So Nero and yet so far to the end of this madness..

Obviously with the offies closing at 8pm we’ ll have to stock up like it’s the end of the world.

Trolley loads of wine and toilet roll will fill the aisles as society crumbles and the usually sedate descend into undignified rage over supplies of double-quilted running out.

I was at Sainsbury’s the other night when they reminded us all of this inconvenient fact over the tannoy.

Immediately there was a certain frisson in the air as a few people realised it was 7.57pm.

Of course, no one wanted to be seen running past the biscuits on their way to the booze section, so they merely quickened their step.

But the purposeful strides were all in vain as there was a stack of baskets which stood in the way of the gates to Valhalla.

Lucky enough, I was only there for a bag of coffee and some hot cross buns.

Earlier in the week I’d picked up a spikey Nero d’avola.

I say spikey as it was a food wine, I reckon, with an electric edge of acidity cutting though a lovely tang of red fruit and peppery spice.

Any Nero I’ve had before was darker, whereas this was so much brighter and livelier.

There was sweet, but slightly sour, cherry and a dark but floral note too.

I think at this stage it’s well known Nero d’avola is synonymous with Sicily. But it’s still obscure enough to offer good value.

It hails from Avola in the south east of the island and, like so many grapes that are now great in their own right, Nero was once used largely for bulking up other lighter wines.

The one I had the other night was certainly well able to stand on its own two feet.

The following evening, as I usually get at least two nights out of a bottle, I took a notion the fruit going on was that bitter rhubarb when you can actually taste it, not just sugar.

Hopefully the Nero d’avola won’t be snapped up in the rush to fill our cupboards with plonk.

If you get a minute, go early and pick up one of these.