Yesterday I had the privilege of drinking one of Australia’s premium wines ,  the redoubtable Grange Hermitage.

I gave it to my friend Chaz for his 70th birthday in January and he thought it was about time that we uncorked it.

With all Granges they are a deep crimson, they also have a blackcurrent/ chocolate aroma. Being primarily a  shiraz you do get

a ripe velvety smooth tannins sweep across the palate.  Most of the late 90’s wines can be drunk now but will keep  till 2040.

To compliment the Grange Chaz had a St Andrews 98 Shiraz and a Xanadu 25th anniversary Shiraz, not to mention the superb meal!

Michaela drove and I must say I am more impressed with her car the more I am in it. Last night it was torrential rain and I discovered the wipers are rain and speed sensitive.

I have yet to work out my iphone connection properly as it seems to take an age to read in the playlists but I’ll get there in time.

I don’t normally go nuts after French  stuff, well they make crap cars and pollute the planet with their N tests and they insist on proof all the time. The last time they insisted on it it came rolling down the champs elysees wearing a swastika, I know old joke. However I have discovered a remarkable butter, I know you were expecting wine, well I’ll get to that.

Anyway here it is and  from Isigny Ste Mere comes this remarkably delicious natural butter, produced since the 16th Century. The soil of Isigny is soft and damp, and the cows there thrive on grass that is rich with iodine and beta-carotene. This appealing yellow Normandy butter has hints of hazelnut flavors, a flexible, fine and elastic texture, and is full of vitamin A. This smooth butter’s origin is protected by the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee).

I kid you not, try it, cook with it or just plain spread it on bread, it is truly remarkable.

Now when your having bread then the natural choice is wine, and I must say over the last stressful few weeks I have taken or should I say my palate has taken to French wine.

I will be going to the northern hemisphere in August and this is generally where I get to sample many wines from most of the regions, well this year I’m also headed to Egypt so god knows what the alcohol will be like!