August 2004 : No tilting at windmills from this product of La Mancha

Continuing my theme on the increasing development of indigenous grapes, I have discovered two excellent wines from North West of La Mancha, Vinos Madrid.

The first is Puerta Cerrada White 2003 (Airen and Malvar grapes) with 12.5% alcohol and ripe fruit with vanilla; soft tones through to an off-dry finish. The second is Puerta Cerrada Red 2003 (Tempranillo & Garnacha grapes) with 13% alcohol; good colour and berried spicy fruit on nose and palate.
In terms of quality, these wines are very quaffable and are the equivalent of quality Vins de Pays from France. If you wish to order contact our office as usual. Prices is only £48 per case of 12 bottles – plus £5 delivery to your office or home (free delivery for four or more cases) and the case can be mixed red/white.
I do not usually mention specific wines, preferring generally to write about trends in the trade – however on this occasion I was so impressed I decided to share my enthusiasm with you. And if further proof is needed, my family and I are working our way through our fifth case now!

By the time you read this I will be touring Scotland again, looking forward to many culinary delights (and free water!) I remember when I lived in Perth as a young man, my landlord (an expert on malt whiskies) explained that to enhance the taste of whisky, one should only add distilled water to the glass. That’s gone out of fashion nowadays – probably due to the proliferation of bottled waters available and the general ‘healthiness’ of tap water.

I suppose like all trends, distilled water has now become a thing of the past, unknown amongst the bars and clubs today. Does anyone remember those tall bottles of ‘sterilised’ milk delivered to the door, for example? Ah well, back to the present. As we are allowed to take our own wine to many of these Scottish establishments I am enjoying packing up several precious bottles to imbibe on the trip – although my wife complains that we have no room in the car for any luggage. I can’t see the problem myself!

Happy & Healthy Drinking!
Kenneth Harry Putt

This Month's Recipe : Camargue Red Rice Salad with Asparagus and Fennel

I have just been to Malaysia for my holidays this year. Having been away in a country where rice is a staple food, I have picked up a few ideas! This is a great salad; high in fibre and long lasting energy, as there is protein in all the nuts. It makes a light lunch, or a salad to go with a buffet meal. If you cannot find the red Camargue rice (most supermarkets do now sell it) then use half wild rice, half brown rice.

Ingredients (for 2 people):

125g camargue rice
1 packet asparagus
1 bulb fennel - finely chopped
1 small onion - finely chopped
2 tbsp chopped parsley and coriander
3-4 tbsp dijon mustard salad dressing
1 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 tbsp paumking seeds
1 tbsp sesame seeds
olive oil
salt and pepper.

Method:

Place the rice in to a pan and rinse through with cold water and drain off. Cover with clear water add a little salt and bring up to the boil. Camargue rice takes much longer to cook - about 40/45 mins until tender. Once cooked, drain, run a little water over to clean the rice through and then place into a bowl. While it is still a little warm, add the dressing to it and mix through. The flavour of the dressing will be absorbed to flavour the rice well. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile dice the fennel and onion and slowy fry in some olive oil until soft. Once cooked add to the rice. Cook the asparagus spears for 90 seconds and then add to the rice also - you can cut the spears in half if you would prefer. Place the nuts in a dry pan and slowly toast them until they are a light golden colour and the oil is released from them. Add those to the salad too. Lastly add the chopped herbs and mix thoroughly together and season.