Mrs Ray and I are barely speaking. When she accompanied me to my appointment with the vaccinator yesterday, she loudly declared that when it comes to needles I’m something of a fainter and that she had stay and hold my hand.
This is utter tosh of course, unless you count that time my dentist thought it would be funny to mutter ‘Is it safe?’ from the film Marathon Man whilst waving a massive seven-gauge syringe in my face and I collapsed in a heap.
‘We’ve got a fainter!’ yelled the security guard yesterday and the shout went down the line until the head nurse was called and I was ushered into a private room complete with bed, vaccinator and a 20st rugby player called Kevin, there to catch me when I fell.
The southern Rhône proves yet again why it’s such cracking value
The little turn I had was pure coincidence, I’m sure — it was awfully hot — and I was mightily grateful for the large glass of hearty Rasteau I had the minute I got home. I love the wines of the southern Rhône and not just for their lead-in-pencil-restoring qualities. They’re just so darn tasty and such stunning value.
Most popular
Richard Dawkins
Will the Supreme Court gender case victors get the apologies they deserve?
If anything exemplifies this VFM, it’s the 2019 Ch. Courac Blanc (1), from Laudun, one of the finest of the southern Côtes du Rhône Villages. Produced by Frédéric and Josephine Arnaud from a blend of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc, it sees just the merest hint of oak, allowing the delicate hints and whispers of fresh, zesty citrus, peaches, apricots and honeysuckle to be heard. It’s an extremely tasty alternative to Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. £11.45 down from £12.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in