WINE TASTING
GROUP. HELD AT RAY AND JUNE’S ON TUESDAY 21ST JUNE
2016.
OUR EXCELLENT HOSTS PROVIDED
AN OUTDOOR TREAT FOR US UNTIL THE COLD WIND DROVE US INDOORS FOR A GOOD VARIED
DRINK AND FOOD EXTRAVAGANCE.
WE HAD A FIRST FOR OUR
GROUP, WITH OUR HOSTS HAVING THE SAME GRAPE, 2 MALBECS FROM FRANCE, FOR US TO
TRY.
WINE NO. 1. 2015.
CALVET CAHORS MALBEC FRANCE. 12.5%VOL PURCHASED FROM M&S AT
£6.
THIS DEEP RUBY, PRODUCED BY
CALVET SINCE 1818, HAS A GOOD BRIGHT, DEEPLY INTENSE APPEARANCE, WITH A CLEAN
MEDIUM CONDITION. THERE WAS SOME TASTE ON THE FRONT OF THE TONGUE, AND A TART
ACIDITY. THE BODY WAS MEDIUM AND THERE WAS FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH, WITH A GOOD
LASTING FRUITY FLAVOUR. WE ALL LIKED THIS WINE (WITH 1 EXCEPTION) AND IT
ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5. EASY DRINKING.
WINE NO. 2. 2015. GOLD
LABEL MALBEC Pays d’Oc FRANCE 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM M&S AT £6.
THIS WINE WHILST COMING FROM
THE SAME GRAPE AND AREA AS WINE NO. 1, HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
CHARACTERISTICS. FROM THE VINEYARDS OF LANGUEDOC IT WAS BLENDED BY M&S
WINEMAKER BELINDA KLEINIG, WORKING WITH EXPERT WINEMAKER VINCENT CHARLEUX, TO
CREATE A FOOD FRIENDLY RED, DISPLAYING THE HALLMARKS OF A GOOD SOUTHERN MALBEC.
IT HAS A GOOD INTENSITY, A CLEAN, PLEASANT BOUQUET, AND STRONG PLUM
CHARACTERISTICS.BALANCED ACIDITY AND STRONG FRUIT TASTE ON THE TONGUE. THE
FLAVOUR DID LAST, BUT THIS WINE WAS NOT ENJOYED AS MUCH AS NO 1, AND ATTRACTED
AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.8.
JOHN BENFIELD.
