PROSTATE OR PROSTRATE?

Richard (of RBB) is anticipating receiving lots of gifts of Nestle Scorched Almonds for Christmas (Oh the big spenders in Nuova Lazio!)
Here is a suggestion of a wine match for them.

Artisan Riverstone Merlot 2000
Amazingly intense fruit with good solid tannins and firm acidity. Ripe black fruit characters, chocolate and coffee come together with cedar and cigar box. The finish is long and lingering.

This was a review from Tiz Wine.

The reason for this suggestion is because of a USA study that suggested that red wine, almonds, coffee, and certain fruits and nuts rich in a nutrient called boron may help stave off prostate cancer. While researchers are not sure exactly how boron lowers risk for prostate cancer, the new study showed that men who consumed the greatest amount of boron were 64% less likely to develop prostate cancer, when compared with men who consumed the least amount of boron in the study.

He could of course, if staving off prostate cancer is more important than the wine and food matching, go to a Caltex service station and fill up on petrol with boron in it.

The more Merlot he drinks with the almonds may make him less susceptible to prostate troubles but will increase his prostrate potential.

SLIPPERY WINE

Years ago when I was test driving a car (the Rover 620ti I still drive) the car salesman described the car as 'slippery' meaning that it was deceptively fast being conservative looking but with a real kick beneath the bonnet.
Last night I drank a 'slippery' wine - St Clair Vicar's Choice 2007 Pinot Noir. This was on sale at Countdown for about $12 (very good price for Pinot Noir) so I bought it to go with my BBQ meal. As 'Her Indoors' was out I sipped away at this while putting up some Christmas lights on the deck and listening to old Rolling Stones albums (Mick Taylor's guitar and Bobby Keys sax on 'Can't you hear me knocking' is still as good as ever). Even before my food was ready I had drunk three quarters of the bottle without realising it and finished the rest with the meal (felt a bit seedy at the gym this morning). The wine is fairly simple in a good way, being non-complicated. The fruit is juicy and delicious and the wine just slips down. This is a Pinot Noir or a red wine for people who claim to not like either. I'm going to buy some more before the Wine Sale ends.

CHRISTMAS? BAH HUMBUG!

A lot of wine is drunk during the Christmas period as is a lot of other forms of alcohol. Pre-Christmas parties wouldn't be what they are without the accounts women drinking too much sparkling wine and the music teachers too much Chardonnay. The problem is though, that in New Zealand when the weather gets warmer (indeed hot as it has been on the last two weekends), wine is not really the best drink of choice.
Who wants to drink a lovely big Chardonnay, rich Viognier, any form of red etc. when most of the parties are out of doors afternoon or early evening scenarios. Best choice is very chilled sparkling wine or lower alcohol Rieslings. Even current vintage Roses are getting a bit tired 9 months after vintage. There will be plenty of Christmas (before and after) wine sales though so I recommend taking advantage of these, buying in quantity the best keeping wines at best deals and storing them away for the following year.