WINE TASTING GROUP.              HOSTED AT JOHN & SHEILA’S             

13^TH OCTOBER 2O15.

HELD AT OUR HOUSE, WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE ENJOYED THE AFTERNOON!

WINE NO. 1.         2OI4 RED MENDOZA  MALBEC  ARGENTINA.   13% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £5.99.

GROWN IN THE LARGEST WINE MAKING REGION OF ARGENTINA, MALBEC GRAPES THRIVE IN THE OPTIMAL CLIMATIC CODITIONS IN THIS AREA, PRODUCING FULL BODIED, AROMATIC WINES. WE FOUND THIS TO BE A BRIGHT HEALTHY LOOKING DRINK, WITH QUITE A PALE RED APPEARANCE. WITH A PLEASANT SMELL AND WEAK INTENSITY, IT HAD SOME TASTE ON THE FRONT OF THE TONGUE, AND A TART ACIDITY. THE BODY WAS LIGHT, WITH VERY LITTLE TANNINS. THE FLAVOUR DID LAST, BUT THIS WINE WAS NOT REALLY VERY POPULAR WITH US AND ONLY ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.5. NOT REALLY RECOMMENDED.  

WINE NO. 2.        2009 FORTEZZA DEI  COLLI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA FROM ITALY.  13.5% VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £8.99.

THIS 6 YEAR OLD , WINE, PRODUCED FROM THE SANGIOVESE GRAPE IS MATURED FOR 2 YEARS AND BOTTLED FOR 3 MONTHS TO BRING OUT THE RUBY RED COLOUR. IT HAS A BRIGHT APPEARANCE WITH A PALE INTENSITY WHICH WAS AT ODDS WITH THE PRODUCER CLAIMING THAT BOTTLING IT FOR 3 MONTHS BROUGHT OUT THE  INTENSITY IN APPEARANCE.  THE AROMA WAS WEAK, BUT IT DID HAVE SOME TASTE ON THE  FRONT OF THE TONGUE.THE  BODY WAS LIGHT AND THE FLAVOUR DID LAST.  GIVEN THE AGE AND PRICE OF THIS WINE, IT WAS NOT ENJOYED AND ONLY ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 5.5. DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED.

                                                                                                               

JOHN BENFIELD.     

September meeting

                                 WINE TASTING GROUP.                          HOSTED BY JENNY, AT JUNE & RAY’S,                 15^TH  SEPTEMBER 2015.

JENNY LAID ON, WITH JUNE AND RAY’S HELP, A LOVELY COUPLE OF WINES,EXCELLENT CHEESE, PATE, BISCUITS, & FRUIT,  A VERY GOOD AFTERNOON.

WINE NO. 1.        2014 RED CASTILLO ALBAI  RIOJA FROM PACOS DEL REY,  SPAIN.   13% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £5.50.

This good looking wine, with a medium intensity, had a pleasant nose with a medium, dark, fruit highlights. With a long lasting flavour, and balanced acidity, this light bodied wine was enjoyed by us all and attracted an average score  7.9.  Recommended.

WINE NO 2.         2014 RED MONDELLI MONTEPULCIANO  FROM FORLI,  ITALY.   12.5VOL.  PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT  £6.

Grown in the rustic Central Italian region of Abruzzo, nestling between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea, this soft fruity wine has a good healthy appearance, a medium nose, and a good plum and blackberry taste in the  mouth.  A tart acidity, and lasting flavour was popular with us all and was given average score of 7.5. Also recommended.

                                                                              John Benfield.       

August meeting

  WINE TASTING GROUP.                   HELD AT PAT & BRIAN’S     ON  18^TH. AUGUST 2015.

An excellent afternoon, with a very pleasant change.  2 white wines, followed by a bottle of German Reisling presented to us by the founder of our group Mike Cahill.

WINE NO. 1.            WHITE   2014  FREEMANS BAY VINEYARDS  PINOT GRIS.  NEW ZEALAND.   13% VOL. PURCHASED FROM ALDI’S AT £5.99.

With a very healthy appearance, this golden Pinot had a pleasant smell, a good strong intensity, balanced acidity, a lasting flavour. It has rich aromas of honeysuckle and mango, with ripe flavours of melons and pears, with a spicy twist. A very enjoyable drink, this wine attracted an average score 8.5.

WINE NO. 2.          WHITE   2014  FREEMANS BAY VINEYARDS  SAUVIGNON BLANC.  NEW ZEALAND.  12.5% VOL. PURCHASED FROM ALDI’S AT £5.89.

Another wine from Freemans Bay Vineyards, this Sauvignon Blanc was another good strong flavoured offering. With a bright appearance it had a pale intensity and pleasant bouquet. Flavours of gooseberry, lime and passion fruit produced a strong lasting flavour. This wine was a hit with us all (except one!) and attracted a score of 8.2.

The gift from Mike was very much appreciated. Such a different experience to the NZ wines, this offering had a strong zesty bouquet with a really fresh aftertaste. The flavour lasted and was enjoyed by us all. We didn’t mark it in our usual way, but had we done so, I’m sure it would have been awarded a solid 8. Many thanks Mike, not only for the wine, but for your initiative in setting up what has been a delightful group. Best wishes to you and Elisabeth, from us all  at Totton U3A.        

WINE TASTING GROUP.                       
HELD AT MOLLY AND DAVE’S   ON  23^RD JUNE 2015.

We enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon at Dave & Mollies, with their very warm welcome, and excellent cheeses, pates, biscuits and olives, to complement the wine.

WINE NO. 1.    RED   2013 McGUIGAN RESERVE  CABINET SAUVIGNON.  SOUTH AUSTRALIA.  13.5%VOL.             PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £9. (SPECIAL OFFER PRICE)

This wine from one of the major wine producers in Australia, is a vibrant, well rounded wine, with lifted blackcurrant aromas.and an oaky, rich finish. We all enjoyed the healthy appearance, pleasant smell, and with good balanced taste it had a lasting flavour. This wine attracted an average score of 8, and we would recommend it.  

WINE NO. 2.    RED  2014  WILLIAM HARDY LANGHORNE CREEK  SOUTH AUSTRALIA. SHIRAZ.  14.5% VOL.        PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £6.

Producing wines since 1853 in Australia Hardy’s are a well respected company. This wine is sourced from the Fleurieu peninsula just south of Adelaide, an area famous for producing red wines. With blackberry and mulberry notes, this balanced wine has a healthy clean smell, with slightly tart acidity, it has a good lasting flavour. This wine was also well received by all but one of us and attracted an average score of 7.5. 

                                          JOHN BENFIELD.

WINE TASTING GROUP.          19^TH MAY 2015.                                                                 HOSTED BY  JUNE & RAY MORRIS.

Another excellent afternoon of good wine, cheese & biscuits with fruit and pate provided by our hosts.

WINE NO. 1.                      RED 2013.   JIP JIP ROCKS  SHIRAZ  PADTHAWAY AUSTRALIA.    14.5% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £8.79.

As the name implies this wine is produced in the 350 million year old  rock region of Padthaway, in Southern Australia, this area is  sacred to Aboriginal beliefs.  The ancient soils and maritime climate, are an ideal setting for the growing of this grape.The Jip Jip wines embody a pioneering spirit, built from youthful enthusiasm. We enjoyed this wine with a couple of reservations. With a healthy, deep purple sight, and pleasing nose, with a strong intensity, it had balanced acidity, a plummy character, and medium body. The flavour did last, and this wine received an average score of 8.5.

WINE NO. 2.                      RED  2013.  TRIVENTO MALBEC  MENDOZA  ARGENTINA.     14%VOL.    PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £6.00.

The name Trivento comes from the 3 winds, Zonda,Polar and Sudestada, and the grapes grown there are subjected to these winds, giving the grapes such a distinctive flavour. With a bright crimson red  ruby colour, this wine has a medium intensity, and a complex character. We individually felt the nose gave off amongst others, plum, raspberry, blackcurrent and leather aromas!!  Clean taste on the tongue some acidity, and good body, it had a lasting flavour. It attracted an average score of 7.25. This wine was also enjoyed, and we felt was good value compared to wine no. 1.

                                                                                                                                                                                  JOHN BENFIELD.

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.    

WINE TASTING GROUP.        TUES 17^TH MARCH.            HOSTED BY JACK AND JOAN.

A good afternoon at Jack and Joan’s with excellent cheese, biscuits and fruit was enjoyed by all.

WINE NO. 1.     RED 2013.  Mc GUIGAN CLASSIC MERLOT.   SOUTH EAST AUSTRALIA.   13% VOL.                                PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT REDUCED PRICE  £5.50.

This strong ruby coloured wine with a pleasant nose, was enjoyed by most of us and was excellently accompanied by the good cheese selection. With strong plum and blackcurrant flavours, this wine has good tannins, a strong fruity lasting aftertaste. It was given a high average score of 8.5.

WINE NO. 2.    RED  2013.  McGUIGAN CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON.   SOUTH EAST AUSTRALIA.   12.5%VOL.          PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURY AT £8.

Produced by the same winemaker as the first wine, this offering has good flavours of rich intense cassis fruit, is a  strong ruby red wine with pleasant body and good aftertaste, combined with light tannins make for a pleasant drink. Whilst we all preferred  the Merlot, this wine still scored a good average 8.

                                              JOHN BENFIELD.