Map Reading

L-R: Hugh, Michel Roux Jr
(chair) & Jancis
Last night, a friend and I went to a brilliant event in London that brought together two of the world's best wine writers, Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson. If you only ever buy one wine book in your life (once you've bought mine, of course *best smile*), make it their World Atlas of Wine. It's brilliant - and full of wine maps. Anyway, they were there to debate who makes the greatest wines, Bordeaux or Burgundy. "Wine is geography in a glass" said Jancis (arguing for Burgundy, a patchwork of small vineyards). "Bordeaux is wonderful with food" said Hugh. True dat, big flavours. We all had a glass of each in our hands to help us decide and once the drinking and debating was done, we cast our votes. I went for Burgundy, mostly because I usually prefer its lighter touch compared with Bordeaux. It cuddles rather than grips, IYKWIM. But that's the beauty of wine: so much choice. Lucky us.

Current white in the fridge: Roversi Pecorino 2013, £6 on offer (normally £8), Asda
The bottle is so lovely (gorgeous label, grand-looking bottle) that I thought it might be a case of style over substance. But happily, I was wrong. The wine inside is properly Pecorino-y with lots of crisp, lemony fruit. From the Italian region of Abruzzo in Central Italy, it's a joy. In fact, happiness in a glass. A treat with a handful of pre-dinner salty crisps. 

Current red in the rack: Rosso di Puglia 2013, £7, M&S
A fruity number from Puglia, the heel of Italy. It's a heady mix of two different grape varieties, the spicy Primitivo (also known as Zinfandel) and the densely coloured, earthy-tasting Negroamaro. Together, they make a punchy pair: full bodied, ripe and just a 'lil bit rustic. Like the wine above, it's another Italian job well done. Great mid-week red. Just add sausages. 

Chin chin x

Ps. there's a new video up over on my YouTube channel about how long you can keep a wine once opened. Hope you like.

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