WINE TASTING GROUP. HELD AT PAT’S HOSTED BY JENNY, ON TUESDAY 19^TH APRIL 2017, WITH A LOVELY SELECTION OF CHEESE,BISCUITS, FRUIT AND ASSORTMENTS OF ACCOMPANYING FOOD.

WINE NO. 1.  2013 MAREMMA TOSCANA, ROSSO, ITALY. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £7.99.

THIS BRIGHT, HEALTHY RED, HAS A DEEP INTENSE RUBY APPEARANCE, AND PLEASANT BOUQUET, WITH A MEDIUM  TASTE. A PLUMMY SMELL WITH SOME SWEETNESS IN THE FRONT OF THE TONGUE, THIS WINE HAD NO DISCERNABLE TANNINS AND FELT QUITE LIGHT. THERE WAS SOME FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH, AND A LITTLE LASTING FLAVOUR. WE ALL FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY THE GRAPE AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10 AND WAS GENERALLY ENJOYED.

WINE NO.2.  2016  LA MEDA TORO TEMPERANILLO. 14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £6.99.

WITH A DARK CHERRY APPEARANCE, THIS WINE HAS RICH COMPLEX AROMAS OF RED AND BLACK BERRIES. THE PALATE IS STRUCTURED, WITH VELVETY TANNINS, AND IS AN EXCELLENT ACCOMPANIMENT, FOR RED MEATS. THE STRONG TANNINS, GAVE THIS WINE A LONG LASTING AFTERTASTE. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10.

WINE TASTING GROUP HELD AT JACK&JOAN’S ON TUESDAY 16^TH MAY 2016, WHERE JACK AND JOAN’S RENOWNED HOSPITALITY ONCE AGAIN MADE US SO WELCOME.

WINE NO. 1.  2015 ZALZE SHIRAZ/MOURVEDRE VIOGNIER BLEND, SOUTH AFRICA. 14.5% VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £7. MADE IN STELLENBOSCH SINCE 1695, BY THE KLEINE ZALZE WINERY THESE WINES HAVE A RICH SPICY BLEND OF BLACKBERRY AND FOREST FRUIT FLAVOURS.

 WITH A DEEP INTENSITY, AND STRONG PURPLE APPEARANCE, IT HAS SOME SWEETNESS, BALANCED ACIDITY LASTING FLAVOUR. WITH A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10, AND IS RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO 2.   (NO INDICATION OF VINTAGE) CASTILLO DEL SABIO, RIOJA, SPAIN. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £7.

RIOJA’S WINE MAKING HERITAGE STRETCHES BACK TO ANCIENT TIMES. ITS FAMOUS RED WINES WERE PRODUCED IN MONISTERIES, AND WERE CELEBRATED ACROSS EUROPE. ELEGANTLY BALANCED WITH A DEEP INTENSITY, THIS WINE HAS WARM BALANCE AND SWEET HERB NOTES. SOME SWEETNESS IS EVIDENT AND THE FLAVOUR LASTS. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10 AN WAS ENJOYED.

                                                  JOHN BENFIELD.