Good afternoon everyone,
So nice to have had blue skies and sunshine this week. It's certainly helped to bring some clarity and purpose to the busy business of a new opening. And here we go. Hamblin Bread Covered Market will indeed open at 10am on Thursday 6 March. As you can see, we have a menu. There's a gleaming coffee machine, stools to perch on and a bar to rest your elbows, where you can enjoy a warm bun, a grilled cheese sandwich, or just an espresso. The full Hamblin repertoire will adorn the counter, there'll be a wall of bread, the shelves will be fully stocked with marmalade and preserves and other goodies, and we can confidently assert that nowhere else in Oxford will you find a larger selection of zero-zero natural wines.
As an encouragement to come and visit us, all coffee and hot sandwiches will be half-price for the coming week. Come by.
Enough of that. Business as usual on Iffley Road. The semlor we're on great form this week, so do grab one if you get the chance. We're debuting a brown butter and coconut cookie - a personal favourite of Kate's - and it's back to rhubarb for the financiers.
Following a trip to London on Monday to attend a couple of tastings, there's some additions to the wine shelves. Firstly, our good friends Skyborry have released their 2023 vintage. The aptly named Breinton Magic is an amber beauty, with a neat structure of pure fruit, tannin and crisp acidity. The Perry is pale, light and lithe and so easy to drink.
We have enjoyed various vintages of the wines of Laurent Fell, hailing from the wild hills of the Ardeche, and they seem to just get better and better. How he manages to make such stable and delicious wines at such reltively modest prices is nothing short of marvellous. Sople e Joios is a light, juicy Gamay, but with a little old-vine concentration. Sota Mon Soleu is the much maligned Merlot, lush and dark-fruited and smooth.
And that's a wrap. Thank you for reading, thank you for visiting us, and have a lovely Sunday,
Kate and Hugo