The 2010 Vintage

I spent a day last week bottling wine that had been sitting in demijohns for the better part of a year. I was pleasantly surprised, too, at the fact that most of it was pretty decent stuff.


The apple wine is a lovely clear slightly yellow-ish colour and has a yummy dry appley flavour. I managed to squeeze ten bottles of that one out of the demijohns.


Rather fewer in number, but equally yummy and, again, showing a nice clarity were the six bottles of Chateau Rue Nouvelle - Vin de Poire - fermented from the fruits of the non-grape vendange at Dong's place, his pear tree having provided a bumper crop last year. Note the tastefully designed label with which we impress guests and enhance the whole drinking experience.

Mrs The Millbrooker and I took a bottle to be sampled when we got together with Dong and Shazzerooneypoos at the weekend. Dong thought it was within the realms of acceptability and will treat his unsuspecting family to some as an aperitif at their next visit. Actually, as most of Dong's offspring read these pages to keep up with what their reprobate papa has been up to, they'll not be unsuspecting at all, now.....ah, well....

Not to be left out, Shazzerooneypoos also partook of the mildly fortified vin de campagne.

Well, I'm rather pleased with the 2010 vintage - and it's nearly time to start fermenting this years excess fruits. Huzzah!