Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2001

Electric sex pants!

This note celebrates two events. Firstly, today it’s the 13th anniversary of the first time I tried to kill myself, shortly after paranoid schizophrenia consumed my mind, by slashing my wrists and then getting sectioned in the loony bin a few hours later. Tonight those events seem a terribly long time ago; I suppose they are. Nice to still be here.

The other celebration passed a few days ago, the 10th anniversary of Editor Daniel moving into Elitistreview Towers to stop me doing bloody stupid things like the above. I spent a lot of that time too bloody minded to accept the help that was freely being offered and so still occasionally behaved like a fool, but Dani has kept me alive, cared for and happy in ways I don’t think either of us were really expecting. Thanks Dani, you’ve been carer-tastic and supreme-human-being-licious. You’ve also done sterling service removing the most horrifically offensive bits of my writing. Speaking of which…




New on elitistreview

Wine

Howard Ripley

2010 Burgundy tasting from Howard Ripley

Since I did not make it to most of the 2010 Burgundy tastings I planned to attend I am very pleased that my friend James Hardy provided this summary of Howard Ripley’s event. James is an ex-Captain of the Oxford University Blind tasting team and so knows his onions. This is particularly true as I [...]

Food

The Grill tempted David with meat

The Grill at The Montcalm – intense meat pleasure

Hotel restaurants have a bit of a bad reputation in England. Food at The Grill in London’s Montcalm Hotel is so totally brilliant it not only shows they can be great for guests but also deeply desirable destinations for native noshers. Editor Daniel and I ate an outstanding meal at the restaurant and you should [...]

Other

Redwood Boysenberry Nip

New Zealand’s finest!

Long-time drinking buddy ‘Non-stinky’ Jeff Home is current enjoying life in New Zealand and sends this guest post. After long and involved articles on 2010 Burgundy it seemed a refreshing view into a different type of drink. I hope you find it enlightening. Over to NSJ: Redwood Boysenberry Nip is sold in 750ml bottles in [...]

2010 Burgundy tasting with Haynes, Hanson and Clark

Claude Drouhin with the world's most lovely Corton rouge

I must start with an apology: horrific illness has prevented me from attending most of the 2010 Burgundy tastings I was planning to visit and write up. Luckily Haynes, Hanson and Clark provided an excellent view across many styles and producers and had much to say in general about the hilariously fine quality of the [...]

Poo!

Chateau Pibarnon 1997, brown-hole Bandol

The natural wine lunatics have taught us one thing: just because a wine is faulty doesn’t mean it’s great. However, faulty wines can have their pleasures and this bottle of Chateau Pibarnon 1997 is not without enjoyment value. I popped this with some Beechcroft beef burgers to celebrate feeling almost slightly less appallingly ill and [...]

Reeve the baker – a love letter

Lovely, lovely Angie modelling Jap Fancies

In Woolwich I was in a constant state of terror in case I had to leave the flat. Here in Winchester I eagerly await each trip from the flat, not least because it will almost always involve stopping at Reeve the baker. My love for their bread and cakes, and the friendly, charming people who [...]

The fire and the delicacy

Taylors 1975 vintage Port - good but on it's way out

We haven’t been drinking vast quantities over the festive period, so what better way to get really newscasted on New Year’s Day than a bottle of Port? Taylor’s 1975 may have seen better days, but provided pleasure. Drinking this on 1st January 2012 allowed us to toast the good health of all 36 (and a [...]

The best breakfast in Winchester

The Westgate's beezer Full English

During our lives we have to keep discovering new avenues of pleasure. As a very recent convert to the whole ‘morning’ idea I’m chuffed as punch that the best breakfast in Winchester, at the Westgate Hotel, is 2 minutes and 40 seconds away from my front door. There is no reason why all meals should [...]

Marvellous meat a short stroll away

Beechcroft rump steak enjoyed by Davy

Were it not for the obscenely high quality of the produce itself, one of the greatest pleasures of the meat from Beechcroft farm would be that it is grown half an hour’s walk from my front door. As a long-time big city dweller, having seriously good food grown within walking distance seems a real treat. [...]

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