Friday 27 July 2012

Potato Harvest

Charlotte potatoes being harvested
It has been a while since the garden received a mention here. It has been very wet recently, which explains it to some extent - growth slowed to practically nothing and some crops have just not shown at all or have had to be re-sown or re-planted. Thankfully we have had a few days of hot sunny weather. Just the ticket for harvesting potatoes.

The photo above shows the harvest of Charlotte potatoes which are great in salads and in dishes where you need the spud to hold its shape and not become mush.

Rattes washed and ready to go
This photo shows some Ratte potatoes (with one Charlotte interloper to the left), a French favourite. They are delicious cooked slowly in butter and eaten on their own or with whatever takes your fancy.

Later we will have the Rooster (an Irish variety) and the King Edward coming on stream. Plenty of potato delights in prospect !

Everyday Drinkers (6)


This wine shows that you don't have to go to Spain to find a bargain. The Tesco people have done pretty well here with this 'simply Côtes du Rhône', for that is what it is.

A blend of Syrah and Grenache it has vivid acidity countered by sweet fruit and has 13.5% alcohol, which I think is perfect for this sort of wine. I used to get through enormous quantities of Vacqueyras at 13.5% which provides sufficient weight, but does not overpower. All in all a very satisfying drop at a great price - £3.65 - from the Celliers du Dauphin cooperative based in Tullette in the heart of the southern Rhône Valley appellations.

I have fond memories of this brand, having drunk my fair share of it when living in Lyon, and they have not lost their touch for producing good quality, well-priced wines. This one will go with pretty much anything.

Thursday 26 July 2012

Grape Futures (8)


As promised an update to show how the véraison is now complete and the berries are all various hues of purple. This colour will deepen as they approach ripeness.

The whitish film on the grapes is the waxy bloom which serves to protect the fruit from water loss and attack by fungal pests. Is has nothing to do with yeast, as is commonly supposed, although there are no doubt yeasts lurking there too.

Yeasts of different species are found basically everywhere, floating in the air looking for nice sugary solutions to turn into alcohol or vinegar.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Old rockers never die they just f...

I must agree wholeheartedly with the views expressed by James Palumbo in the 17th July edition of the Evening Standard http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/i-say-we-pull-the-plug-on-these-ancient-rockers-7952716.html.

I was particularly disappointed by Steve Van Zandt's comments about this country being a police state. Some of us might just want a bit of peace and quiet of an evening without having our ears assaulted by Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.

Their time was once but is now well and truly over. Thanks for the memories (we do have recordings of all your best stuff, done when you were real 'rockers'). Now please put those guitars down. Same goes for the Rolling Stones.

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Star spotted within Solar System


Yes, there is a star at the heart of the Solar System (see photo above), observations have revealed, and despite the recent complete lack of daylight (replaced by dimly illuminated clouds and constant rain), it is believed to be the Sun.

So there.

Grape Futures (7)


Ripening is proceeding quite nicely as you can see on the photo. Bets are now on as to when full ripeness will be achieved: 10th 15th or 20th August ?

Of course there is the debate as to what ripeness is. Do we mean when sugar levels are highest (pity I don't have a refractometer to measure it - although I am sure I could rig up a DIY densitometer if pushed and if I had enough juice to measure), or when full organoleptic ripeness is attained ? I would go for full organoleptic, as I will probably end up eating the grapes. In this country we are always only just about right as regards sugar, and there is always plenty of acidity.

More news in a week or so.

Monday 9 July 2012

Plane hysteria

Great article by Andy Neather Let the many decide airports, not the few in the Evening Standard (6th July) about the London airport crisis or debate or propaganda (depending on your point of view).

Every day, it seems, some 'expert' squeals that the world will end if new runways or airports are not built in or around London.

Why not turn the whole of England into one great runway, and so bring about the birth of Airstrip One, the totalitarian land of George Orwell's '1984', complete with the Ministry of Truth, which could move into the 'Shard' building ?

Andy is also the Standard's wine critic and tweets rather amusingly at times (@hernehillandy).

Thursday 5 July 2012

Grape Futures (6)


Look carefully and you will see the first signs of veraison (colour change) have started to appear on the grapes. If we get some good weather they should be ripe mid-August or thereabouts. We can then look forward to a mini vendange (grape-harvest) and decide whether to eat them or try to make a glass or two of wine with them.