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 Simon
Bottarga
is the salted, sundried roe of grey mullet, from Sardinia. In texture,
it's as firm and moist as Tom Cruise after a bath. Buy it from
the source - the fish market at Caligari. We do a Bottarga Run every
March, arriving at the market no later than six in the morning, when
the fishermen are still wet.
The
sweet spot is tennis racquet nirvana. You'll know when the
ball has hit that most perfect spot on the strings. You'll hear
and feel a marvellous 'ping'. Jose Luis taught me the term and it's
changed my life. Now, whenever I drink a new wine, I hope and pray
that the tannins and mouthfill hit my 'sweet spot' and the wine
just 'pings' off my tongue.
The
Vina Hernandez Rioja Reserva 1994 (Loftus & Whitelady, £19.99)
hits the sweet spot perfectly. (Jose Luis pronounced it 'thweet
thpot', which for some reason Minty found absolutely hilarious.)
Sherryish nose, velvet mouthfill, notes of cherry, strawberry and
leather, and that gorgeous woodsmoke and tobacco finish, like liquid
Spanish fags.
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