jamie goode's wine blog: Bits n' pieces

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Bits n' pieces

I'm quite tired tonight. I know the internet is a place where you get the chance to present yourself to the world in an ideal state, with all the blemishes airbrushed out - a facebook fantasy - but I need to come clean with you, my readers: I'm very human, with the usual human array of faults and weaknesses, and when I work past midnight over a consistent period (as has been the case of late), I get tired and function less effectively. Some days I feel great; other days I feel a bit weary.

The internet gives us the chance to reinvent ourselves for the outside world. But I reckon that authenticity matters. When you go to the National Gallery, you care about whether you are looking at original paintings or skilled copies. I think it's important that when you blog, your readers aren't presented with a version of you that is sanitized and highly filtered. Of course, some filtering is necessary - it would be a horrifying prospect for you and me if I were to write an uncensored account of what goes on in my head. As with newspapers, though, it's important the coverage here isn't too skewed by an agenda - in this case, an attempt to present a 'perfect' Jamie Goode to the world. I try not to write for effect - I write as I feel.

Tonight I'm sampling some bits and pieces. I started off with Asda Lambrusco Emilio Rosso, which isn't all that authentic, I suspect, but still quite tasty. Grapey and sweet, with a real sense of fun. I'd love to serve this to a wine geek party, matched with the right sort of food.

Next, an ambitious Chilean. Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Reserva Privada 2005 (£8.99 Morrisons, on offer at £6.99 for a month) is quite good: it's dense, with ripe, pastille-edged blackcurrant fruit and some spiciness, with good acidity and only a little greenness. Nice definition here.
But my focus for the evening is one of Portugal's best whites. Malhadinha Nova Branco 2006 Alentejo is a blend of Antao Vaz, Chardonnay and Arinto, fermented in new oak (mainly French). It's a mutlilayered melange of grapefruit, lemon, herbs, citrus pith, melon and subtle spicy oak, with a lovely broad texture. Verging on the profound; modern but good. There's a lot going on here.

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3 Comments:

At 3:15 PM, Anonymous Doug said...

Jamie - not having tasted the wine so I can't make the judgement - but isn't it a pity to ferment a white from Alentejo in French new oak? Would it have worked better without that veneer?

 
At 10:39 PM, Blogger Douglas Blyde said...

Am in agreement with you about blogging with an authentic voice. From my point of view, having been "bottled" by thugs during a mugging the day after I was lead sommelier at an event for Bill Clinton, I have incorporated my recovery into the trajectory of my blog.

 
At 8:53 PM, Blogger Jamie said...

Doug, maybe. You could be right.

Douglas, very sorry to hear about your horrible incident. The pictures on your blog are quite dramatic. I find it so hard to understand how people can behave like this. I think your blog has a real voice to it.

 

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