69 Love Songs: last year in review
69 Love Songs.
I had a tot up in an idle moment.
In 2020, I published 69 articles.
1.33 per week, unusually prolific.
It must have had something to do with the pandemic.
Why 69? ‘Twas accidental. Or not.
I bet you haven’t read them all.
Don’t worry, nor have I.
But if you want to, here they all are, in publication order. Just click the links to read:
1-10
WOTY 2019: Llopart Original 1887
Luce della Vite from Frescobaldi – Luce 2016
Climate Emergency: Inaction will not be my Epitaph
Millésime BIO 2020: the world’s biggest organic wine fair
Tenuta Sette Cieli: above us only sky
Albarossa from Bricco dei Guazzi in Piemonte
Herbert Hall English Sparkling Brut Rosé 2016
Artesano Organic Malbec/Cab Franc – Argento Redux
2020 AWEsome wines – Free Download
Huia Blanc de Blancs and Marlborough Memories
11-20
Trade up for wine value – how to use vinonomics
Zorzettig – fighting back against Covid-19
Pla de Bages and its unique heritage
Colet Navazos Extra Brut, original and brilliant fizz
IWCA – International Wineries for Climate Action
Brown Sauce – exploring a piquant cultural icon
Bugey on down – explorations in undiscovered France
Chiesa del Carmine – an authentic taste of Umbria
Tedeschi and climate change – the future is at stake
At Jerez, by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy
21-30
Rare Champagne grape varieties – this is their story.
Hix Oyster and Fish House – in Memoriam
Tuscan Salad: Insalata di Fegatini di Pollo
The Bushes Scream While My Daddy Prunes
Goldilocks. Or, drinking Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Caol Ila. Try a Dram on World Whisky Day
Jerry Cornelius, The Nature of the Catastrophe, Part 1
Jerry Cornelius, The Nature of the Catastrophe, Part 2
Serving Temperature – What’s Ideal For My Wine?
Pedro Ximénez: Discover the Joy of PX
31-40
Senses Working Overtime – how we taste wine
Lockdown Linguine – A Recipe for Social Distancing
MonteRosola, Emerging Tuscan Star
Txakoli: The Drunkard, Zarauz, by Joaquín Sorolla
Lyme Bay Chardonnay 2018 for English Wine Week 2020
Le Pupille – Delicious Summer Drinking
Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs – Book Review
Brunello di Montalcino Terroir: Tenute Silvio Nardi 2015’s
Comité Champagne MOOC, Massive Open Online Course
The Great Vine – the World’s Oldest Grapevine?
41-50
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG 2018
Craft Vinegar from Orkney – Time for an Acid Trip
Millésime BIO 2021 Organic Wine Fair
Malvirà Roero Arneis – Stylish White Wine in Two Guises
Gagliole: Three Authentic Expressions of Tuscany
Porchetta – An Italian Food Classic
Luce della Vita Celebrates its 25th Anniversary 1993-2017
Peter Zemmer, “Giatl” – A Unique Pinot Grigio Riserva
Nadsat and Newspeak – Words for Wine
Litorale Vermentino – Val Delle Rose, Famiglia Cecchi
51-60
Louis Pommery England – English Sparkler, French Twist
Peter Zemmer Riesling and Pinot Noir
Pasión de Bobal Rosado – Last of the Summer Wine
Lightstrike – Richard of York Gave Battle In Vain
Derthona – Solving a Cult Wine Puzzle
Francone – Comparing Two Big Italian Red Classics
Vegetarian Haggis – It’s Not so Offal
International Sherry Week, 2-8 November 2020
Wine Wit and Wisdom – A Brief Interlude
The Sherry Dog – Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz
61-69
Specialists: Online wine in the UK
Moratti – Creating the Champagne of the South?
Mulled Wine: Spice Yourself Up for Christmas 2020
Amaro Montenegro – and a Favourite Quarantini
Christmas 2020 – A Dozen Festive Wines!
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG (Pt.1)
The Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene (Pt.2)
Philipponnat Champagne Royale Réserve
Rightweighting Glass Wine Bottles
Phew!
Suitably eclectic; 22 articles featured Italian wines, four for French, three for the UK and nine for Spanish. Also, ten on Sparkling wines. Then seven on food, seven on Climate Emergency, three on other drinks and a cornucopia on a range of wine topics, ranging from wine tasting to art to business. But none about travel, because I didn’t. Some pieces were big, some little. Some attempted the profound; others were banal.
Love songs all.
Oh, and if you’ve never played the mammoth 69 Love Songs by the Magnetic Fields, perhaps now would be a good time.
And what about 42?