A reasonable but over strength (14 degree) Ch Meaume, Bordeaux Superior 2000, originally £5 a bottle en Primeur incl tax but probably not now available.

Followed up, over the strawberries and in the last glass of the night, by Ch Liot 2001, a very nice and always good value Sauternes

Hic

I'm trying to wean myself of the malts at the moment, mainly to do with weight. You know the score, you've had your dinner, a couple of whiskies later and you're making a sandwich or horrors of horrors, eating pork scratchings or some other prepackaged tortilla chips with a lifetime dose of salt in one packet.

As I am funding the wife's internship for the next four months, I will be drinking Lidl's finest Perlenbacher Premium Pils whilst watching the final.  And a mighty fine quaffable ale at a very reasonable price.

^I think that's something to do with Level 42 having come from there.

Great Yarmouth is another dire place, I stayed there on a business trip the beginning of September in the late 90's, truly awful. I ended up in a pub on the front and there was a family with grandparents smoking and seriously drunk with couple of kids. Awful scene, reminiscent of a print by Hogarth

And yet, you travel inland and then there's wonderful villages like Downam Market nearby.

In the world of photography: the USA has New York and the city, whilst the UK has the beach.  Odd, considering the weather.

I have a tremendous fondness for Lytham St. Annes, a weird sense of belonging combined with the music of Chet Baker. It is one of the few places, certainly in the UK, I have spiritual affinity with. I have felt absolute serenity there. It is a place at one with the music of Pacific Jazz.

Years ago, a pyschic said that my destiny lay in Blackpool. By that she meant Lytham St. Annes, of course she was wrong. Still, she picked up on the connection.

Aberlour, can't remember which one, I poured it in the dark..

A nicely chilled Campari & Soda.


Ho Hum

Ridge Paso Robles 2001 and Yabby Lake Red Claw 2008

Chambolle-Musigny, Domain Ghislane Barthod 2000.

The last bottle from a case of a decent village wine but one which has always disappointed, particularly as the last time I saw it advertised it was almost £50 a bottle (£20 in 2002 which I think is still more than its worth today). I bought it along with several of her more expensive wines after tasting the superb ’95 but none have lived up to it, even the 1er Cru.

All good correct wines but like most of Burgundy over hyped and seriously overpriced compared with good claret. So I no longer buy Burgundy.

Le Pigeoulet des Brunier 2007; A modest VdP de Vauucluse @ £5 a bottle En Primeur and superb value. Made by the makers of du Vieux Telegraphe and made as a good wine should be, its already thrown a heavy sediment, it’s well structured, with good length and will probably last well past the recommended 2012 drink by date but will not get the chance, except perhaps a bottle or two.

I got a single case with a parcel of other wines from the same producer and wish I had a lot more , unfortunately not on Tanner's current list but I’ll go hunting for some more.

These guys can show the prima donnas of Burgandy a thing or two!!!!!