WINING AND DINING ON A BUDGET

The day was drawing to a close. It was sunny but cool. Time for supper on the patio. But what to eat, considering we were on a budget? What was in the fridge? Four spicy sausages and one yellow sweet pepper. Not exactly a feast. Good enough for a nice supper? Why not, if the company is right and the wine is a good one. And my beloved is always good company. So on to the food and wine. Well, a rummage in the cupboard revealed a promising can of plum tomatoes and a packet of fusilli. So a nice spicy tomato sauce it was. Add to that some green salad with tomatoes and our favourite Fratelli MANTOVA extra virgin olive oil, maybe. But what about the wine? Well, a good match for a spicy tomato pasta is a full-bodied, ripe and spicy. Now you can’t go far wrong with Primitivo. From Puglia, Italy. (Primitivo is identical to the American Zinfandel.)

Well, unfortunately, Primitivo (varietal) in our part of London isn’t easy to find. I searched in vain for an hour. On offer were Primitivo blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, with Aglianico - to add finesse to it, to improve its structure to give it that je ne sais quoi. Primitivo with Aglianico would have to do, even if it’s covered in dust.

Supper is served, the Primitivo with Aglianico is poured but the wine is flat and long since gone. It was all there on the label, if I’d been willing to read it – 2001 – past its best. It would have to go back to the shop. But what about now? The supper was getting cold and our good spirits were fading.

There was one bottle on the winerack, something which always saves the day. Sangre de Toro. Garnacha and Carinena grapes - a heavenly blend for under £6.00. But would it complement the rich and spicy tomato pasta, sausages and yellow pepper? No es problema! It was perfect.

2003/2004 Sangre de Toro, Torres, DO Catalunia (Spain) - full body, a good acidity and soft tannin, subtle blueberry and blackcurrent flavours and spicy notes were near perfect match to the meal. Especially good with roasted meats, casseroles and grilled chicken.

Delicious! Cheers!