For the Love of Wine & Food!

WFH lunch. Bought bunch of carrots at local market yesterday, simply due to the frondy tops!

Made sort of pesto / gremolata of them with lots of lemon zest & garlic.

Warmed some lentils, added shavings of the actual carrots, tossed with punchy wasabi dressing. Topped with Serrano ham, barrel aged feta and the carrot top whatever it identifies as.

Delish.
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#wfhlunch #lentils #reducefoodwaste ...

After so many days of heat, a glorious early morning blustery walk on the beach.
Ever changing skies.
All shades from silver grey to sailors blue.
Clouds of all formations from Elijah rays to Winnie the Pooh rain clouds.
Happy horses in the surf.
Dogs of all size and varying obedience chasing sticks.
Kite surfing, wind surfers.
Just a few happy people enjoying being blown around, soaking up the Vitamin Sea before the Bank Holiday mass arrive.
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#haylingisland #bythesea ...

Dreamy sunset on board.
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@seacloudcruises ...

Many aspects of life on board a sailing ship are wonderful, but none more so than being up on deck for sunrise. The swiftly ever changing colours of the sky. This morning over Hvar, more muted shades. But mug of Earl Grey in hand, just a sole crew member up & about on deck besides me. Listening to the water lapping against the hull whilst the ship is at anchor in this beautiful Croatian bay.

Peace. Serenity. Calm.

That is the true meaning of luxury.
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#metime #downtime #rechargingmysoul
@seacloudcruises ...

Having one`s beautiful niece over for supper, so ransacked the wine rack for something to extend her wine education, and as she had never tried Lebanese wine, it had to be a bottle of classic Chateau Musar.

2004 vintage (as seen by the dusty bottle!!) , so was delightful to see it`s evolution. Lots of tertiary aromas of dried fruit, leather and garrigue. Truly lovely to share a mature bottle of Musar.

Even more so as was enjoyed with a tomahawk steak from our local butcher, @morganstfbutchers - cooked perfectly by PJ, hovering somewhere between blue & rare. Served with queen black beans from @boldbeanco , roasted @iowtomatoes and finished with a vivid homemade salsa verde (heavy on the mustard & RW vinegar). Wonderful!
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#lebanesewine #tomahawksteak #enjoyingfoodwithpeopleyoulove

@chateaumusarlebanon ...

Quotes as seen on morming stroll past @cameratorino
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#photography #makingsenseoftheworld #torino ...

Early morning stroll before the heat.
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#torino #piubellacitta #inglesepernascitapiemontesepervolonta ...

Still snow on the mountains coming into land into Turin.
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#ʜᴏᴍᴇsᴡᴇᴇᴛʜᴏᴍᴇ #inglesepernascitapiemontesepervolonta #piemonte ...

It was a white Bordeaux kind of weekend. Thanks to the safe arrival of a mixed case ordered whilst I was in Bordeaux a few weeks ago , at the fabulous L`Intendant wine shop!

Tertre Blanc 24; a glorious melange of grape varieties, Chardonnay. Sauv Blanc, Viognier & Gros Manseng. Beautifully balanced between ripe white peaches and citrus notes. Although property is in Margaux, listed as a Vin de France due to unusual varieties for the appellation.

Le Blanc d`Aiguilhe 23; from the stables of Comtes von Neipperg, at their Castillon property. Mono varietal Sauvignon Blanc. Zingy grapefruit, tangerines with nice salty tang on the finish.

Chateau Malartic Lagraviere 23; Graves appellation property owned by the Bonnie family. 80% Sauv Blanc / 20% Semillon giving a Bordeaux Blanc with character. White flowers, acacia, with a backbone of lovely minerality. The 50% new oak was too dominant at first taste, but left to its own devices in a decanter for an hour, and unfurled into a v attractive wine.

Chateau Le Grand Verdus Grande Reserve 22; Out of the four, the only estate not tasted before. Mono varietal Semillon with all the personality this variety brings, from 70 yr old vines. Nice notes of roasted apples with hint of spice.
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#bordeauxblanc #semillon #weekendwines
@malarticlagraviere
@chateaudaiguilhe
@chateaudutertre
@vinsdebordeaux ...

Polished, smooth, understated perfection for lunch at Sartoria in Savile Row, London yesterday.

Memorable meals as this are never just about the food. Beautiful fine glassware, immaculate snow white linen, attentive yet not invasive service (grazie Leonardo). Sartoria understands this totally.

The food of course waa also delicious from light, squidgy focaccia, through to starters - on other side of the table, culatello with melon, a heavenly combo of salty & super sweet. My choice of tuna tartare, cubes of tuna with datterini tomatoes, aubergine mousse & a piquant caper dressing.

Highlight of the day had to be the most perfectly cooked vitello milanese, served on the bone, to share. "Simple" dishes are often the hardest to execute well, as nowhere to hide. This was pure benchmark perfection.

A bottle of charming Timorasso from Vietti in Piemonte, glorious fresh notes of pear, leading into slight honey & sage on the palate.

Heavenly Italian lunch in the heart of London.
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#Italianstyle #milanese #timoraaso
@vietti_winery
@sartoriarestaurant ...

Dawn, daytime and dark.
London views from my hotel room.
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#lovelondon ...

Leaving Alto Adige (sob!), headed for the valleys of Valpolicella at the truly beautiful @villadellatorre

Their elegant Amarone obviously ticked a lot of boxes, but even the Valpolicella Classico Monte Lencisa (slightly chilled) was simply perfect for the weather, bursting with notes of cherries & crunch of cranberries.
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#winetravel #winetour #amarone ...

Incredible tasting at @cantinaterlano with private clients from a London Dining Club.

Tasting notes follow soon on Substack but as always the Pinot Bianco wines seduced and to taste the Rarity 2013, my tasting note simply said "spectacular". A wine to take ones breath away. Wow.
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#winetour #pinotbianco #privatewinetravel ...

Memorable tasting yesterday at @cantina_girlan . Tssting notes follow next week over on my substack, but what a line up, and to finish on the three Pinot Noirs , heaven!
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#winetour #cooperativearegoodnews #altoadigewine ...

Visiting picturesque village of Tramin on the Weinstrasse, for fantastic tasting at @hofstatter.winery fabulous Gewurzt, lovely Pinot Noirs, and even a ringer in the shape of their delicious Riesling from their Mosel estate!
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#winetravel #weinstrasse #altoadigewine ...

Incredible tasting at @manincor.wine overlooking beautiful Lake Caldaro on the Strada del Vino in Alto Adige.
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#winetravel #glasswithaview #biodynamics ...

In the hills above Verona stands the lovely @relaisfralorenzo with fabulous views across Verona (also known as the city of lovers thanks to some misguided young Romeo).
But pre tour Dinner for One, whilst not romantic, was delightful with my book and a glass of Lugana, from nearby Lake Garda. Simple platter of speck, prosciutto & salami, but served with a delish crunchy gisrdineira.
Followed by traditional Tastasal Risotto.
Grappa enquiry placed , but persuaded (not with much effort) into trying a digestif made from bay leaves. Not local (from Capri), but perfect end to dinner!
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#winetour #dinnerforone #verona ...

Back in the Clouds again. Last tour of the summer, off to Alto Adige & Verona.
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#winetravel #sudtyrol #cloudbank ...