Apologies for the long silence here. I’ve been off booze for a bit, and writing about how not to drink isn’t always that much fun. However. I’m just back from a weekend away where I didn’t drink (but might have taken more than one mouthful to spit out again) a red wine of very great deliciousness. We opened it on Friday night after a long journey out of London during which we listened to tales of the Lord of the Rings’ Dark Riders and cosy Shire inns on Audible while driving down Dorset’s dark, narrow lanes, passing thatched cottages and cosy pubs. I kept thinking we’d feel the cold chill of a robed horseman…
Such a lovely weekend – fossil-hunting, eating, reading, walking. Also, spring is here: I think I picked up a tan on Chesil Beach this morning.
Here’s the wine: Lismore Greyton Syrah 2014 South Africa (Strictly Wine, £23.99; Noel Young Wines in Cambridge, £24.99)
I often think a good syrah comforts but also has an air of foreboding and something feral about it. This definitely does, which suited our mood perfectly. It’s an utterly superb wine. You can feel the sturdy, fortifying warmth of South African sun and taste ripe mulberries but there’s a lot of savoury here too: the smell of fynbos, black pepper, black olives and rich black berries.
10 thoughts on “Gone fishing”
Max
Weather looks fantastic in Dorset, never been to Chesil beach but read the Ian MacEwan book. Can try Lismore Syrah easily since Noel Young Wines are close, though I hope you really did take a swallow and not just spit before recommending it! Currently enjoying a few glasses of the Wine Society’s Exhibition Merlot, Valle de Peumo 2013 – goes very well with lamb chops and tastes wonderful. Something to look forward to Victoria?
Planet Victoria
I really did just spit. I hate to ruin any magic but if I actually drank all the wines I test I’d have died of alcohol poisoning years ago….
Martin McElroy
Great photos from one of my favourite parts of England. There’s a great little seafood restaurant where Chesil Beach meets Weymouth, always makes me think of Muscadet. Anyway, good to see another post.
Clive Manvell
Welcome back – and a tempting recommendation too!
Stuart Harrington
Super place to open some vino again.
Chris Parker
Hi Victoria
This is Matt Parker’s mum here .Just to say we were with them last night and Mozz showed me the photo of you and your gorgeous daughter .Many congratulations to you both,very exciting .I read your column every week and love it …….and I may even retain some of the knowledge!!
Love to you both
Chris
Sent from my iPad Chrissie Parker FSSA Feng Shui for Life 02083416161
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Planet Victoria
Ah! Thank you so much. It’s really lovely to hear from you. She is the sweetest little thing. I am besotted. And Mozz has been amazingly brilliant (as always).
Susan Hooey
I thought this was probably the reason.
Congratulations!!
Please post a photo of you both.
Susan Hooey
Are you ever coming back?
Planet Victoria
Maybe just about now…