Sheer refreshment

Bacchus Vermentino 2016 many outlets - about 6 euros

This is a cheeky little lipsmacker from Gozo (part of the Maltese island group) - if you spot it on your travels doo feel free to enjoy a bottle or two as it's ideal for slaking the thirst worked up whilst absorbing these islands' heritage.

It's a vermentino so you would expect it to have a bit of light floral tone blended with lemon on teh nose - TICK!

As you can see from the condensation dripping down the glass, this was nicely chilled and then exposed to a balmy Maltese evening (verging on 30C at 8PM.....), on which basis it was heading for my taste receptors in a hurry.

There was enough fruit to balance a wee prickle of acidity, a slug of galia melon tempered by nicely straw-ish tones and just a faint whiff of fig.

All in all, it was just perfect to take the heat away and help a platter of local meaty and cheesy treats go down in style.