Racing recommenced behind closed doors in France on Monday for the first time since March, with a stellar card, attracting interest not only in France but internationally too. There were four Group races and lots of surprises, with plenty of rain overnight, leaving the ground very soft.
The Wine Tipster kicked off in style in his Unibet Racing blog with his nap Batwan obliging at 10/1 in the Prix De Saint-Georges Group 3. Way To Paris at 28/1, looked overpriced in the Prix d’Harcourt, given he had finished second to Arc winner Waldgeist last September and was going to thrive in the ground. He finished second to reward each way backers in style in his Unibet Racing blog.
Thursday’s card at Longchamp has two Group races and three Listed contests on a ten-race card, with plenty of quality on show this meeting has been overlooked. Unlike Monday’s meeting, conditions, whilst soft, look likely to provide results nearer to the top of the market, hence my selections.
Have a good day.
Cheers!

10.40 Longchamp Prix La Force (Group 3) 1m 1f
Both Pao Alto and Ocean Atlantique have the potential to do much better as 3yos, but the former isn’t proven on the forecast very soft ground and the latter’s yard (Andre Fabre) have been slow to start the season. That comment applies to Freddie Head as well, so his once-raced winner Another Sky may be best watched too. With no stamina or ground doubts about MKFANCY, take him to make all in this small field.
Unibet 5/2 win

11.10 Longchamp Prix Vanteaux (Group 3) 1m 1f
Emoji is unbeaten in two starts and could be a tough nut to crack if fit, and the fact she has had a run before the lockdown started can only help in that regard. However, FLIGHTY LADY’s third in last year’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac is form right out of the top drawer and given her pedigree she can only improve for this extra furlong. Proven on ground with plenty of cut too, she can come out on top.
Unibet 6/4 win

11.40 Longchamp Prix Zarkava (Listed) 1m 2½f
This looks quite open. Wonderment never really went on from his Group 1 win at Saint-Cloud in 2018 but would be a big threat if returning to that sort of form, but he may want better ground regardless. Queen did nothing but improve throughout last year and her close second to Fanny Logan at Newmarket on her final start reads well enough, but the trip here is a concern. Grand Glory’s third in the G1 Prix De Diane is the best bit of form on show but preference is for BOLLEVILLE, who relishes soft ground, is a proven stayer and rounded off last year with a 4½l thrashing of Dariyma (reopposes here) at Saint-Cloud.
Unibet 9/2 each way

Zoe Bawtree interviews The Wine Tipster ahead of The Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival 14^th – 16^th June 2013.

Q) As you are an expert on Wine, Food, Horse Racing, UK Ambassador for the famous Champagne houses G.H. Mumm and Perriër-Jouet, Master of Ceremonies . . . to name a few is there anything you can’t do?

A) Actually I can’t build a shelf and I can’t do circus acts, especially juggling!!

Q) How did you get interested in Wine?

A) I was a punk rocker living in Gloucestershire, who headed north to Sheffield to see some great bands, whilst doing a degree in Urban Studies and a dissertation on deprivation! Post graduating I went for interviews with record companies before my parents, who were members of a wine society, told me to come along to a wine talk and try some Chardonnays from around the world.

Q) What is it that excites you about wine?

A) There’s a wine for every mood you may have, every occasion. As a taster I am always looking for something new.  At the moment, I am getting excited about wines from Croatia, Brazil and Germany.

Discovering new wines is really exciting, but so is tasting a wine that you already know.  I associate wine with memories. Wine is also very challenging and different every year.  You can never get bored with wine.

Q) As a food and wine matching expert, can you recommend wines to go with the following dishes?

Coq Au Vin, Fish Pie and Beef Wellington

A) Coq Au Vin: Cotes du Rhone 2012, Les Dauphins or Aurora Pinot Noir Reserve 2012 from Brazil
Fish Pie: Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2011, South Africa or Josif Graševina 2011 from Croatia
Beef Wellington: You need a level of intensity with this dish which you could get from a Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Rita or a lovely Bordeaux from the brilliant 2009 vintage.

Q) Is it still possible to find hidden gems in the supermarket?

A) Yes it is. Knowing regions that are not fashionable is always a good start. Croatia has some fantastic wines from indigenous and classic grape varieties.  Portugal has quality wines at all levels, white or red. Germany is producing some wonderful Rieslings that are great as an aperitif style and match up with fish like mackerel as they can really stand up to dominant flavours.

Q) What are you looking forward to at The Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival in June this year?

A) We are running wine masterclasses on all three days of the show for the first time this year. Our wonderful wine journey will start on Friday at 12.30pm with Podere Sant’ Alberto wines (pictured above) from Tuscany and end on Sunday afternoon by Celebrating with Wines of Brazil!

In between, we will be tasting some exciting wines from Spain, England, Croatia, New Zealand, France, South Africa and Germany.

Also, we have some great beer speakers this year with Tim Hampson, Jane Peyton and Sophie Atherton.  And let’s not forget Phil Huckle who will be talking about Malts and Blended Whiskies.

Look forward to seeing you there. Cheers!

For further details check out the Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival

A big thank you to Jean Adams and Richard Cocks for their Taste of France 2009/10/11 tasting evening and dinner. Jean and Richard had generously invited 20 good people to taste 13 wines covering the 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages, with some fine, relaxed dining to follow.
Francophile Richard was on top form as he guided us through some lovely Burgundian whites including a delicious, creamy and elegant Santenay Olivier Leflaive 2011, Haynes Hanson & Clark which will continue to improve and develop for some years ahead. In contrast, Domaine Borgeot’s Bourgogne Aligote 2010, (2011 FromVineyardsDirect) which kicked off proceedings, is impressive drinking now.
Before headings to the reds, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011, Mas de Cadenet (2012 FromVineyardsDirect) reminded us all of summer with elegant, soft, raspberry and strawberry fruits. The easy drinking theme continued with the chilled Chitry Pinot Noir 2010 from Domaine Michel Colbois, before moving on to the silky, high class Nuits – Saint- Georges Jaffelin 2010.
The Wine Tipster enjoyed the full flavoured Chiroubles Cuvee Nature 2010, Eric Morin, which has

spice, blackcurrants and brambley character with more development to come, whilst the Chiroubles La Precieuse 2009 Emile Cheysson shown at Richard’s last tasting was equally enjoyable once again. This really is a great time to drink Beaujolais.
Thank you Jean and Richard as Louise, my Mum Jo, my father-in-law Alan Hill and The Wine Tipster all had a wonderful time and we look forward to being there in 2014!

You may have just waved goodbye to the relatives and not had a chance to consider your New Year’s Eve vino so here are a few time saving selections from The Wine Tipster. If champagne is your fizz of a choice then Harvey Nichols have a few bottles left of the stunning Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Millesime 1998 at a great price of £52.50. Of course you might be throwing a party and looking for ground pleasing bubbles for under a tenner then The Wine Tipster would rather go with the dry, applely, characterful Prestige Cava Brut NV, Penedes, Spain, £8.99, M&S, than a prosecco at the same price. For pink fans, the Moscato Rosé 2012, Bosman Family Vineyards, Wellington, South Africa, £8.99, M&S, is creamy, with ripe strawberry fruit, only 8% abv and a fun wine to kick off New Year’s Eve.

To keep your party rockin’ it is worth having a couple of crisp, fruity whites at home like Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mâcon Villages 2011, Burgundy, France, £6.99 or Domaine Félines Jourdan Rousanne Chardonnay 2011, Côteaux de Bessilles, France, £7.99 or £7.59 when purchasing any 12 mixed bottles, The Oxford Wine Company.  Alternatively, if you want a more aromatic style then go for the peachy, lychee, spicy McManis Viognier Family Vineyards 2010/2011, California, USA, £10.99, Waitrose, Majestic £10.99 down to £8.79 if you buy 2 bottles of still Californian wines under £20.

Of course a still rosé must be on hand and the Zalze Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Rosé 2012, Coastal Region, South Africa, £7.99, Waitrose, has just the right easy drinking, fruity, crowd pleasing style , whilst for the tinto fans, these have been some of the most consistently enjoyable reds of the year for The Wine Tipster starting with the Portal da Águia 2009, Tejo, Portugal, £8.00, Oddbins, from Rioja the medium bodied Campo Viejo Tempranillo 2010, Rioja, Spain, £8.29, – look out for offers – Tesco, Asda, Ocado, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and the excellent, well priced Negroamaro 2011, Puglia, Italy, £6.49, M&S

As the party organiser you need to think of some lower alcohol wines like the Dr. L Riesling 2010 Loosen Brothers, Mosel, Germany, abv 8.5%, £7,99, Majestic  or Tesco Finest Vinho Verde 2011, Portugal, abv 11.5%, down from £7.29 to £5.00 until 1/1/13.

Have a great time and here’s to a fruitful and fabulous 2013. Cheers!