Somm Guys (Have All The Luck)

Two wines sourced by Oscar Malek

What do somms drink? No, it's not the opening line to a joke; earlier this year, I helped sommelier and wine director Oscar Malek dispose inter alia of the last of his wine collection before a jaunt abroad.

It was a mixed bag of odds and sods - a fascinating dive, then, into someone else's tastes and preferences, all the better for coming from a top-notch source.

There were timeless classics, whether achingly trendy or horrendously unfashionable, and a couple of off-piste unicorn wines.

Two recent bottles:

Blandy's 20 year-old Terrantez, Madeira fragrant with a sherry-esque tang; complex bitter roasted spices and cigar-box aromas perfectly balanced with an unctuous fresh-sweetness. Long and substantial.

Very Good.

Match with a plate of roasted almonds and olives on a hot evening in the garden.

Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 2013, Canada deliciously sweet overripe roasted peaches in butter with complex beeswax and roasted sweet spices. Fresh, concentrated, intense and long.

Very Good.

Match with some full-flavoured cheeses.

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