Boared

I AM TUCKING into a midnight feast of Wild Boar terrine, part of a hamper my sister generously assembled for my birthday. It comes to life under the auspices of Glen Carlou's Pinot Noir '05 [£9.89, Oddbins], a competent, enthusiastic, bramble rather than wild strawberry entity. I didn't know the Cape had cool enough pockets to coax this haunting grape into yielding her charms, but beauty it seems will travel.

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I led the intake of my YMCA wine course into a new term. I was pleased with Ona Anakena ‘04, Rapel Valley [£8.89, Oddbins], an inky, tomboy Syrah which fell somewhere between elegant old Rhône and eager, bracing Aus. Pictured, nestling fox, photographed from my window.

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I am contemplating a new life, away from the UK. "Mayday" moths of months may yet make way for a heyday...