WINE TASTING GROUP.

                                                   HELD AT DAVE AND MOLLY’S ON TUESDAY 19^TH JULY 2016.

ON AN EXTREMELY HOT DAY, WE ENJOYED A LOVELY AFTERNOON OF FOOD AND DRINK, SUPPLIED AS ALWAYS BY OUR EXCELLENT HOSTS.

WINE NO. 1.        2014   WOLF BLASS YELLOW LABEL   MERLOT.  SOUTH AUSTRALIA.    13.5% VOL.    PURCHASED FROM  ASDA AT £7.

THIS WINERY ESTABLISHED IN 1966, HAS ACQUIRED A GOOD REPUTATION FOR QUALITY CHARACTER AND CONSISTENCY WITH ITS WINES AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION. WITH  PLUM, CHERRY AND DEEP SPICE FLAVOURS THIS WINE COMES WITH A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE, WITH DEEP INTENSITY. A PLEASANT BOUQUET, AND FRUITY TANNINS AND TASTE ALLIED TO BALANCED ACIDITY, WITH A LASTING FLAVOUR, PROVED TO BE QUITE POPULAR WITH MOST OF US. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN  AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.2. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2.       2014  CALVET VIN DU LANGUEDOC  FITOU.   LANDIROS, FRANCE.    13%VOL.    PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £6.

THIS OFFERING FROM A WINERY ESTABLISHED IN 1818, HAS A BEAUTIFUL GARNET COLOUR WITH AROMAS OF RIPE RED FRUIT. WE FOUND IT TO BE A GOOD HEALTHY LOOKING, DEEPLY INTENSE WINE, WITH A PLEASANT BOUQUET. THERE WAS SOME SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, GOOD TANNINS, AND FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH.  IT HAD A LASTING FLAVOUR AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1 MEMBER, WAS ENJOYED AND RECOMMENDED. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5.

                                                                                                                          JOHN BENFIELD.

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.

WINE TASTING GROUP.                         HELD AT PAT AND BRIAN’S AND HOSTED BY JENNY.                                         26^TH APRIL 2016.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A LOVELY AFTERNOON WITH GOOD WINES AND ACCOMPLIAMENTS

WINE NO. 1.                2014  MONTINO RIOJA  PRODUCED WITH GRAPES FROM CALIFORNIA FINISHED AND BOTTLED IN SPAIN.  12.5% VOL.   PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £6.50.

THIS SLIGHTLY HAZY WINE, HAS A MEDIUM INTENSITY AND IS A GOOD RUBY COLOUR.WITH A PLEASANT BOUQUET AND MEDIUM INTENSITY, IT HAD A NUMBER OF US TASTING A VARIETY OF FRUIT FLAVOURS. THERE WAS GOOD SWEETNESS IN THE TASTE WITH VERY BALANCED ACIDITY, AND A FAIRLY LIGHT BODY. THERE WAS A GOOD LASTING AFTERTASTE WITH FRUIT FLAVOURS AND THIS WINE WAS ENJOYED, SECURING AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2.              2013   TURNERS ROAD  MERLOT RESERVE.  CALIFORNIA USA.    13.5%VOL.    PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT  £6.50.

WITH JAMMY AROMAS OF PLUMS AND RED CHERRIES THIS WINE HAS A VERY HEALTHY APPEARANCE A RICH RED COLOUR.  IT HAS A SOFT LINGERING FINISH, SOME SWEETNESS AND BALANCED ACIDITY. SOME TANNINS WERE EVIDENT, AND THE LIGHT BODY LEFT A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE WAS ALSO APPRECIATED AND OUR MEMBERS GAVE IT AN AVERAGE SCORE ALSO OF 7.5/10.

WINE TASTING GROUP.               HELD AT JACK AND JOAN’S               17^TH MAY 2016.

GOOD FOOD, WINE AND A WARM WELCOME WERE AFFORDED TO US FOR ANOTHER OF OUR EXCELLENT AFTERNOONS.

WINE NO. 1.       2014   MALBEC MENDOZA    ARGENTINA.        13.5%VOL.    PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT  £5.

THIS GRAPE ORIGINALLY FROM SOUTH WEST FRANCE IS NOW THE SIGNATURE RED GRAPE VARIETY OF ARGENTINA. WITH RICH RED RIPE BERRY FLAVOURS, THIS WINE IS GOOD WITH SPICY DISHES AS WELL AS ROAST MEATS. FULL BODIED IT HAS A STRONG PURPLE APPEARANCE AND VERY PLEASANT BOUQUET. STRONG SWEETNESS AND TART ACIDITY GAVE THE WINE A GOOD BALANCED TASTE. SOME TANNINS AND A SLIGHTLY SHARP AFTER TASTE GAVE A GOOD LONG LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE WAS ENJOYED BY OUR MEMBERS AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10.  RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2.       2014   MARLBOROUGH VALLEY  PINOT NOIR.  NEW ZEALAND.    13.5%VOL.     PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT  £6.48.

WITH A SOFT MEDIUM BODY THIS WINE, THIS WINE HAS A BRIGHT APPEARANCE WITH PALE INTENSITY. WITH A PLEASANT BOUQUET, IT HAS SOME SWEETNESS WITH BALANCED ACIDITY AND A LIGHT FLAVOUR WHICH DID LAST. NO TANNIN WAS APPARENT. THIS WINE WAS NOT UNIVERSALLY APPRECIATED, AND ONLY ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.5.

                                                                                                                                         JOHN BENFIELD.  

WINE TASTING GROUP.       HOSTED AT JOHN & SHEILA’S      15^TH MARCH 2016.

WE HAD A GOOD ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON AT OUR HOUSE WITH THE USUAL FARE.

WINE NO. 1 .      2014 GRENACHE MOURVEDRE TANNAT.   WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA. 14% VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £8. 

THIS DEEP RUBY WINE HAD A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE,WITH A PLEASANT BOUQUET, A MEDIUM NOSE WITH A BLACKCURRENT CHARACTER. THERE WS A LITTLE SWEETNESS WITH TART ACIDITY. TANNINS WERE EVIDENT AND THERE WAS A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THE FLAVOUR LASTED, AND THIS WINE A BLEND FROM THE VINYARDS OF FRENCH SETTLERS WHO ARRIVED IN THE 17^TH CENTURY, ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10.

WINE NO. 2.   2015 HAWKES BAY SYRAH  NEW ZEALAND.  13% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £6.

WITH A HEALTHY APPEARANCE AND PALE INTENSITY, THIA WINE HAD A PLEASANT NOSE WITH QUITE A WEAK SMELL. SOME RED CURRENT CHARACTER SHOWED UP AND WE DETECTED A SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE. VERY LITTLE ACIDITY AND A LIGHT BODY. THERE WAS A GOOD FRUIT TASTE BUT THE FLAVOUR DID NOT LAST LONG IN THE MOUTH. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF  7.5/10.

                                                                   JOHN BENFIELD. 

WINE TASTING GROUP.         HELD AT BRIAN & PATS ON 16^TH FEBRUARY 2016.

ANOTHER EXCELLENT AFTERNOON WITH LOTS OF ANIMATED CONVERSATION, AND OF COURSE CHEESE,BISCUITS,FRUIT AND OTHER GOOD ACCOMPANIMENTS.

WINE NO. 1.            2013  ESTELA, ARMANDO BONARDA.  MENDOZA ARGENTINA.   13.5% VOL.      PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £9.

THIS WINE PROVED TO BE AN INTERESTING PUZZLE TO US ALL WITH NOBODY GUESSING EITHER THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, OR THE GRAPE VARIETY. A CLEAR DEEP RED SIGHT, PRODUCED A PLEASANT BOUQUET, PLENTY OF ACIDITY, WITH A PLEASANT INTENSITY,A LOT OF SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, AND SOME TANNINS. MEDIUM BODIED, IT HAD GOOD FRUIT TASTE, AND A GOOD LONG LASTING FLAVOUR. THERE WAS A MIXED REACTION TO THIS WINE, BUT IT DID ATTRACT A GOOD AVERAGE SCORE OF 8.5. WE WOULD RECOMMEND THIS WINE.

WINE NO 2.     2015    INCA  CABERNET SAUVIGNON  VALLE CENTRAL CHILE.          13.5% VOL.          PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £4.

A BRIGHT LOOKING WINE WITH A RUBY RED DEEPLY INTENSE APPEARANCE, THIS SAMPLE HAD A PLEASANT BOUQUET WITH A FRUITY FINISH. GOOD SWEETNESS , WITH BALANCED ACIDITY, AND SOME TANNINS, A MEDIUM BODY WITH A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR, WE ALSO ENJOYED THIS OFFERING, WHICH ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7. A GOOD VALUE WINE AT THIS PRICE.

                                                                                                                            JOHN BENFIELD.

WINE TASTING GROUP.                  HOSTED AT DAVE AND MOLLY’S     19^TH JANUARY 2016.

WE ENJOYED AN EXCELLENT AFTERNOON, WITH A LOVELY SELECTION OF CHEESES, PATE, FRUIT AND BISCUITS, PROVIDED BY OUR HOSTS.

WINE NO. 1   2014  CHAPEL HILL  PINOT NOIR.                HUNGARY              12% VOL.                                                         PURCHASED FROM  WAITROSE AT  £7.49.

THIS WINE FROM THE HUNGARIAN BALATONBOGLAR VINYARD, WAS GIVEN A DEFINITE “THUMBS DOWN” BY OUR MEMBERS, BUT AS IT CAME FROM A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN WINE COUNTRY, IT HAD A CERTAIN CURIOSITY INTEREST. WITH A MEDIUM GARNET RED APPEARANCE, AND A MEDIUM BODY WITH RASPBERRY AND CHERRY AROMAS, IT HAD A WEAK INTENSITY. THERE WAS LITTLE LASTING LENGTH OF FLAVOUR, AND WOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDED. IT RECEIVED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 5/10.

WINE NO. 2.     2013  SANT ILIA  CABERNET SAUVIGNON & MELNIK BLEND.  BULGARIA,     13% VOL.                     PURCHASED FROM  WAITROSE AT £8.79.

A FAR BETTER WINE THAN NO 1., THIS OFFERING FROM THE BULGARIAN VINEYARDS, IS PRODUCED IN THE SOILS OF THE THRACIAN REGION OF SOUTHERN BULGARIA. BLACK AND BERRY AROMAS, WITH A GOOD OAK FINISH, MADE IT A REFRESHING TASTE. WITH A DEEP RUBY APPEARANCE AND PLEASANT AROMA, IT HAD GOOD SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, AND A LASTING FLAVOUR. RECOMMENDED, THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10.

                                                                                                                                                            JOHN BENFIELD.  

WINE TASTING GROUP                    HOSTED AT JACK & JOAN’S WHERE WE ENJOYED WARM HOSPITALITY WITH CHEESE, BISCUITS , FRUIT, AND OLIVES.            TUESDAY 17^TH NOV. 2015.

WINE NO 1.    2013    LA CHASSE  COTE DU RHONE  RESERVE    FRANCE     13%  VOL.   PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT  £5.

ONE OF THE FAMOUS FRENCH APPELATION WINES, THE LA CHASSE WINE IS SOURCED FROM FINE COTES DU RHONE VINEYARDS.  THIS OFFERING HAD A VERY HEALTHY APPEARANCE WITH A DEEP INTENSITY AND PURPLE APPEARANCE WITH A  DARK BERRY BOUQUET, WITH A MEDIUM INTENSITY, SOME TASTE ON THE FRONT OF THE TONGUE, IT HAD A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. WE QUITE ENJOYED THIS WINE WHICH ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5.

WINE NO. 2.      2013   GRANDE RESERVE CHATEANEUF DU PAPE .  FRANCE.   13.5 VOL.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £9.

ANOTHER FAMOUS APPELLATION THIS WINE HAS AN INTENSE NOSE WITH AROMAS OF DARK BERRIES, CHERRYS AND SPICE. THE WINE IS SOFT AND RICH WITTH A BRIGHT APPEARANCE, AND GOOD TASTE ON THE FRONT OF THE TONGUE. WITH TART ACIDITY IT HAD GOOD FRUIT TASTE, AND LASTING FLAVOUR.  WE ALSO  ENJOYED THIS OFFERING, AND IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.6.

                                   JOHN BENFIELD