WINE TASTING GROUP.             HELD AT RAY AND JUNE’S ON TUESDAY 21^ST 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.