Bernard Ferrie samples lower alcohol wines

Politicians and public health experts are trying to get the public to drink less and here I am writing a wine column! Except you readers are not the public, or not all of them. It’s odd that many of us honed our manual dexterity suturing the inebriated in casualty departments; the joys of mattress sutures and free-flowing scalp lacerations! Also strange that in the film Whisky Galore the drink-laden wreck was called the SS Politician. Should alcohol be 45p or 50p per unit? Some EU countries are upset we are trying to push them out of the UK cheap alcohol market; stick to straightening Belgian bananas, I say.

Bernard Ferrie celebrates a special first birthday

A little boy called Jacob came into our lives last year and we recently celebrated his first birthday. To mark that event and to thank the good people at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where he spent his first few weeks, all our wines are from Jacob’s Creek. However, I’m branching out by trying a few new grape varieties rather than the obvious shiraz/cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay. Perhaps you buy by the case or in wood. All these wines are readily available in over 5000 UK outlets, so no suppliers this time. Nor have I mentioned prices. College Treasurer written to you yet?

Bernard Ferrie tries a selection of wines to toast the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

 Royals are touchy about finger bowls at meals (allegedly) toasting the king o’er the water – so a few wines should they drop round; just don’t offer Stewarts Cream of the Barley whisky.

BP – someone I knew got calls that were nothing to do with oil but very hush puppy from The Palais -Buckingham Estate Reserve Shiraz (Morrisons, £7.99) black cherry bramble pepper and a hint of royal oak – velvety with big black fruit.

Majestic Peaks Pinot Noir 2008, from Central Otago, offers thyme, spice, liquorice, cherry and raspberry; not so much a jam as a royal compote (Majestic, £10.99).