Delicious Chance: Essencia at Chez Bruce

By delicious chance, just three weeks before the year finishes, I finally tasted the number one wine on my 2010 Wish List: Tokaji Essencia (1993).

Well.

the blue wines of Tuscany

At first everything seemed fine, more than fine: from left to right, older terracotta-coloured wines from Chianti to the latest bright purple wines from the Tuscan coast of Maremma. The new 2006 Coevo sat in the middle: a perfectly balanced blend of two distinct regions, Chianti and Maremma. But then out came the Michelin-star Chef, Massimo Bottura, to introduce the food.

Benefizio (or, is that the champagne talking?)

"I really love you," She said

"Is that the Champagne talking?" he asked.

"No," she laughed,

"That's me talking to the Champagne."

Another year, another birthday. Apart from the regulatory Champagne (Veuve Clicquot and Billecart Salmon Brut), the wine that astounded everyone who joined us for lunch was the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi 2006 Pomino Benefizio Reserva.

The Benefizio glitters and spins like one of those disco lights programmed to move to music. Thrilling pineapple character is mellowed by a sudden acacia and honey character. Depth and light at the same time. It charms but does not dominate.

It's a slight shock to learn this is a Chardonnay.

From the Pomino Valley in Tuscany, this area was already considered one of the four best wine-making areas in Tuscany during Medici times.

It helps to have brilliant food and company, too. Simple, good Italian food such as real pasta Carbonara (ie no cream, based on eggs). Perfect for long Sunday lunches, this is the ultimate dinner party wine.

Bravo.

Yes, that's me talking to the wine!

Link: Marchesi di Frescobaldi

water no get enemy

If there's no wine left, I'll definitely try water. Just as Fela Kuti sings, water no get enemy (see song below).

A real treat in Paris, apart from the excellent African musicians in the Metro (if I am not listening to Fela Kuti on the ipod), is the huge range of water on sale at the local supermarkets. They all have different tastes from the downright funky to soft-as-a-pillow.

Today I had a pristine English still water called Hildon. It is the purest water I have ever tasted. Totally palate cleansing. It is even in a 750ml glass bottle, perfectly complemented to the size of a bottle of wine.

Apart from San Pelligrino, with more calcium than milk, this is my new favourite water. It also has high calcium content. I know there are a lot of people against bottled water, and I know the ancient Greeks didn't have much good to say about any water, but water has got no enemy here - bottled or tap.

snack attack

What the food critics really eat.

"AA Gill, at Woodall Services on the M1 near
Sheffield bought three packets of crisps
including Walkers Sensations, Thai Sweet Chili
and a grab bag of Ready Salted."

Five stars.


Link: from popbitch

heaven

"Because half of the world's vanilla crop is grown in Madagascar, the whole island smells like vanilla ice cream."

Link: Rob Brezsny