The Art, Design & Taste of Summer Show is on from the 29th May – 31st May.The Wine Tipster will be running wine tastings from midday until 5pm covering:
English Wines, part of English Wine Week starting on 29th May;
Wines for The World Cup featuring England, South Africa, New Zealand and Portugal;
Wine and Cheese with The Oxford Cheese Co.
Producers featured will include: Chapel Down, Three Choirs, Balfour,Brightwell, St Clair, Cune, Kleine Zalze,Manley, Sogrape, Dr Loosen.
Come and participate in some wine, horse racing and music conversation!

There are thousands of weary people this weekend who were involved with The London International Wine Fair at Excel this week. However, on the first morning of the fair I was elsewhere for The Press Launch of Taste London 2010 17th-20th June, for which I am The Food and Wine Matching Expert. The Press Launch assembled a healthy congregation of food and wine writers and food bloggers who had signed up to sampling three food and wine matches at Bentleys, Yauatcha and Dehesa (restaurants all participating in Taste London).We sampled three dishes and wines at each restaurant and as I had been given the rather onerous task beforehand of matching wines to these very varied dishes I was inevitably in the spotlight in explaining the choice of wine, with the rational for the food match. Whilst food and wine matching is of course up to the individual there was more than a muted response to some of the matches including Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2005, which complemented the delicious oysters at Bentleys, whilst at Yauatcha, spicy chicken wonton dumpling made a friend with Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2009 and an array of flavours from the super dim sum platter worked well with the fresh and dry Cht Ste Michelle Dry Riesling 2009 from Washington State. Our final restaurant, Dehesa, had some beautiful dishes and smoked octopus a La Gallega found a suitable partner with Gavi del Commune di Gavi 2009.
A wonderful way to spend a lunchtime and a great way to get Taste London launched.

Arcalis was an eye catching staying on third in The Scottish Champion Hurdle on his last run and looks good for a place with the Grand National winning jockey on board in The 3.35 Swinton Hurdle at Haydock. For your bet on the nose go for Mabait in The 3.25 Totesport Victoria Cup at Ascot.
Selections:
Mabait win 5/1 3.25 Ascot.
Arcalis each way 14/1 3.35 Haydock.

The World Cup is just round the corner but if you fancy a bit of pre tournament flag waving then come on and do this for English Wines. The English Wine Producers (EWA) tasting yesterday had a real buzz, with lots of fresh and attractive wines. Apart from some impressive sparklers and roses, there are in Bacchus and Ortega a couple of varieties that English Producers are really promoting. There will be more recommendations in the next few weeks, however in the meantime try the sparkling Balfour Brut Rose, 2006, £34.99. Stockist: Harvey Nichols and Hushheath. Made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier this dry impressive bubbly has lovely balance,soft red fruits and good structure. Denbies Ortega, 2006, £11.99, is a quality white with a ripe fruity finish and subtle acidity. Go to the Denbies online shop www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk/shop/ Three Choirs Vineyards Cellar Door Bacchus 2009, £10.50 is a delicious dry aromatic and well made refreshing white. Three Choirs shop www.three-choirs-shop.co.uk/. Chapel Down are on the ball with their wines and Chapel Down English Rose, 2009,£9.99.Stockist Waitrose is a serious dry pink, with strawberry fruit and an accessible spicy character which makes this wine an ideal food match with Thai dishes. For those of you who love a gentle, soft fruity red with no edges then the Biddenden Gamay 2009, £7.85 is your summer wine.Biddenden shop www.biddendenvineyards.com.Come on England!

Whilst everyone is rightly getting very excited about the 2009 vintage in terms of wine investment I, in contrast, was reminded recently how enjoyable Bordeaux can be to drink. I recently tasted a selection of vintages from both Château La Dauphine and Château Marquis de Terme and although I have chosen one wine from each producer I would keep your eye out for their other vintages too. In the meantime settle down and try both of these.
Château La Dauphine, Bordeaux, 2006, £18.50. Stockist: Bibendum www. bibendum-wine.co.uk From the undervalued Fronsac appellation, La Dauphine has really moved on in this century.
The 2006 made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc still needs a couple of years to soften but the potential and value are there.
Château Marquis de Terme, Bordeaux, 1999, £38. Stockist: Fine and Rare www.frw.co.uk This 4th Cru Classé Margaux remains relatively unknown and well priced in Bordeaux terms. Made from 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, the 99 is a well structured full bodied red which is excellent drinking now.

When you have a mo, pop into Sainsbury’s and get your loose change together and buy a 75cl of Castelvero Gavi, Italy, 2009 at £6.99. This is dry, light, refreshing and a delicious example of an uncomplicated white.

All the money is going on The Package for tomorrow but a seven year old hasn’t won The Grand National for a long time. Finding the winner looks trickier than ever so I’m being cautious and taking the each way option this year. However, I’m expecting a couple of previous winners to run into a place and have selected a couple of other lively outsiders.
Selections:
Mon Mome 11/1 Each Way.
Comply or Die 18/1 Each Way.
Dream Alliance 33/1 Each Way.
Eric’s Charm 40/1 Each Way.
Good Luck and let us hope that we don’t have a repeat of the fatal falls in The Topham today.

I have an A level in Law and nearly decided to immerse myself in the legal world. However

my brief flirtation with this career path at least installed the legal term “beyond reasonable doubt” in my memory. Sadly, yesterday, on a blank day at Cheltenham, this term was not part of any supposedly rational assessments. In the RSA Chase I backed Punchestowns and yet I remember noting on his last run at Sandown that his jumping wouldn’t stand the test of Prestbury Park. Also, in the best arena for decision making at Cheltenham – the pre parade ring – neither Punchestowns or Long Run looked as impressive as the other Henderson runner Burton Port. Equipped with that observation, I somehow failed to apply this to my betting decision at the Tote window. However as we celebrated my wife’s birthday last night with a well made, medium to full bodied, dark, moody combo of Mourvedre, Syrah and Grenache from the Languedoc called Chateau D’Anglès La Clape Gran Vin Red, Languedoc, France, £12.95, Stockist: Vintage House Tel:0207-437-2592 clarity returned and today equipped with a legal aid The Wine Tipster will go forth and prosper!
In the 2.40 Ryanair Chase I will be backing Barber’s Shop at 5/1 each way and have previously backed him at 16/1. The Queen’s horse is still improving and likes Cheltenham.

Bet of the Day: 1.30,Synchronised 7/1. Jonjo O’Neill has a great record in this race.
Also fancy Quel Esprit in the 2.05 at 7/2.

This popular series of chases for veteran jumpers is a great concept and The Blue Square Supporting Greatwood Veterans Handicap Chase tomorrow at 2.35 at Newbury has a full cast of equine favourites. Trabolgan is the 11/8 favourite and he is a class act and loves Newbury. Eric’s Charm hasn’t run since early December and The Wine Tipster thinks this gelding has been trained for this race, however a concern is that Eric’s Charm has never run at Newbury. The Wine Tipster has selected Trabolgan but expects Eric’s Charm to go close and advises a win bet and a dual forecast to cover all options.
Selections:
2.35 Newbury, Trabolgan, win bet at 11/8.
2.35 Newbury, Trabolgan and Eric’s Charm, dual forecast (first two in

either order).