International Merlot Day – November the Seventh

My Dear Guru Pig,

Thank you for alerting me to International Merlot Day, which I have added to my calendar of Important Events¹. You have saved Suzanne and me from an embarrassing faux-pas, as we were just finishing an agreeable bottle of 2019 Chapel Down Flint Dry blended white. On the face of it this was not the most obvious choice for venison with noodles and stir fried Pak Choi but, well, the bottle was already open and giving good service, being a refreshingly sharp contrast to the malty earth tones of Leffe Brujn and hot lime pickles as an anti pasta².

A quick flurry of rummaging in the ancestral wine cellar produced one of Brian’s Reserve Merlots³. I was reassured by his assertion that the bottle was best enjoyed now or cellared for 3-5 years. As there was no date on the label, and Suzanne could not remember when she bought it, we played safe and opened it at once, to be enjoyed with stewed apples, apricots, wolf berries and custard*.

Good health to you and yours! Arrrrr!

Kind Regards, Chris.

Our allotment can get very lively!

1. International Speak Like a Pirate Day on the 19th of September being top of said list.
2. Flint Dry 2019 – 6 bottle case

   A great introduction to quality English wine and an alternative to aromatic white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Chapel Down Flint Dry 2020 is a mixed blend, fragrant white wine.

   1. On the Nose – Green apple, galia melon and kiwi.
   2. On the Palate – Apple, pear and lime.
   3. Finish – Well-balanced.
   4. Vineyards – Kent, East Sussex and Essex.
   5. Winemaking – Fruit is whole bunch pressed and vinified in stainless steel at cool temperatures to retain aromatic delicacy. The wine was blended, clarified, and bottled in February 2020.
   6. Food Pairing – Flint Dry 2020 is ideal served as an aperitif or pairs perfectly with white meats, seafood, or salad.

      75cl bottles. £78.00

3. Brian McGuigan’s Reserve Merlot

   Aroma

   Upfront red fruits, raspberries and cherries. Hints of sweet spice and cedar

   Palate

   A medium bodied, fruit driven wine with spice and hints of mocha on the palate.The wine is well balanced with soft tannins, giving length to the palate.

   £ 7 for 75cl

   *. Custard is not a garnish. It comes in jugs!