A Seasonal Supplement

A special seasonal update to the Wine on Wednesday blog (on a Wednesday, fittingly enough), but actually due to getting rather over-enthusiastic at Michael's yesterday. Michael and I had each bought a bottle of Collioure "Folio" 2009 Coume del Mas, a 14% Grenache Blanc from Languedoc-Roussillon when we tasted it as part of The Bottle Apostle's Natural Wines tasting in September. Tom from Bottle Apostle had chosen the Folio as the production process is not mechanised at all, it is all done by hand, horse-drawn ploughing, and they keep treatments to "a minimum" (though of course that may hide a multitude of sins!). I remember being impressed with the wine, and drawing a little smiley face next to it on my notes from the evening (part of a complex emoticon-based wine note taking technique I'm developing, of course) and it must have stood out enough to buy a bottle. I even went as far as to stick a little silver star on the bottle when I put it in the wine rack at the flat, which occasionally serves as a reminder to myself that I shouldn't just knock a particular bottle back or use it for cooking. However, drinking Michael's bottle of Folio with him last night made me realise it was clearly the stand-out white wine I'd tasted this Christmas. Served at only just a bit cooler than room temperature, it had a rich nutty complexity which I won't be able to describe in detail now as I don't have a glass in front of me. But it was a really REALLY good white wine, and I'm kicking myself for not including it in the Wine on Wednesday Christmas Special. So take this as my evangelism for Collioure "Folio" 2009 Coume del Mas, £24.50 from Bottle Apostle. And Michael, you're welcome to come round and drink the bottle I have here in return, any time you want!