WINE TASTING GROUP.      21^ST APRIL 2015.                          HOSTED BY JOHN & SHEILA.

We had a very enjoyable afternoon with a selection of cheese, biscuits and fruit. Apologies for the number of cheeses. (I got carried away!)

WINE NO. 1.              RED 2013   CIMAROSA  MERLOT.  SOUTH EASTERN  AUSTRALIA.   14% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £4 50.

This medium bodied wine received a good reaction from most of us, and with a bright healthy ruby appearance, and very pleasant smell, it made for good easy drinking. Soft on the palate, with underlying red fruit flavours, this wine had a good balanced, long lasting flavour, and attracted an average score of 7.5. We felt that it was a very reasonably priced wine.

WINE NO. 2.             RED 2009  SOLIGAMAR RESERVA RIOJA.  CALIFICADA SPAIN.      14% VOL.     PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £9.99.

Spains favourite wine the rioja, is grown widely in a number of regions, and this one comes from the Pais Vasco region of northern Spain. With a rather hazy, deep appearance and strong ruby colour, a reasonable bouquet, with a strong fruit taste, it had a tart acidity, plenty of tannins, with light to medium body We didn’t like this wine as much as No. 1., but it still achieved an average score of 7. The  No 1 wine, we felt, was better value for money.   

JOHN BENFIELD.