Wine - taking stock

It's soon time for our annual holiday to France which will of course include a visit to Calais Wine, Majestic Wine, Pidou and Auchan to replenish our wine cellar.

Our favourites and must buys are:

Cheverney --- Touraine Sauvignon Blanc --- Cellier de Dauphin --- Gamay

We do like the Ca'Lunghetta range at Calais Wine and Robertsons from Majestic but we're always open to new finds.

But we do enjoy other wines from elsewhere - earlier this week we had a chilli con carne dinner with a lovely bottle of Domaine de la Contrie - Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil which we bought from S H Jones. It's a lovely Loire Valley red.

 A light Cabernet Franc red with a deep purple colour
- raspberry and blackcurrant fruit bouquet and palette.

Our good friends joined us for dinner again last night and as it has been so warm lately I decided on light courses. Our menu was:

goats cheese and beetroot salad with rustic bread and olives

chicken, pork and chorizo meat wrapped in iceberg lettuce,

served with chutneys and air fryer chips

summer fruit pavlova

To start our meal off we opened a bottle of the very very good Freixenet Cava - although I generally prefer french bubbles I do enjoy this Spanish fizz. I was very lucky in winning a case with Tesco Wine  Community earlier in the month so our cellar is well stocked.

Freixenet - thanks to Tesco

Freixenet is full of light bubbles - all racing to the top of the glass with great speed. 

In the glass - a golden yellow with glistening highlights with an array of small and light bubbles which ascended with speed.

On the nose - light fruit, apples and pears, Hubby thought of Pear Drops.

On the palette - bubbles dissolved away rather like sherbet, a light fruity taste with a crisp dryness hitting the roof of your mouth.

To accompany our meal we had a lovely white Viognier our friends brought with them from their holiday in Spain and a bottle of Willunga 100 -Cabenet Shiraz 2010 - another from SH Jones when we went to the Matthew Jukes Tasting Evening.

The Willunga was a beautiful red with a deep nose of dark plums, cherries and a hint of spice. The flavour is very rich with more berries bursting through. There is just a hint of tannin with an subtle oaked finish.

All in all it was a lovely evening of excellent wine, good food and it was such a change to sit outside until quite late with a Nespresso coffee and Amaretto.

Retirement - so good, so spoilt

(blog warning- lots of reading and photos - so much to say hee hee)

Well last Friday I finished working in education - I retired at the very young age of 47 !! Hubby and I have never moved, never wanted more than we have, been quite careful with our money but have had some amazing holidays with our children and family along the way. Now at our 'young' age our bills are done and I can leave work to look after the house and make evenings and weekends job free for Hubby. I am so very very lucky.

It was an amazing last day at school - I had stitched (cross stitch is my hobby) small gifts for my close colleagues who were so surprised when I gave them out. If you'd like to see my handiwork I have a blog for my stitching - Aimetu's Stitching This blog also has my beautiful gifts from school - how amazing in my new french sign but where it will go I just don't know (I can hear the offers already .... Tesco!!)

Hubby had booked us on the Eurostar to Brussels for a 3 day break. I had been really looking forward to it as it was our first trip on Eurostar and we were staying at the 4* Sheraton. Our holidays are usually driving as it is something we love, many a time we've watched the Eurostar fly past us on the way to the South coast and whilst travelling through France, so a trip on board was definitely something to be excited about.

After a rush home and a quick taxi we made the station in good time to catch our London Midland train to Euston which was very quick, and we managed to find seats. It was a short walk from Euston to St Pancras and finding the Eurostar terminal was so easy. After checking in we waiting excitedly in the Departure Lounge - we had a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte champagne, glasses, olives, bread and cold meats ready to enjoy on the journey, but we did enjoy a crepe and glass of wine in the amazing terminal. There is so much glass and such a high roof it doesn't feel anything like a railway station.

St Pancras International Station

Our boarding gate opened and all check-ins completed we sat waiting in anticipation. Our carriage was 17so we guessed it would be a long train. Gate opened we hurried to find our seats and settled in for the journey .... only the Train Manager approached and checked our names. My heart was racing as I thought for a moment we were on the wrong train but to our amazement he informed us we had been upgraded and could we follow him quickly to carriage 8.

I have never walked so fast in my life - I had visions of being on the platform and the train departing without us. Carriage 8 was Business Premier - we just settled in as the train departed. I was so shocked at what had happened - especially after such an emotional day at school too. The Train Manager came back to see us and knew all about my retirement - The Eurostar Social Team whom I had Tweeted to about being excited had tracked us down and really surprised us with the upgrade - it was such a treat, so special and quite overwhelming.

We were treated to champagne, a Raymond Blanc four course meal with wine, coffee and chocolate. The Eurostar team were all so lovely - I did enjoy the journey too as we travelled through some known and unknown countryside.

Business Premier on Eurostar - champagne !

Raymond Blanc menu

Raymond Blanc meal - we had a pork main too

Arriving in Brussels we thanked the Eurostar team and made our way to the Metro. Neither of us have travelled in Belgium before but we managed to work out which line we needed - the fact that 'jump' means journey and one jump was one journey so only 2euro. The Metro was very quick and we soon emerged from the Rogier station to see the Sheraton right in front of us; quite a relief as it was now nearly 11.30pm.

Checkin done - and two free drink vouchers obtained for the bar as we took out a loyalty card - we made our way to our room - 16th floor. I have never been so high but it didn't feel odd, the lift was so smooth and took seconds, not like some shuddery ones we've been in when you worry about getting to the second floor. Our room was lovely, very spacious with a massive bed and two armchairs, lovely ensuite and much needed tea and coffee.

We didn't take breakfast at the hotel but had a buffet style one in our room with goodies we'd bought. It was actually quite nice not to have to get up at a certain time and be ready to go down for breakfast - this might be something we do again in other hotels as it was a far more relaxing way to start the day. We found local bakeries and supermarkets and purchased quite a breakfast variety.

Saturday we walked into the centre of Brussels and all around - it was very hot but with plenty of bars it was easy to take a rest. Unfortunately beer was cheaper than coca cola,coffee or water so we sampled quite a few varieties on our stops. There is so much to see but these are the main places we visited.

Manekin Pis

I wanted to try four particular things in Brussels; chocolate, beer, chips with mayonnaise and waffles....and I did:

chips and mayonnaise

chocolate

waffles

beer

There are some amazing side streets around the Grand Place that are no more than tiny alleyways but filled with restaurants all with outside tables. It was an amazing atmosphere and great value if you took one of the set menus. On returning to the hotel we decided to use our vouchers in the bar and I had a real treat - a beautiful, perfectly chilled glass of Sancere. I didn't get to look at the label but it was just perfect.  

Sunday was another special day but not for me this time - the new King of Belgium Philippe. His father Albert II had abdicated and as 21st July was Belgium's National Day all the official ceremonies where taking place including the swearing in of the new king. The day before we had walked around the Palace and the cathedral and seen all the festivities being set up - tv cameras everywhere and red carpets being laid.It was far too hot for me on Sunday so after a stroll round in the morning we bought a bottle of wine and sat in our air conditioned room watching all the celebrations on tv.

Later in the evening we went out for a meal at the Cheesecake Cafe - such another great place, full of atmosphere and brilliant food. We did not venture back into the city but retired back to the hotel to watch the fabulous fireworks on the tv - a much better view too.

Monday was our journey home although we had the morning to stroll through the city one last time. It is certainly a city we will be returning too as there is so much to see. It was very easy to find the station and we were soon onboard Eurostar ready for home. We had a bottle of red wine and a speciality bread ready to enjoy and as soon as the train moved the wine was uncorked and bread torn.

I nearly died when the Train Manager came along, stopped and checked our names. She was so lovely, asking if we'd had a good time, where we'd been, what we'd done. Again it was Eurostar Social Team - they knew our return train and had asked her to just pop along to see how the weekend went - such customer service - I am still in amazement at their kindness.

So that was my retirement trip to Brussels - this post has been far too long already to include wine details but now I'm retired I'm sure it will not be too long before the wine post appears - I have plenty of news to share too; Tesco prize, gifts, wine in Brussels - I will be posting soon as August sees us of to France for our man holiday and I'm sure I will have something to blog about then.

Thank you so much for reading my lengthy news - it would be lovely if you left a comment too, thanks.

And finally a HUGE thanks to my Hubby Nick without whom many of our adventures would not be possible; I certainly couldn't retire and life would just be boring !!

Bastille Day !!

Google France has just a perfect image for Bastille Day

This year we are having a quiet Bastille Day - mainly due to the amazing heat the UK is enjoying this weekend - I am with many many others for whom heat triggers additional medical symptoms - MS is not a heat fan but by staying indoors and taking things easy it's do-able :)

And by it being Bastille Day we will of course be opening a bottle of vin francais - but which one?

Red - Chateau de Petit Thouars - a gorgeous 2009 cabernet franc

Red - Tesco Vintage Claret  Bordeaux  - a deep intenseive red

White - Jean de la Roche Sauvignon Blanc - a crisp white from Calais Wine

White - Oisly et Thesee, 'Les Mazelles’ Sauvignon de Touraine 2010 - full of gooseberries and kiwi from S H Jones

Bubbly - Nicolas Feuillatte Brut - the best champagne in my eyes.

It will probably be a red  as it's bbq steak tonight but may mean a trip back to the Loire Valley in the near future to replace stock - Chateau de Petit Thouars is just outside Chinon. It's a stunning chateau with rolling lawns, a beautifully manicured garden, and great vineyards producing fantastic Cabernet Franc wine and Cremant de Loire sparkling. Definitely a place to visit in the Loire.

And it will not be Nicolas Feuillatte as we're saving that for next weekend when we travel Brussels on Eurostar - special mini break which I'll share next time.

Looking behind last weekend was amazing !! I organised a trip to Birmingham for my work colleagues to watch The Lion King at Birmingham Hippodrome. Thee are few words to descibe it - unbelievable costumes and set.

Travelling by train to Birmingham was for a change quite enjoyable.We all had seats on an uncrowded train which arrived on time in New Street - thanks Cross Country. Before the show we met with everyone outside The Old Fox Pub just next door to the theatre, beautiful weather just added to the pre-theatre wine/beer.

A trip to the theatre is never complete without sweets and there is the perfect shop on the corner, opposite the pub. Mr Chill's Traditional Sweet Shop has all your favourites - ours being liquorice allsorts, vimto bon bons, rhubard and custard and chewing nuts. Such a great place full of childhood memories and of course sweet treats.

After the show we invaded the Big Wok - a great chinese restaurant - their buffet has a huge variety including a large salad bar and sushi range - perfect for Slimming World members. Starters and mains devourved we moved onto puddings and took great delight in trying to make a perfect ice cream cornet shaping the ice cream from the serve yourself machine - a little practice needed maybe.

A great weekend with a perfect finish on Sunday - Andy Murray winning Wimbledon 



Loire Valley Wine

SH Jones is a fantastic wine merchants having shops in Leamington Spa, Bicester and Banbury. Earlier in the year Hubby and I enjoyed one of their wine tasting evenings with Matthew Jukes at the Angel Hotel in Leamington. Last weekend we travelled to Banbury for their Loire Valley Wine Tasting in The Old Wine Shop.

Banbury is just over an hour away for us but because of the nature of our trip we booked into the Holiday Inn Express for the night. The hotel was easy to find, just off the M40; very welcoming receptionist and a great room.

We decided to walk into Banbury, about 20 minutes. The town is a mix of old and new; plenty of modern shops, Castle Quay shopping centre, a canal, old buildings and The Banbury Cross. The Old Wine Shop is a beautiful Grade II listed building that dates back to mid-1500s.

The Old Wine Shop

Side view of The Old Wine Shop

First to arrive we were warmly welcomed, the shop is just a dream; olde worlde setting with shelves filled with wines from around the world, whiskeys and an array of other bottled alcohiolic delights including Hook Norton beer (another of our previous travels).

The intimate setting, small tables laid with 8 tasting glasses, confirmed our anticipation of the wine tasting experience. SH Jones had selected 8 wines from the Loire Valley, varying in location across this central region of France.

Cave des Vignerons de Saumur, La Grande Marqu NV (Anjou region)– Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, a light traditionally produced sparkling wine.

Auguste Bonhomme, Domaine Le Fief de la Brie, Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2011 (Pays Nantes region) – Melon de Bourgogne, a white wine with a richness from cask ageing, a light nose with a hint of lemon, a taste of freshness with light citrus and melon.

Oisly et Thesee, 'Les Mazelles’ Sauvignon de Touraine 2010 (Touraine region) – Sauvignon Blanc, a nose of gooseberries and kiwi with the recognisable sauvignon taste, very similar to Sancerre.

Jean Pabiot et Fils, Domaine des Fines Caillottes, Pouily Fume 2011 (Centre region) - Sauvignon Blanc, a golden wine with a deep nose, rich flavour with a hint of smokiness.

Baumard, Clod du Papillon, Savennieres 2005 (Anjou region) - Chenin Blanc, unusual mineral nose but then a honey and marizpan pallette.

Andre Dezat et Fils, Sancerre Rouge 2011 (Centre region) - Pinot Noir, light fruit fragrance matched with light fruity flavour.

Domaine de la Contrie, Saint Nicolas de Bourgeil 2010 (Touraine region) - Cabernet Franc, classic red with depth and definition in the glass, on the nose and on the pallette.

Baumard, Quarts de Chaume 2007  ((Anjou region)- Chenin Blanc, a superb bouquet of sweet fruit and honey, with a pure nectar flavour with a perfect sweetness

I didn't make tasting notes on the night - I wish I had. Hopefully my memory has remembered the noses and pallettes to the correct wine.We did have a great information sheet which I could have jotted things down on ... if I hadn't been so busy tasting!! Our favourites were the Touraine and the Cabernet Franc both of which now reside in Cellar H, chez nous.

The  shop has an amazing variety of good quality wines; wines from particular areas of the world with a pleasingly large selection from France. Cellar H has also welcomed a couple of other French  bottles; Pasquiers Sauvignon Vermentino 2011, a crisp fruity wine, and Château Pastureau 2009 Bordeaux, a  deep cherry red.
 


Pasquiers Sauvignon Vermentino 2011

We had a superb evening; S H Jones’ events are definitely ones not to be missed !!






If you enjoyed reading this blog please leave a comment - thank you

Wales and Lanson Rose

Our half term holiday was filled with a variety of activities, some far more exciting than others. Firstly we went to Wales to our caravan and thankfully the sun decided to shine.

Saturday morning with did our favourite walk with Ruby - parking at Morfa Mawddach and walking across the railway bridge into Barmouth. It is a stunning walk which we never tire of.

Barmouth Bridge

Barmouth

Mawddach Estuary

It's about a 4 mile walk by the time we have crossed the bridge from Morfa Mawddach train station, walked up to the far end of Barmouth for a coffee at Min Y Mor Hotel and back across the bridge - tiring for everyone, but especially for Ruby dog who then sleeps all afternoon.

Sunday afternoon we crossed a new bridge - the Wales Coastal Path now has a footbridge crossing the Dysynni River just north of Tywyn.

New Dysynni Bridge

The views from the other side were amazing - new to us as we've never crossed this part of the river before. We walked inland to Tonfanau where the Bank Holiday Motorcycling race event was happening on the old airfield - Tonfanau was an Anti-Aircraft Training Camp in World War II

Training Camp in World War II

Although the Bank Holiday Monday was a wet day we had a lovely weekend in a part of the country we love - we took family with us and had a small celebration with a bottle of Lanson Rose Champagne. If you are regular reader of my blog it was one of the bottles from my Tesco Mystery Case I mention in April's post.

It was a delicious glass of very good champagne - the glass was filled with an amber liquid that shone with sparkling highlights. The small bubbles were light, very active in the glass but not a gaseous champagne.

Nose: a light peach fragrance, nothing overpowering

Taste: no outstanding fruit but a very subtle blend of peach, nectarine with a slight hint of fennel.

We enjoyed this before dinner unaccompanied but it would suit a very light starter or lunchtime meal; prawn or salmon especially.

We have had another delivery from Tesco to taste and review - the Tesco Community Gold members have been asked to try Freixenet Cordon Negro &  Freixenet Cordon Oro.

Cordon Negro & Cordon Oro

With being away we have yet to try these sparklers but they are both in the fridge ready for the weekend - I just need to think about food pairing - it may be we try the Oro unaccompanied as it's a semi-seco.

There always seems to be something going on or wine to be enjoyed - and soon we'll be visiting SH Jones, Banbury and Cardiff - so more news, tips and travel soon.

Dinner Party Wine

This week we had some friends over on Friday for a meal - I decided to open the other bottle of Glorioso rioja from the Tesco Dining Dozen (my review case). Hubby and I are not really into Spanish wine and food but I did think I should do something to go with such a great Spanish wine. So our menu was:

Bombay Sapphire Bramble cocktail

Baked Camembert with Lindauer Brut (we were going to have the Codorniu Rose but changed our minds last minute)

Chorizo and chicken with Glorioso Rioja or Mar del Sur Savignon Blanc

Walnut and Lemon Pavlova & Beetroot and Chocolate Cake with Nespresso coffee and Glengoyne malt whisky



Beetroot and Chocolate Cake

It was a lovely meal - everything cooked at the right moment without me spending all evening in the kitchen and the wine was perfect. I wonder what I'll do next time.

Hubby and I are getting quite excited about the summer holidays but we have quite a busy time before then - next weekend we are back in Wales at our caravan and hopefully if the weather is kind I'll have some stunning photos to share.

June 14th we are off to Banbury for another wine tasting with SH Jones - it's Loire Valley wines this time which are my favourite - really really excited about this.

The following day we're in Cardiff overnight to then bring our daughter home as she has finished her first year at South Wales University - and what a year she has had - I know a Mum is always proud but she really is going places and has been involved in so much - follow her on Twitter @PhilippaClare

So my next blog looks like being travel based - guess there will be a little wine too. Just before I finish this blog I picked up two 'poorly' plants at Dobbies - an English lavender and a rosemary - just 50p each in the reject bin - now planted in lovely new compost and well watered; growing should start soon :)



Rince Couchon and travel plans

It's a glorious day today - spring at last and my plants certainly know it.We have purchase a few newbie for our local garden centre - you can read about it at Aimetu's Stitching.

Just for a change it's beer that focuses today - Rince Couchon - a fabulous Belgium beer that I discovered in Etaples last year in France.  It's quite light in taste but be warned it's 8% - it has gone down very well this afternoon in the sunny Midlands. I just love the pig on the stem of the glass (it's a girl thing)

Rince Couchon

We are busy planning our future travels - soon we'll be wine tasting again with S H Jones in Banbury. They have many events throughout the year; Loire Valley wine tasting on their list soon had us booking two places. This of course entails an overnight stop so a mini weekend break in June is all booked, the tasks we endure for the sake of our hobby !!

July is looking to be very exciting as I am retiring (early please note). Hubby has booked a super little trip for my last day at school - Eurostar to Brussels - I am so so so excited as we have not travelled by Eurostar before and never been to Brussels. We are staying in a beautiful 4 star hotel so I'm sure it will be a perfect way to start retired life.

August brings on our main holiday to..... France..... where else. We are returning to Etaples where we had a fabulous week last year and felt it was just not long enough. We have booked the same beautiful cottage in the heart of the town and are already planning trips to places we missed last time. Repeat visits will be to Le Vieux Post cafe/bar in the centre of the town where I discovered Rince Couchon; and Planete Ocean where each evening we can sit harbourside enjoying a glass of their very nice white wine.

September is always a brilliant month (birthday time!!) and made veen better this year by Tesco Wine Fair coming to Birmingham - closer to home although that does mean no weekend away. We've already booked our tickets (4; me, Hubby and two very close friends) - really really excited.

So that's our travel plans for this year .... but next year's holiday is already being discussed and researched. I think I love this bit as much as the holiday. It's our 25th wedding anniversary and we have been looking at a variety of holidays from cruises to inclusive hotels. We've chosen (I think) and it's none of those but a trip to ..... France !! We decided as it is a special holiday we should do what we really really enjoy, not what we 'should' do - it will be slightly different to our normal holiday as it includes a return crossing from Spain (new territory) with Brittany Ferries - planning in progress but it's looking good.

That's all from me other than to say if you haven't joined Tesco Wine Community following my 'fame' last blog you are really missing out - go on pop over you'll love it. My glass of chilled Touraine sauvignon blanc is calling so until next time... cheers !!