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If the latest spat of crossbreds is anything to go by I can’t help thinking we’re running out of ‘brand new’.. Take the pastry world who has recently given us the duffin (a cross between a donut and a muffin) and the cronut (a cross between a croissant and a doughnut) there’s a definite trend here…. Then there’s the Prius, of course. My personal favourites are from the dog world: what was once a Heinz 57 is now rebranded with a catchy name like the Cocker-poo.

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As Helen Mirren becomes the new face of L’Oréal aged 69 hot on the heals of 80 year old Joan Didion’s stint as the face of the Spring/Summer collection at Céline it is clear that age and beauty are finally starting to weigh in with the same equity. As in wine the general belief that history and years of experience will reap better [read more expensive] wines often rings true which is why it’s equally refreshing to come across a winery with 135 years of heritage, like Cune from Rioja, whose wines are not only on the high street, but affordable and drinkable too.

Their Rioja Reserva 2009, all smoky nose, cherry lips and voluptuous body tastes younger than it’s years and is available for much less than most anti wrinkle creams: £14.99 from Waitrose, Majestic, Wine Rack and Richard Dawes Fine Wine.

Anyone in the wine trade will tell you that the last thing they want to drink after a trade wine tasting is a glass of wine. So it’s customary for the hosts to serve beer at the after party. If your festive season was anything like mine then Christmas is like one long wine tasting, but come January it’s not beer I’m craving or a detox for that matter, instead I embrace the reality that my January will involve some wine and turn my attention to which will make giving into temptation all the more worth while. 

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