Page 25 of A Perfect Devon Pub
‘Neat! I’ll fill in the gaps – in a shit wine they just taste nasty!’
She chuckled. ‘Now back to grape varieties.Merlotis softer. Still bold, but a bit gentler around the edges. When I think of Merlot, I imagine flavours like plum, blackberry, maybe even a touch of chocolate. It’s friendly, smooth and approachable.’
‘Like a morerelaxedCabernet?’ Josh asked, clearly intrigued.
‘Exactly,’ she agreed, buoyed by his enthusiasm. ‘Then there’sPinot Noir– my personal favourite of the reds.’ The door pushed open. ‘Is this a private party or can anyone join?’ asked Kim, wafting in. She was wearing cherry red lipstick, smoky eye make-up and loose-hanging hair. It wasn’t the combination Fiona would have chosen for work, but then again, she wasn’t twenty-four anymore.
‘Fiona’s explaining about different wine grapes. We’re on Pinot Noir,’ drawled Josh.
‘Don’t let me stop you,’ said Kim, shrugging off a stunning jacket which Fiona guessed would have cost a month’s wages, revealing a flame red dress that clung to her body. Fiona sawJosh giving Kim the same slow, appreciative look he had given her earlier. She resolved to keep her mind on the lesson.
‘Pinot,’ continued Fiona. ‘It’s delicate, almost shy, with soft tannins and red fruit flavours like cherry and strawberry. It’s usually grown in cooler climates like Burgundy in France or Oregon in America. It’s an earthy, floral wine.’
Josh smiled. ‘Ah, a gentle wine.’
‘Not for me then.’ Kim raised an eyebrow and leaned over the table. Fiona couldn’t help but notice how she squeezed her arms together as she did so, making her cleavage even more pronounced in her clinging dress. Kim peered at Josh’s notebook. ‘Gosh this looks dull. Waste of time studying, I just grab what I want from life. It’s too short for swotting.’
‘I hear you, mate,’ said Josh. ‘But Fiona here really makes it come alive.’
Fiona blushed again. ‘Well, study and qualifications open up opportunities,’ she said.
‘Ha! Dad’s wallet does that for me.’ Kim snickered. ‘Anyway, I just read the wine list – tells you if it’s red or white and gives you the prices. That’s all you need to know,’ Kim said, pushing herself off the table.
Not wanting to delay Kim’s departure, Fiona held her tongue. She watched the other woman secure an apron round her waist, and bit back her irritation when Kim then pulled a nail file from her handbag and sat back down at the table.
Fiona wasn’t wild on teaching in front of Kim, so she wrapped up the reds quickly, zipping from Shiraz, with its intense full-bodied flavour and notes of black pepper, dark berries and spices, to Malbec, Argentina’s star grape, bold and plush with a slightly smoky finish.
‘Ready to move on to whites?’ she asked awkwardly, looking at Kim, who was still filing her nails and pretending not to listen.
Josh nodded happily, seemingly oblivious to the tensionbetween the two women.
‘First,Chardonnay. This one changes depending on where it’s grown and how it’s aged. In Burgundy, it’s often crisp and citrusy, but in California, it can be rich and buttery – especially if it’s been aged in oak barrels.’
Josh’s eyes widened. ‘The same grape, but it can taste totally different?’
She gave a soft laugh. ‘Yes,’ she said, a glint of passion in her eyes. ‘It’s all about the climate and technique. Now,Sauvignon Blanc, that’s fresh, often with bright acidity, tasting of green apple, citrus, sometimes even herbs or grass.’
The door opened. It was Ru, wearing a pinched expression. ‘He’s in here, George.’
Ru stood back and George walked in, wiping his hands on a towel. ‘Come on, Josh, the pots are piling up. What’s going on in here?’ he asked.
Fiona rose, glancing at the clock. ‘Sorry, my fault. We were discussing wine.’
‘It’s a little tutorial,’ said Kim, standing up and smoothing her dress over her hips.
Ru’s eyes widened. George puffed out his cheeks. ‘Evening, Kim. You’re dressed smartly tonight.’
‘I like to make an effort for you, George,’ she replied breezily. Fiona clenched her teeth. ‘How many covers are we tonight, Chef?’ asked Kim politely.
‘Uh, Fiona will brief you, Rose isn’t well. Trish from Prosecco & Prose is coming in to help.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,’ purred Kim.
‘Shall I go up and check on her before we open?’ offered Fiona. ‘Make her supper, if she’s hungry?’
‘I could come with you,’ simpered Kim.
Fiona had a mental image of Becky’s sticky fingers on Kim’s red dress and hid a smile. George shot Fiona a grateful look. ‘I’veleft Rose her supper, but maybe you could pop up and check the kids aren’t being a nuisance. They’re under strict instructions to take her the tray and then leave her alone.’ He switched his attention to Kim. ‘With Rose in bed, Fiona’s in charge tonight.’
