Wine Group update July and August

WINE TASTING GROUP.  HELD AT MOLLY & DAVE’S ON TUESDAY 18^TH JULY 2017. OUR HOSTS DID US PROUD ONCE AGAIN WITH A FINE SELECTION OF CHEESE, BICUITS AND OTHER ACCOUTRAMENTS. A VERY ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON.

WINE NO 1. 2014 McGUIGAN FOUNDERS, SHIRAZ, AUSTRALIA. 13.5% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £8.

THIS WINE FROM THE POPULAR McGUIGAN RANGE MET WITH A MIXED REACTION FROM OUR MEMBERS.WITH DEEP INTENSITY AND A BRIGHT APPEARANCE, A MEDIUM BOUQUET AND A SHARP CITRUS CHARACTER, THERE WAS NO SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, QUITE TART ACIDITY, AND PLENTY OF TANNINS.  WITH LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.3/10

WINE NO 2.  2015 GRAND RESERVE MERLOT VACLUSE FRANC. 13% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £4.75

A BLEND FROM A NUMBER OF FRENCH GROWERS THIS HEALTHY LOOKING WINE HAD A RICH RUBY APPEARANCE. A MEDIUM BOUQUET ALLIED TO SOME SWEETNESS, IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY BALANCED ACIDITY, SOME TANNINS, AND GOOD FRUIT TASTES.WITH A LASTING AFTERTASTE, THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.5/10. A  VERY PLEASANT OFFERING.

HELD AT JOHN & SHEILA’S ON TUESDAY 29^TH AUGUST, WHERE WE TRIED TO GIVE OUR GUESTS A PLEASANT AFTERNOON.

WINE NO. 1. 2015 DINO ROMAGNA SANGIOVESE SUPERIORE, ITALY. 13.5% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM TESCO AT £6, THIS WINE PROVED POPULAR WITH ALL OF US.  WITH A RUBY APPEARANCE AND HEALTHY INTENSITY, IT HAD A GOOD BOUQUET AND A DARK FRUIT CHARACTER. THERE WAS SOME SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE,BALANCED ACIDITY, PLENTY OF TANNINS, IT HAD A LIGHT BODY WITH A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.9/10.

WINE NO 2.  2016  MOST WANTED SAUVIGNON BLANC MARLBOROUGH NEW ZEALAND. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £9.

THIS WHITE WINE, A DEPARTURE FROM OUR USUAL REDS, WAS FAVOURABLY RECEIVED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO DOES NOT LIKE WHITE WINE. IT HAS A BRIGHT MEDIUM INTENSITY APPEARANCE WITH A CLEAN BOUQUET. A STRONG CITRUS TASTE WITH TART ACIDITY, IT HAD A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. WITH A LASTING FLAVOUR THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10.

                                                                    JOHN BENFIELD.

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.

February & March meetings

WINE TASTING GROUP. HELD AT DAVE AND MOLLY’S ON TUES. 21^ST FEBRUARY 2017, WHERE WE WERE ENTERTAINED TO AN EXCELLENT AFTERNOON OF FOOD AND DRINK.

WINE NO. 1. 2015 CALVET LA FLEUR, BORDEAUX, MERLOT/CABERNET SAUVIGNON. FRANCE. 13.5%.VOL.

PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £5.50.

FOUNDED IN 1818, CALVET WINES ARE MADE TO TRULY REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF THE GRAPES, COMING FROM THE SOUTH WEST BORDEAUX REGION. THIS BLEND HAS A GOOD FULL BODY WITH LASTING AFTERTASTE, A DEEP INTENSITY,PLEASANT BOUQUET AND BALANCED ACIDITY.  WITH A LIGHT BODY THIS WINE WAS ENJOYED, AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2. 2011, FAUSTINO V RESERVA, ROIJA. SPAIN    13.5% VOL.

PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £8.

A GOOD WINE FROM THE FAMOUS RIOJA RANGE THIS WELL MATURED OFFERING HAD A GOOD BRIGHT APPEARANCE WITH DEEP INTENSITY, AND PLEASANT BOUQUET. GOOD FRUIT CHARACTER AND SOME SWEETNESS, BALANCED ACIDITY, AND TANNINS MADE FOR A PLEASANT LASTING FLAVOUR. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10.

WINE TASTING GROUP. HELD AT JOHN AND SHEILA’S ON TUES. 28^TH MARCH 2017, WHERE WE HOPEFULLY, PRODUCED A PLEASANT AFTERNOON FOR ALL.

WINE NO. 1.  2013 CARINENA MONTE PLOGAR CRAINZA, SPAIN.  12.5%VOL.

PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £4.99.

A GARNACHE/TEMPRANILLO BLEND THIS WINE HAS A BRIGHT APPEARANCE WITH PALE INTENSITY. A PLEASANT BOUQUET WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY, IT HAS A GOOD STRONG FRUIT TASTE,TART ACIDITY AND LOTS OF TANNINS. THERE WAS SOME LASTING FLAVOUR, AND THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10.

WINE NO. 2.  2012 BAROLO.  ITALY.  14% VOL.

PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £9.99.

THIS DRY RED OFFERING FROM ITALY HAD A VERY HEALTHY APPEARANCE WITH A DEEP INTENSITY AND GOOD RED/RUBY COLOUR. A PLEASANT BOUQUET, WITH QUITE A STRONG INTENSITY,AND SOME SWEETNESS, HAD A BALANCED ACIDITY,GOOD TANNINS, LIGHT BODY AND STRONG FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THE FLAVOUR DID LAST. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN  AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10.

                                                                               JOHN BENFIELD.

                                   WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT JUNE AND RAY’S ON TUESDAY 24^TH JANUARY 2017.     JUNE’S  HOSPITALITY DIDN’T DISAPPOINT. LOVELY AFTERNOON.

WINE NO. 1.  2014 WOLF BLASS SILVER LABEL SHIRAZ/CABERNET/MALBEC. AUSTRALIA. 14.5% VOL.

PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £9.48.

PRODUCED FROM THE LANGHORNE CREEK AND  McLAREN VALE VINEYARDS THIS WINE HAS A VERY HEALTHY PURPLE APPEARANCE, IT HAS A PLEASANT BOUQUET AND MEDIUM INTENSITY .THERE IS SOME SWEETNESS, WITH A BALANCED TASTE. NO TANNINS WERE APPARENT AND IT HAD A MEDIUM BODY. THE GOOD FRUIT TASTE, DID NOT GIVE A LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE IS RECOMMENDED AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10.

WINE NO. 2.  2016 BARROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 14.5%vol.

PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £5.98.

THIS OFFERING FROM THE FAMOUS BARROSSA VALLEY VINEYARD OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, IS A RICH RED WINE, FILLED WITH BRAMBLE FRUIT FLAVOURS, AND SPICE LAYERS. IT HAS A DEEP INTENSITY WITH A GOOD RUBY APPEARANCE. SOME SWEETNESS,  GIVE THIS WINE A GOOD FRUITY TASTE ON THE TONGUE AND BALANCED ACIDITY, ALLIED TO STRONG TANNINS. THE FLAVOURS LASTED AND WE ALL ENJOYED THIS OFFERING, WHICH WAS CONSIDERED BETTER VALUE COMPARED TO WINE NO. 1.  IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.

                                                              JOHN BENFIELD.

Nov 2016 meeting

WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT JACK & JOAN’S ON TUESDAY 22^ND. NOV. 2016.

ANOTHER EXCELLENT AFTERNOON OF GREAT COMPANY, FOOD AND WINE

WINE NO. 1.  2015 CORSIERO NERO DI TROIA. ITALY. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LAITHWATES £4.39.

THIS WINE PURCHASED BY JACK FROM MAIL ORDER IS A GRAPE STEEPED IN LEGEND.AFTER DEFEATING THE CITY OF TROY WITH HIS TROJAN HORSE, DIOMEDES IS SAID TO HAVE TRAVELLED NORTH TO PUGLIA WHERE HE FOUNDED THE CITY OF TROIA, AND PLANTED VINE CUTTINGS HE’D BROUGHT WITH HIM, AND PRODUCED THIS WINE.  DRUNK TODAY, LAYERED WITH BLACKBERRY, VIOLET AND SMOKY VANILLA OVERTONES, IT RECEIVED A  MIXED REVIEW BY OUR MEMBERS. WITH A HEALTHY APPEARANCE, VERY LITTLE BOUQUET, IT HAD NO SWEETNESS IN THE MOUTH, BUT DID HAVE GOOD TANNINS. SOME FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH DID NOT LAST, AND THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.9. GOOD VALUE.

WINE NO. 2.   2014  CARAVACAS PRIMICIA RIOJA.  SPAIN. 14% VOL.   PURCHASED FROM LAITHWATES  £4.39.

ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS SPANISH WINE, THIS OFFERING FROM A CASE SELECTION, WAS APPRECIATED BY US. MADE AT CASTLE PRIMITCIA THIS WINE HAS A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE AND PLEASANT BOUQUET. PRODUCED FROM TEMPRANILLO, PLUS 15% OF LESSER WELL KNOWN MAZUELLO, AGED FOR 4 MONTHS IN OAK BARRELS, IT HAS A BRIGHT CHERRY RED APPEARANCE, WITH SUMMERFRUIT, AND SPICY VANILLA OVERTONES, GOOD TANNINS, AND LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE IS RECOMMENDED, AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8.

                                                                             JOHN BENFIELD.       

December 2016

The wine tasters dinner at Le Chanteclerc.

        A good evening Nice place Good food Excellent company

WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT DAVE AND MOLLY’S,  HOSTED BY JENNY, ON TUESDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2016.

WE WERE ENTERTAINEED TO AN EXCELLENT AFTERNOON OF GOOD WINE, CHEESE AND BISCUITS, AMONGST PLENTY OF OTHER TREATS, SUPPLIED BY JENNY.

WINE NO. 1.    2015  SANTA JULIA MALBEC.  ARGENTINA.     13%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £7.

PRODUCED IN THE MENDOZA THE HOME OF THE PRODUCER SINCE 1963, THIS WINE IS FULL OF CHERRY AND PLUM FLAVOURS WITH GOOD SPICE NOTES. WE  FOUND IT TO BE  BRIGHT & HEALTHY LOOKING, WITH A DEEP INTENSITY, AND PLEASANT APPEARANCE. A GOOD BOUQUET WITH STRONG FRUIT FLAVOURS, IT HAD SOME SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, WITH BALANCED ACIDITY, SOME TANNINS, AND LASTING FLAVOURS.

WE ENJOYED THIS WINE, AND IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.9/10.   RECOMMENDED. 

WINE NO. 2.   2015    L’AVENIR PINOTAGE  STELLENBOSCH  SOUTH AFRICA.   13.5% VOL.   PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £5.

FOLLOWTHE COOL BREEZE FROM THE INDIAN OCEAN, UP A HILL, FROM WHERE YOU WILL SEE ONE OF THE OLDEST WINE GROWING AREAS IN SOUTH AFRICA,  STELLENBOSCH.    BEING ONE OF THE WESTERN CAPES PREMIER WINE PRODUCERS, IT HAS PRODUCED AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT AT A VERY REASONABLE PRICE.  A LIGHTER STYLED RED, IT HAD A HEALTHY APPEARANCE, WITH A GOOD DEEP INTENSITY.  A PLEASANT BOUQUET, WITH GOOD FRUIT AND CHOCOLATE FLAVOURS ON THE PALATE, IT HAD QUITE A TART ACIDITY, STRONG TANNINS, AND A MEDIUM BODY. WITH A GOOD FRUIT TASTE AND LASTING FLAVOUR, THIS OFFERING WAS ENJOYED BY ALL OF US, ATTRACTING AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10.  GOOD VALUE AND RECOMMENDED.

                                                                                                        JOHN BENFIELD