WINE TASTING GROUP.     22^NDAPRIL 2014.                                     HOSTED BY RAY & JUNE.

The afternoons get together enjoyed excellent hospitality, with cheese, biscuits, and fruit, accompanying the wine.

WINE NO 1.   2013  RED Mc GUIGAN BLACK LABEL MERLOT. 13.5% VOL. FROM SOUTH EAST AUSTRALIA. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £5.99.

This fruity flavoursome wine with a bright pleasant smell and deep ruby colour has a good balanced taste with a good lasting flavour. It has light intensity with a medium body to it. We all enjoyed this wine, which at the price, we felt was excellent value for money. It attracted a high average score of 8.5. We felt that this wine, was one of the best we have enjoyed, since the  group started.

WINE NO. 2.   2011  RED BOSCHENDAL  SHIRAZ/ CABERNET SAUVIGNON.  14% VOL. FROM GROOT DRAKENSTEIN SOUTH AFRICA. PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £8.99.

Grown in the vineyards of the mountainous coastal area of Groot Drakenstein this wine blend matured in French oak has meaty depth with firm tannins, complimented by the lingering spice and black fruit of the Shiraz. We thought it had a deep, healthy intensity, with a strong taste. The body was heavy, with good tannins but very little  sweetness. We all felt that the flavour lasted.

Again this wine was appreciated with a slightly lower average mark compared to the first one, of 7.5.

                                                                                                                                                  JOHN BENFIELD.

WINE TASTING GROUP. 18TH   MARCH  2014.                        HOSTED BY JOHN & SHEILA.

We met at John & Sheila’s for a convivial afternoon of wine and cheese.

WINE NO. 1. 2012  RED TORREBIANCA PRIMITIVO De MANDURIA 14.5% VOL. ITALY.  PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £7.99.a

This wine produced in Manduria, 6km from the Ionian Sea, has a complex structure with elegant aromas of strong intensity. We all enjoyed this wine, which has a healthy intensity with a strong ruby colour. With a good healthy appearance, this  wine was  has a strong intensity, a fruity character, balanced acidity,and good lasting flavour. It attracted an average score of 8.   

WINE NO.2 RED 2012  MARQUIS de ST. VINCENT MEDOC  13%VOL.  FRANCE.     PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £6.99.

A combination of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon this wine was not as well liked as  the first wine. Grown in Medoc area it has  aromas of red  fruit. Again a strong Ruby colour, with  balanced acidity, and light body. The group gave it an average score of  5.6.

                                                                                                                                                      JOHN BENFIELD.                      

WINE TASTING GROUP. HELD AT JACK & JOAN’S ON TUES. 11TH FEB.

WINE TASTING GROUP. HELD AT JACK & JOAN’S ON TUES. 11^TH FEB.

We were entertained at Jack and Joan’s to a very pleasant afternoon of wine and cheese, which was enjoyed by all.

WINE NO. 1.  2012  LE CROUZE,  CARIGNON,  FRANCE.  12.5%.  PURCHASED FROM COOP AT £6.95.

This fairly unusual wine from the Languedoc region of southern France enjoyed by virtually the whole group was a good purple/red, wine,with a medium intensity,and good lasting finish Grown on 40 year old vines, the grape finds a perfect “Terroir of Garrigue” to express its true character and fruit. With ripe red berry fruit and vanilla overtones this  wine received an average score of 8.

WINE NO.2.   2011  LEOPARDS LEAP,  SHIRAZ, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA. 13.5%   PURCHASED FROM COOP  AT £7.19.

With concentrated violet and spicy pepper overtones this wine also met with general approval. It is a wine which can be stored, and with a strong ruby colour,has a medium intensity, tart acidity, plenty of body, with a good lasting finish. This wine was also enjoyed and attracted an average score of 7.5 .

                                                                                                                                    JOHN BENFIELD.

WINE TASTING GROUP. JANUARY 21ST 2014.

           HOSTED BY JENNY  AT JOHN & SHEILA’S.

We met at John & Sheila’s for a very pleasant afternoon of wine and cheese supplied by Jenny, followed by tea/coffee and biscuits.

WINE NO. 1. RED  2010  MARQUES DE MONTINO RIOJA. 13.5% VOL. SPAIN.   PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURY’S  AT £5.95.

A wine produced in the Rioja region of Spain this blended offering met with mixed views, but we all felt that it was an easy drinking wine suitable for pleasant afternoon drinking. It had a full bodied slightly smoky taste, with firm tannins, and with 2 years spent in oak barrels, a spicy aftertaste. Whilst some members had reservations about this wine , it did attract an average score of 6.

WINE NO. 2.  RED  2013  STONEBERG RESERVE PINOTAGE/SHIRAZ. 13.5% VOL.  WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA .  PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURY’S AT £6.95.

With elegant ripe flavours of plum and mixed spice, this wine proved a popular offering for our members. Its silky tannins linger on the tongue to make this an enjoyable drink, and it attracted an average score of 7. This was felt to be preferable to the 1^st wine.

 JOHN BENFIELD.

NOVEMBER 26TH. 2013.

WINE TASTING GROUP.                   AT DAVE AND MOLLY’S.

We met at Dave and Molly’s and were once again welcomed warmly. They provided an excellent selection of cheese and biscuits to accompany the wines, followed with tea/coffee and biscuits.

WINE NO. 1.  2012  FAIRTRADE MALBEC FROM THE LA RIOJANA WINE COOPERATIVE IN THE FAMATINA VALLEY IN ARGENTINA.  13% vol.   PURCHASED FROM THE COOP AT £8.49.

This wine was a hit with our members and it received an average score of 7.5. We appreciated the spicy overtones, with smooth tannins. A full bodied wine at a reasonable price, this was a very drinkable wine. Originally produced in the French Bordeaux, the malbec grape has become very popular in Argentina.

WINE NO.2.    2013  YELLOWWOOD MOUNTAIN PINOTAGE FROM THE WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA.  13%.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £4.

A very drinkable wine, this one has juicy ripe red berry notes, with a bright red notes, with a bright red medium intensity. Quite a tart wine it had a good lasting flavour. A cross between the Pinot Noir and Cinsault grape this wine is a major player in South Africa. We gave this wine an average score of 6.5. Modesty prevents me from identifying the person who guessed the wine and location !

                                                                                                       JOHN BENFIELD.

Oct Meeting

WINE TASTING  GROUP               22^ND. OCTOBER2013                             AT   RAY & JUNE’S.

The meeting this month was held  at Ray and June’s, who welcomed us with their very warm hospitality, providing us with a good selection of  cheese and biscuits, to accompany the wine.

WINE NO. 1.  2010 SHIRAZ from the WOODBRIDGE winery of Robert Mondavi in Acampo, California USA. Purchased from Morrisons at £7.99.

This wine proved to be very popular with our members, the lowest marking achieving 6 points. It brims with vibrant dark berry flavours, laced with spices from oak aging. We felt that this  wine had a healthy, pleasant appearance, with a medium body and a lasting flavour.  This wine received an average score of 7.5, which reflected our view of it, as a very pleasant drink.

WINE NO. 2.   2011 WINEMASTERS RESERVE SHIRAZ from the NEDERBURG WINERY of Paarl, Western Cape South Africa. Purchased from Morrisons at £5.99.

Another purchase from Morrisons which proved to be very popular with us all. This bright Ruby wine with a pleasant nose, proved to be long lasting in flavour, and was thought to be good value for money. It was medium bodied with a very balanced taste. This classically styled food friendly wine would be excellent with all red meats, with flavours of plum, prunes, and cherries. It also attracted an average score of 7.5.

                                                                                                                                                                                       JOHN  BENFIELD.   

Oct Meeting

WINE TASTING GROUP.  8^TH OCTOBER 2013.       AT JOHN AND SHEILA’S.

We met at John & Sheila’s with a full complement of members and enjoyed two bottles with cheese and biscuit accompanying them.

WINE NO 1.  2012 CAPE HERITAGE SHIRAZ.   FROM THE WINERY OF JAN VAN RIEBEEK NEW COMPANY GARDENS SOUTH AFRICA. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT SPECIAL OFFER PRICE OF £4.99.

This wine has a bright ruby red colour with aromas of red berries and spices, and was enjoyed by most although it did not suit the palate of one member. We felt that it was a pleasant smelling wine with a medium intensity, and a lasting flavour.  However it scored an average score of 7 which indicated that most members were happy with it. This wine is best drunk fairly young.

WINE NO. 2.   2012  WOLF BLASS WINEMAKERS SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON. PRODUCED BY WOLF BLASS WINES  STURT HIGHWAY, NURIOOTPA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

                            PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT SPECIAL OFFER OF £4.99.

This wine has a good long lasting flavour with strong fruit taste,a pleasant ruby colour,with quite sweet overtones. A fairly deep clarity was accompanied  with some tannins, this wine is a marriage of the Cabernet Franc  and Sauvignon Blanc wines. This wine was popular with everyone and scored an average of 7.8 from members.

                                                                                                              JOHN BENFIELD.