similar epiphany had he been writing at the desk in my bedroom which, at this time of year, more closely resembles Superman’s ice fortress than student accommodation. My mood is predicated on the weather. The bountiful plenitude of diseases I’ve contracted since the onset of these arctic conditions render me a perfect candidate for the role of the consumption victim in any one of those substandard BBC costume dramas that plague the television schedule for the duration of the holiday season. You know you should really start to worry when your RDA is comprised predominately from those 15 sachets of Lemsip you drink out of a pint glass in the morning just to give you the moral strength you need to make it to the library before midday.
Winter, however, does have its benefits in the form of the full bodied, hearty reds which warm the cockles and help you momentarily forgot the avaricious spectre of the 25th waiting in the wings to sink its claws deep into your bank balance. This is the time of year to turn to sturdy, highly alcoholic numbers which complement robust cuisine and help drown out bothersome requests from significant others to go ice skating and such like.
Asda Extra Special Primitivo, 2006, Italy (Asda, £5.88) – Great little jammy winter wine from the south of Italy to inject some sunshine into you life. Drink alongside hearty dishes.
Casillero Del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon, Various Vintages, Chile ( Tesco, £4.99, Sainsbury’s, £6.97) – Concha Y Toro may be a big, nasty, blood sucking corporation but, to their credit, they do produce consistently good quality wine. Casillero, their mid-range and most recognisable brand, is a lovely wine for everyday occasions and will never disappoint.
Terrazas De Los Andes Reserva Malbec, Various vintages, Argentina (Field & Fawcett, £11.80) – An absolutely first class Malbec from Mendoza which is, incidentally, this week’s Decanter wine of the week. Expect big – but not flabby – dark fruit with a hint of spice.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Primitivo, Various Vintages, Italy (Sainsbury’s, £5.99) – This wine comes from a respected producer – the Cantine Due Palme co-operative in Puglia – who’s more upmarket wines can be sampled at L’antica Locanda, an intimate Italian restaurant on the Shambles.
Oddbins Own Red, Various Vintages, France (Oddbins, £4.49 or 3 for £10) – Everyday but eminently gluggable Southern French red from notable producer Paul Mas. Drink in any watertight receptacle, as an accompaniment to anything and everything or even nothing. I really can’t recommend this enough especially at this price.
Whisky: Winter is the season when even the most metrosexual of men feel a deep seated carnal desire to drink what is universally renowned as a ‘proper’ drink. Here are a few recommendations.
Monkey Shoulder Vatted Malt, Scotland, Speyside (Oddbins, £21.99 down to £19.99, Sainsbury’s, £20.39) – A vatted malt is simply a blend of single malts; a blended whisky without the horrible, hydrochloric acidy grain whisky which has a nasty tendency to burn holes through your oesophagus. This whisky is a steal for the price and should be drunk straight or in a rusty nail (with equal measures of Drambuie) if you can handle it.
Royal Lochnagar 12 year old, Scotland, Highlands (Oddbins, £23.99 down from £27.99) – The prefix is not merely a cheap gimmick; Lochnagar is the official royal tipple when it comes to malt. This beautiful scotch has a nose consisting of “fruitcake” and “burnt currants” according to Michael Jackson (whisky legend not ‘living in Cuba’ popstar) and is well worth the money.
Penderyn, Malt Whisky, Wales (Sainsbury’s, £30.49, Oddbins, £33.99) – Feel like you got a bit of a bum deal in devolution? Drink Welsh instead with this excellent single malt whisky from the Brecon Beacons National Park. Have not tried the stuff myself but it comes highly recommended from many gentlemen in the know and at 46% abv who could possibly complain?
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