On the grapevine

Wine and lambs: As always, Hoults in Huddersfield has some cracking bargains, including Boutinot “Les Coteaux Schisteaux” Séguret Côtes du Rhône, down from £17 to £14. This is a definite step up from a regular CdR and its bramble fruit with a touch of spice will go well with a Sunday lunch. If you are not on Rob’s mailshot list, then you should be. This lands each week, informing you of his best deals, some of which are truly remarkable such as the gorgeous D’Annona Barbera d’Asti 2015 offered at £78 for six bottles. Also in this week’s mailshot are cute photos of some new lambs, some of which are for sale. Contact Rob on 01484510 700.

Comfort blankets: For the last two weeks I have been judging the International Wine Challenge. I have been struck by the number of very heavy bottles, some tipping the scales at almost a kilo, even when empty. Talking to a marketing expert, he said many consumers judge wine quality, not by the taste of the wine inside the bottle, but by the weight of the bottle. To some consumers, a heavy bottle means better wine. This is a shame because sending heavy bottles around the globe emits more carbon dioxide, and even recycling these heavyweights demands more energy. If you are reading this column, you probably have tasted enough wine to know what is good, so next time you pick up a bottle that is clearly too heavy, complain to the person in the shop or write to the supermarket head office. Proper wine drinkers do not need energy-hungry comfort blankets.

In the medals: One More Wine Shop is a fairly new mail-order venture, based in Northallerton, with a carefully selected list. Ross Hill, in Orange, New South Wales, is one of the wineries listed, and its elegant 2019 Pinnacle Series Chardonnay (£25) has just been awarded Best in Show at the London Wine Competition. Find the shop’s list at www.omws. co.uk or ring 01439 741035.