August & September

WINE TASTING GROUP.

THE MEETING WAS HELD BY JENNY, AT PAT’S HOUSE, ON 14^TH AUGUST 2018, WHERE WE ENJOYED AN EXCELLENT AFTERNOON WITH GOOD FOOD AND GREAT HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO 1.  2017  WINE OF SOUTH AFRICA, SWARTLAND. PINOTAGE.  14.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £6.50.

FIRST GROWN BY PROF. PEROLD AT STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY THIS GRAPE WAS ALMOST LOST FOREVER WHEN THE GARDEN IT WAS IN BECAME OVERGROWN AND A NEW GARDENER LOOKED TO DESTROY IT. HOWEVER A YOUNG LECTURER SAVED IT, AND THIS SMOOTH AND COMPLEX WINE HAS BEEN A FAVOURITE EVER SINCE IT WAS CULTIVATED COMMERCIALLY. THIS RUBY COLOURED OFFERING, HAD A GOOD BRIGHT APPEARANCE AND MEDIUM INTENSITY. A GOOD BOUQUET WITH FRUITY SWEET TASTE ON THE TONGUE, ALLIED TO BALANCED ACIDITY, AND LIGHT TANNINS, MADE FOR A GOOD LASTING DRINK. ENJOYED AND RECOMMENDED, THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10.

WINE NO.  2015 GRAND VIN SAINT EMILLION GRAND CRU FRANCE 13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FRO MORRISONS AT £10.99. WITH A HEALTHY DEEP INTENSITY AND STRONG RUBY APPEARANCE, THIS OFFERING HAD NO SWEETNESS ON THE FRONT BUT HAD A PLEASANT BOUQUET. VERY TART ACIDITY ALLIED TO LOTS OF TANNINS GAVE THIS WINE A SHARP TASTE WHICH WAS NOT PARTICULARLY POPULAR. IT ATTACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.5/10.

THE GROUP MET AT JACK AND JOANS ON TUES 11^TH SEPTEMBER 2018, WHERE WE RECEIVED THEIR GOOD, WELCOME HOSPITALITY, WITH FINE FOOD, WITH OUR WINE.

WINE NO1.  2016 VINALBA MALBEC ARGENTINA. 14%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £8. WITH A VERY HEALTHY APPEARANCE AND DEEP INTENSITY, THIS WINE HAS A PURPLE APPEARANCE, WITH A GOOD CONDITION. WITH STRONG AROMAS OF DARK FRUIT AND VANILLA,THIS WINE HAS A DRY TASTE, BALANCED ACIDITY, AND SOME TANNINS. THE FLAVOUR DOES LAST AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. A PLEASANT WINE.

WINE NO2.   2016 APOTHIC RED BLEND OF ZINFANDEL,SYRAH,CAB SAV.AND MERLOT, CALIFORNIA USA. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £9. WITH LAYERS OF DARK RED FRUIT AND HINTS OF VANILLA AND MOCHA THIS OFFERING HAS A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE ALLIED TO A DEEP INTENSITY.   RUBY/PURPLE COLOUR ALLIED TO A PLEASANT PLUM/CHOCOLATE CHARACTER, GIVE THIS WINE A STRONG SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE. VERY BALANCED ACIDITY AND LOTS OF TANNINS WITH A MEDIUM BODY AND LASTING FLAVOUR THIS OFFERING MET WITH A MIXED REACTION FROM OUR MEMBERS. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.4.  A GOOD DRINK.

                                                               JOHN BENFIELD

June and July wine groups

WINE TASTING GROUP.  THE MEETING WAS HELD AT RAY & JUNE’S ON TUESDAY 12^TH JUNE 2018, ON A LOVELY DAY, WHEN OUR HOSTS ENTERTAINED US WITH EXCELLENT FOOD AND WINE.

WINE  NO.1  

 2016   JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ PADTHAWAY AUSTRALIA.  14.5%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £11. GROWN ON 350 MILLION YEAR OLD GRANITE,  THIS FAMILY OWNED VINYARD, GROWS ON OLD ANCIENT SOILS AND BENEFITS FROM A MARITIME CLIMATE LOVED BY THE SHIRAZ GRAPE. WE FOUND THIS OFFERING TO HAVE A VERY HEALTHY SIGHT, A PLEASANT BOUQUET AND DEEP INTENSITY.  PLUM OVERTONES, WITH A SWEET INTENSITY AND BALANCED ACIDITY, MADE FOR A VERY PLEASANT OFFERING. THE FLAVOUR LASTED WELL, AND IT GAVE A GOOD STRONG FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THIS WINE ATTRACTED A VERY HIGH AVERAGE SCORE OF 8.5./10  RECOMMENDED.  

WINE NO2.  

  2016  HARDYS 1853 ANNIVERSARY SHIRAZ.  REYNELLA, SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA.  13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £6.99. FONDED IN 1853 THIS FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN VINYARD HAS BEEN OFFERING EXCELLENT WINES SINCE THE 19^TH CENTURY. WITH SOFT SPICY, RASPBERRY AND CHERRY FLAVOURS, THIS WINE HAD A SLIGHTLY HAZY APPEARANCE, WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY AND A RUBY COLOUR. A PLEASANT BOUQUET, IT HAD A NUMBER OF FRUIT CHARACTERS, NO SWEETNESS AND A TART TASTE. LOTS OF TANINS GAVE IT A HEAVY BODY AND GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH.THE FLAVOUR DID NOT LAST.  THIS WINE DID NOT APPEAL TO MOST OF US BUT IT DID ATTRACT AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/1O.

THE WINE TASTING GROUP MET AT OUR HOUSE ON TUESDAY 17^TH JULY 2018, AND

WINE NO1. 

2016  MARCO TEMPRANILLO SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA.  14%VOL.   PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £6.                                        

WITH A BRIGHT HEALTHY APPEARANCE THIS WINE HAD A STRONG RUBY COLOURING, AND MEDIUM INTENSITY. A GOOD BOUQUET AND PLUM CHARACTER. IT SHOWED GOOD SWEETNESS, LOTS OF TANNINS WITH A LIGHT BODY AND GAVE THIS OFFERING A LIGHT AND BALANCED ACIDITY.SOME FRUIT TASTE GAVE THE WINE A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. WE GAVE THIS WINE AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10. THIS WINE WAS NOT HUGELY RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO2.

2014  CARLES PRIORAT MERLOT/GRENACHE/CAB SAUVIGNON BLEND, SPAIN. 14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £8.

A BRIGHT HEALTHY LOOKING WINE, THIS RED/RUBY OFFERING HAD A GOOD PLEASANT BOUQUET WITH  MEDIUM INTENSITY. IT HAS BALANCED ACIDITY AND LITTLE TANNINS. THE BODY FELT MEDIUM AND THERE WAS A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THE FLAVOUR LASTED AND WE PREFERRED IT TO THE FIRST OFFERING. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10 AND IS RECOMMENDED.

                                                                                                         JOHN BENFIELD.

May Wine Group Meeting

WINE TASTING GROUP.THE MEETING WAS HELD BY JEAN AT PAT’S HOUSE ON 15^TH MAY 2018. THE LOVELY WEATHER AND EXCELLENT OFFERINGS, WERE ENHANCED, AS IT WAS HELD AL FRESCO IN PAT’S LOVELY GARDEN.

WINE NO.1.  2015  SAGRATO CHIANTI RESERVE, ITALY12.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £6.99.

THIS WINE RECEIVED MIXED REVIEWS WITH SCORES FROM A VERY LOW 4/10 TO 9.5/10, WHICH JUST TELLS US HOW PEOPLES TASTES VARY! GROWN IN THE TUSCANY REGION, IT USES GRAPES FROM SMALL PRODUCERS IN THE AREA.

FULL BODIED IT HAS A BRIGHT RUBY APPEARANCE, WITH A PLEASANT BOUQUET. STRONG FRUIT CHARACTER WITH SOME SWEETNESS, IT HAS BALANCED ACIDITY, STRONG TANNINS AND A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THE FLAVOUR DID LAST, AND THIS OFFERING ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.2/10. GENERALLY WELL RECEIVED.

WINE NO.2.  2016  TEMPUS TWO, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA. 13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £5.99.

WITH A HEALTHY RUBY APPEARANCE THIS OFFERING HAD A VERY PLEASANT BOUQUET WITH A MEDIUM INTENSITY. THE FRUIT CHARACTER WAS DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT, AND IT HAD SOME CHOCOLATE NOTES. BUT IT HAD GOOD SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, VERY BALANCED ACIDITY, AND LIGHT TANNINS. THE FLAVOUR DID LAST, BUT THE BODY WAS QUITE LIGHT. WE ALL ENJOYED THIS WINE AND IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10. RECOMMENDED.

                                                                      JOHN BENFIELD.

April meeting

                   Wine Tasting Group April 2018 Meeting.

      Held At Molly & Dave’s on Tuesday 17th April 2018

    Wine No. 1

Purchased at Morrisons price £ 8-00

A Reserva ‘Casillero del Diablo’, Merlot 2016 from Chile.

It describes itself as “The world’s most Admired wine” Well!

It is certainly well advertised on the T.V…. does that count?

On the label it tells us that it is a smooth medium bodied wine

That perfectly combines Plum & Red fruit flavours with a smoky cedar wood aroma. 13.5 % vol. Ideal with Pasta, Risotto and lightly spiced Red meat dishes, didn’t say a word about Cheese & Biscuits?

It scored  7.75 on an average  from our eight well tried tasters Other comments incl’, it’s mild tannings the fact that there was little in the way of fruit taste and no one picked up on the cedar wood aroma’s.

It was agreed however that it was a very pleasant wine and worth looking for to buy. We hadn’t come to the price at this stage. Two of our Ladies correctly identified the grape and two others correctly guessed! It’s origin but neither was combined to make a complete answer.

    Wine No. 2

  Also purchased at Morrisons price £ 7-00 

‘Cono Sur’ a little play on words there I think, once again, Reserva,

[ a barrel aged wine for optimum finesse] Especial. A 2016 Pinot Noir from the “Valle de San Antonio” Chile.  14 % vol. It comes from the coastal San Antonio valley of Chile. 

          It has a pleasant nose of ripe red raspberries, cherries and strawberries- and is offset by subtle hints of coffee and cacao. It has a full and fruity palate making it ideal with white meats, medium bodied Cheese (hooray) and Mushroom risotto. AH! Well can’t have it all.

This wine scored 7.25 average from those round the table and was well met though it’s score belies this. The smell of raspberry’s was picked up by half of those present the ladies being in ascendance. No one detected the coffee and none present knew what cacao smelt like.

It was agreed that it was a clean pleasant and well balanced wine with little or no presents of tannin and one or two said they would look out for it. Quite an accolade really. Whilst on the subject of accolades one must go to our Long Time member Jack Read who correctly guessed… sorry ‘ identified’  grape and origin of this particular wine. As far as could be recalled Jack is the first person to get both of these facts right at the same time. Ah! well suppose some one had to do it eventually! We couldn’t get the smug look off his face for the rest of the afternoon.  

Dave W.   {standing in for John Benfield.}

WINE TASTING GROUP. FEBRUARY and March 2018 MEETING

WINE TASTING GROUP.   FEBRUARY MEETING, HELD AT PAT’S AND HOSTED BY JENNY, WITH A LOVELY SELECTION OF CHEESE, BISCUITS AND A SELECTION OF TASTY OFFERINGS.

WINE NO.1.  MONT PIERRE RESERVE FITOU. MAUREILHAN, LANGUEDOC, FRANCE.  13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURY  AT £5. THIS FULL BODIED SPICY RED, COMES FROM THE COASTAL REGION OF FITOU IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE. WITH A BRIGHT, HEALTHY APPEARANCE, THIS RUBY COLOURED OFFERING HAD AN INTENSE BOUQUET, WITH A PLEASANT AROMA. PLUM HINTS WERE NOTICED. SOME SWEETNESS WAS EVIDENT WITH BALANCED ACIDITY, AND GOOD TANNINS. THE WINE HAD A LIGHT, FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH, AND THE FLAVOUR LASTED WELL. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.3/10.  IT DID NOT SHOW A VINTAGE. QUITE DRINKABLE.

WINE NO.2. 2016 COMUNA MALBEC MENDOZA ARGENTINA. 12%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURY AT £6.50.

 A GOOD BRIGHT SIGHT WITH RUBY HIGHLIGHTS THIS WINE HAD A GOOD BOUQUET,WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY. NO SWEETNESS WAS APPARENT, BUT IT HAD BALANCED ACIDITY, LOTS OF TANNINS, WITH FRUIT TASTES IN THE MOUTH AND A LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5 AND WAS ENJOYED BY US.

MARCH WINE TASTING WAS HELD AT JACK AND JOAN’S, WHERE WE WERE ONCE AGAIN ENTERTAINED WITH A TABLE OF CHEESES,BISCUITS AND MORE VARIED EXCELLENT OFFERINGS.

WINE NO.1.  2016 PRIMITIVO PUGLIA ITALY.  14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £8.

THIS HEALTHY LOOKING OFFERING HAD A MEDIUM INTENSITY AND A GOOD RUBY APPEARANCE.WITH RIPE CRANBERRY,BLACK CHERRY WITH DARK FRUIT AROMAS. LITTLE SWEETNESS WAS APPARENT SOME TANNINS AND A MEDIUM BODY. WITH LASTING FRUIT TASTE,  IT HAD A BALANCED ACIDITY, AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. QUITE DRINKABLE.

WINE NO. 2. 2017 ZARPER INDOMITA MALBEC VALLE DEL BIO BIO CHILE. 13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £8. SOURCED FROM THE MALBEC GRAPE GROWN ON THE HILLS OF CHILE’S BIO BIO VALLEY, WHERE WINDS COMING FROM THE ANTARCTIC COOL THE VINYARDS, WHICH ARE NOURISHED BY THE THAWED WATERS OF THE MAJESTIC ANDEAN MOUNTAINS, THIS WINE HAS GOOD HEALTHY SIGHT,A PLEASANT BOUQUET, WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY,AND GOOD BERRY FRUIT AROMAS., WITH SOME TANNINS, IT LEAVES A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR IN THE MOUTH. PLENTY OF SWEETNESS AND BALANCED ACIDITY, HAS PRODUCED A VERY PLEASANT DRINK. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10. RECOMMENDED.

                                                                  JOHN BENFIELD.

January 2018

WINE TASTING GROUP.

BEFORE SUMMERISING THIS MONTHS WINE TASTING, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO JUNE AND RAY, FOR THE FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS DINNER THAT THEY HELD FOR US AT THEIR HOME. WE HAD A WONDERFUL EVENING.

JANUARY WINE TASTING HELD AT JOHN & SHEILA’S, ON TUESDAY 23^RD. JANUARY 2018, WHERE WE HOPE OUR FRIENDS ENJOYED THE HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO.1. 2016 COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON AUSTRALIA.  14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £7.                                               PRODUCED IN THE LIMESTONE COAST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, THIS OFFERING HAD A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY,AND A RUBY APPEARANCE. A PLEASANT BOUQUET, THIS WINE HAS A STRONG DARK FRUIT CHARACTER.  THERE WAS SOME SWEETNESS,BALANCED ACIDITY AND SOME TANNINS.GOOD FLAVOURS IN THE MOUTH GAVE A LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE WAS ENJOYED BY US ALL AND ATTRACTED AN  AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2.  2016  PINOT NOIR MARLBOROUGH NEW ZEALAND.  13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT  £7.

PRODUCED IN SOUTH ISLANDS FAMOUS MARLBOROUGH REGION, THIS OFFERING WAS A VERY DIFFERENT OFFERING TO OUR FIRST WINE,  WITH A VERY PALE SIGHT AND A WEAK INTENSITY. IT  HAD A CLEAN BOUQUET AND  THE LIGHT BODY HAD A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THERE WAS NO SWEETNESS, AND IT HAD A TART ACIDITY, WITH  LOTS OF TANNINS.  IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 5.5/10, AND WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. IT HAD A POOR COMPARISON WITH WINE NO 1.

 JOHN BENFIELD.

November meeting

WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT MOLLY AND DAVE’S ON TUESDAY 21^ST. NOV. 2017, WHERE WE WERE ONCE AGAIN, MADE VERY WELCOME, AND ENJOYED OUR HOSTS EXCELLENT HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO. 1.   2016 CASTILLO REAL CLASICA TEMPERANILLO,CASTILLA SPAIN.  12%VOL. PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £4.

SPAINS NOBLE TEMPANILLO IS A BLEND FROM VINYARDS IN THE REGION, PRODUCING A VERY PLEASANT WINE. THIS OFFERING HAS A BRIGHT HEALTHY, MEDIUM AND PURPLE APPEARANCE, AND A VERY PLEASANT BOUQUET. WITH SOFT BERRY AND PLUM CHARACTER, IT HAS SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, BALANCED ACIDITY, WITH SLIGHT TANNINS, ALLIED TO GOOD FRUIT TASTE. THE FLAVOUR LASTED WELL.  IT  ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.2/10. GOOD REASONABLY PRICED WINE.

WINE NO. 2.  2015 SAINT-EMILION MERLOT BORDEAUX FRANCE.  13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £9.

PRODUCED IN THE FAMOUS BORDEAUX REGION THIS WINE HAS A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE, A MEDIUM INTENSITY AND STRONG RUBY COLOURS. A PLEASANT BOUQUET, WITH A MEDIUM TO WEAK SMELL, IT HAD ONLY SLIGHT FRUIT CHARACTER. THIS WINE HAS A STRONG DRY TASTE WITH VERY TART ACIDITY, AND GOOD TANNINS. A MEDIUM BODY WITH SOME FRUIT FLAVOUR IT HAD A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. WE PREFFERED THE FIRST WINE BUT THIS OFFERING DID ATTRACT AN AVERAGE OF 6.5/10.

                                                                                           JOHN BENFIELD.