While we are talking of me being a failure, today is Saint Andrew's Day, the patron Saint of my home country, Scotland. And I foolishly booked my flights for the annual pilgrimage home for... tomorrow.
As a domestic goddess, I'm an even bigger failure.
No haggis or Scottish fayre adorned dinner table tonight, and I've not even played a single tune by Capercaillie or Runrig.
To prevent Mr Purple Teeth thinking I've become completely anglicised I reached for the wine rack.
No. Scottish wine is not yet "a thing". I believe someone a lot more optimistic than me is planting vineyards in Fife, though. Fools and their money...
Instead, I opted for a bottle from The Wine Society that had lain on my wine rack for some time: Campbell's Bobbie Burns Durif (2010 Rutherglen). It was £12.50 in March 2015, but is not currently available.
This is an Australian wine with a Scottish heritage. (See back label below for the full story.) The winery's founder hailed from Saint Andrews, no less, so it's about as apt as I could muster in my current failure state of mind.
Durif is not a widely planted grape variety, though it is coming to be recognised a lot more in its Californian guise "Petite Sirah", where it has quite a cult following.
Inky black in the glass, with a bright ruby rim, it's as dark and alcoholic as that other Robert Burns. Punchy with a full body, it has powerful yet integrated tannins and a spicy, black fruit core. There is a nose of something almost animal, leather or game, that I can't quite put a name to.
Reminiscent of an Aglianico I had a while back, this is a proper winter wine. Perfect with comfort food, homesickness, and despair. Luckily, just the one glass is plenty.
Cheers!