September 2008 Archives

Sometimes the search for a wine can imitate the search of life's meaning. Take for example, Montirius Gigondas Cuvee Confidentiel. I know it exists and yet somehow it is, more or less, unobtainable (at least in UKland):

Them: I'm sorry Sir, we don't have it. Even if we did then you'd have to buy a case.

Me: No, no! I don't want to sign over my life to the bloody thing. It's just a couple of
bottles I want really. You know: the Alpha Course rather than the full baptism.

Life does not seem to favour the person who wants just a small amount of something to eat or drink. There seem to be a large number of restaurants in London these days who only offer 250 ml glasses of vino. That's a third of a bottle and it's usually some over-ripe, super-high alcohol, watery 'blockbuster'. Death by cheapo 15.5% Shiraz is not a fate I'd choose (particularly in mixed company).

Just when you think you know you're neighborhood, something unexpected happens. It could be falling down a manhole or even bumping into a flasher. In this case it was finding some rather tasty wild mushrooms in a tiny wooded field. Fungi anoraks may like to know that they were Bay Boletes.

Living in Czech Republic taught me a bit about mycology. Dying from 'musher poisoning' and lashing around in the throws of liver failure is still obviously a major concern. What works for me is only picking what I know and then spending a good half an hour with a couple of reference books, just to make sure.

You will (I hope) have noticed that WOM has been slightly revamped. This is largely because:

a.) No one has been able to leave comments for about six months

and

b.) Andy's blog seemed to work pretty well, so why can't mine?

Decanter

The new issue of Decanter wine magazine arrived today. Is it just me, or aren't their World Wine Awards rather tedious? The review aspect of it isn't bad but what about the great wines that weren't entered? Are they now somehow not great?

and finally...

K and I saw a mad exhibition in Vancouver by an artist called Zhang Huan. His 'meat suit' was really one of the most memorable things I've seen all year. Click here to see what I mean.

You see!

Lastly, my new gag:

Patient: Doctor Doctor, I think I'm turning into a USB device!
Doc: Big deal. Join the hub.