I am immersed in Wimbledon; much as I am for two weeks every year in June. I live it, breathe it and barely take my eyes off the screen for days on end. I find it utterly compelling and love every minute of it.

In fact, I get so immersed that even when friends arrived for lunch at the weekend, a bottle of 1999 Château Talbot in hand, I could barely drag myself away from the match that was unfolding at SW19 to drink it.

I was actually quite worried about myself; this was an uncharacteristically mute response to this fourth growth Saint Julien estate.

But, like a true champion, I rallied to the challenge and went to taste. 1999 was a tough Bordeaux vintage. August was stormy and, come harvest time, there was a fair amount of rain to dodge. In short, a tricky vintage that few critics considered immiscible.

Talbot is a large estate, extending to 107 hectares of vineyard and is owned by Lorraine Cordier and sister, Nancy Bignon-Cordier. It was their grandfather and father who really established the Talbot name and made it famous.

In their era, the wines were typically robust with gripping tannins but the feminine influence is clearly in evidence and the wines have become increasingly approachable in recent times.

What struck me first and foremost about the 1999 was the charming but fairly reticent nose. It had hallmark cedar and blackcurrant character with a little spice too. Certainly inviting, but not wildly exciting.

The palate was elegant and the fruit danced on the palate, making for very pleasant drinking. What was evident too was a slightly sharp edge to the finish that was more than a hint of some of the thinner fruit that was the result of the wet conditions.

I happen to know that my friends have a few bottles left and my advice is to drink it up.

As the temperatures have soared, I have been left wondering what I will be drinking this finals weekend. As every year, I will be watching with my good and equally tennis-mad friend from Herefordshire.

We typically camp in front of the television with something suitably luxurious like lobster or crab and a bowl of salad. (It is positively satisfying to be able to break a claw when your man or woman is up against a break point or two).

So I will come clean; the only thing I will be drinking is Champagne. I am not a massive enthusiast of drinking sparkling wine on its own; I find it austerely dry and not too kind on the stomach. With food, on the other hand, it really comes into its own. As I will be in celebratory mood, I am going to opt for a pink Champagne; also because I particularly like it with a rich, dressed crab.

The choice is most likely to be the Rosé de Saignée from Duval-Léroy which is 100 per cent Pinot Noir and just deliciously fruity and elegant with sufficient weight to carry the crab. You can currently buy it for £23.99 from www.booths-wine.co.uk (almost £8 cheaper than it is at Waitrose!).

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