As there was no villa holiday this summer, the girls descended on Edinburgh for a few days. Sarah, Sal, Sienna, Mary and Conrad spent a glorious and unseasonably warm few days in Scotland with Joey, Pierre and wee Miss Camille.Shopping, cooking, baking, eating and drinking were all indulged. La Pope was in town too, evidently to gatecrash our festivities. But thankfully was being chaperoned by her maj.
I managed to make three people cry over the weekend. Without resorting to shouting at them or threatening to give them a Chinese Burn. THAT'S A RECORD!
Saturday was the big roast-off night, with Sal taking charge in the kitchen in our beautiful rented apartment (it had a piano). I baked Joey a red velvet birthday cake, with some help from my sous chef Sienna and Mary frosted with cream cheese icing and a stash of Cadbury's Dairy Milk.
Pierre did us proud with an excellent selection of wines from Majestic to accompany roast chicken (with a Thai twist) and a delicious array of cheeses including a stinky but yummy Taleggio.
First up was an excellent Sauvignon Blanc: Goldwater 2009 from the Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand, 13% (£8.99)Crisp and grassy on the palate and green apples and flint on nose.
Next came a Hungarian wine: Dry Furmint 2007 Royal Tokaji, 14.5% (£9.99). The furmint grape is usually made into a fabulous sweet wine, so it was interesting to try a dry style. Off-dry on the palate for me it reminded me a little of viognier, though a little less peachy and more tropical fruit.
We also drank in three very boozy reds. A pinotage, the Barista Pinotage 2009 from the Western Cape, South Africa 14% (£7.49). This beast of a wine smelt amazing - rather like dark chocolate covered cherries (see my escapades to Poland) and a hint of espresso. But was less dessert-like and more leather and rubber on the palate.
A magnum of Marques de Riscal Reserva 2005 13.5% was the next to be polished off - lots of berries and woody aromas and a longer finish, perfect for a late summer evening. Predominantly Tempranillo, with a small percentage of Graciano and Manzuelo (also known as Carignan).
Lastly a wine to appeal to the little 'Swampy' in me: Altana Douro 2008, Symington Family Estates, Portugal 14% (£9.99) grown organically. Heavier that the others, it felt like I was cramming boozy raspberries into my mouth and suited the mature cheddar well.
All in all a good weekend. Apart from the tears. And the distinct lack of Pope Soap on a Rope. Dang.
