Quirky Quoting

 

 

Petites Récoltes – Vin de Pays des Maures 2007 3.99, Nicolas Sauchiehall st

I was delighted to see Nicolas have used a quote from my favourite French writer and humorist, Alphonse Allais(1854-1905), to decorate one of the new cheapie (but good) wines.  Translated, the quote says: “Mushrooms grow in damp places.  That’s why they are shaped like an umbrellas.”  Allais is famous for having foreseen his own death.  He neglected his doctor’s orders of staying in bed for 6 months, opting instead to have his daily coffee at his local caf.  There, he told a friend, “tomorrow I will die, you may find it funny, but I’m not laughing.”  And sure enough, the next day he died from a pulmonary embolism… eek. 

The other two wines in this range, a red and a rosé, display musings from both Oscar Wilde and Tchouang-Tseu respectively.  Quirky though they may be, it’s a shame that the marketing department at Nicolas didn’t think use any literary quotes about wine itself – Baudelaire devoted a whole section of Les Fleurs du Mal to “Le Vin”, for example.  Maybe that would be too simple…

I think this is by far the best white in the 3.99 range that Nicolas do.  Great peach, apple and citrus aromas.  Fresh yet fruity, this is a great glugger for anyone who doesn’t want anything too heavy… leave that to Tchouang-Tseu!

7.5 outta 10 (0.5 for the irrelevant, but nevertheless amusing, quote)

 

For dessert I felt the need for another quote, so I treated myself to a Baci chocolate (they have sickly sweet messages inside) Un piccolo bacio può racchiudere l’amore più grande. Or One little kiss can contain the grandest passion.

Tags: Alphonse Allais, Baci, Baudelaire, Nicolas