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VLM week -4: The week with the wine tasting

Hello dear Reader. Once again my frequency has fallen. - so let me endeavour at least to engage you with quality!

Well, what a week! Runningwise I was aiming for steady, and this week was the week with the plan for the Longest Run, an important part of any marathon Schedule. I was pushing for 25 miles at just shy of marathon pace. Did I manage it? Well, to be honest, no. I will explain....

This week was also the week of the Wine Tasting. My first paid engagement for a private client rather than a bigger corporate 'do'. A lovely lady who attended my December tasting in Windsor called me out of the blue a few weeks before, and wanted me to run a tasting in her house for 8 people, as a birthday present for her husband. How delighted was I! What a great, great opportunity. So, we planned in secret, and managed to keep it quiet from her husband. It was a real success, and once again reminded me how much I love doing this kind of thing, and indeed how good I am at it, if I may be slightly immodest (purely in the interests of self-motivation, you understand.). The selection was spring-focused, with a few 'off the beaten track' entries to keep it fresh. We tasted:


Grüner Veltliner, Lössterrassen, Weingut Stadt Krems, 2009
Pazo Señorans Albariño, Rías Baixas, 2009
St Véran, Vernay, Château de Beauregard, 2009
St Aubin Rouge Premier Cru Sentier du Clou, Domaine Henri Prudhon, 2005
Gianni Brunelli Rosso di Montalcino, 2008
Côtes-du-Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge, 2004

Stella Bella Cabernet-Merlot, 2007, Margaret River
Muscat Saint Jean de Minervois, Domaine de Barroubio, 2009

Cálem Colheita, 1990
(all from Majestic apart from the Prosecco, from Waitrose)

and I would recommend them all. There was an even split for the whites and the reds, just proving the point that everyone has a different palate.


So, back to the running - I suppose that a hard 25 miles after being on your feet from 5pm to 11.30pm, then not getting to bed till 1am, then marshalling at the Eastleigh 10k...yep, that was asking a lot! I still put in 23 miles in 3.15, which is actually spot on for most marathon programmes. All in all a good run, and one that will set me up well for the bog day.

Two final wines from me - a lovely Vinsobres Altitude 420 by Jaume, 2007, and a very fresh unoaked Chardonnay from Fariview, called Capra. The former from the Wine Society, the latter from Waitrose. The Vinsobres had good, crunchy tannins, plenty of structure, and ripe fruits. a few years in that one I think. The Fairview was a delight, all peachy fruit and good length. Just fresh!

Pip Pip
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