August

HELD AL FRESCO BY JENNY, AT PAT’S ON TUESDAY 27^TH AUGUST 2019. LOVELY WEATHER, GREAT COMPANY AND FINE FOOD AND DRINK.

WINE NO 1.   2018 BEYERSKLOOF PINOTAGE WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA. 13.5% VOL.   PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £6.25.

THIS BRIGHT HEALTHY LOOKING WINE HAD QUITE A DEEP INTENSITY,AND SHOWED RED AND RUBY TONES. THE BOUQUET HAD ALL OF US WONDERING IF WE HAD DRUNK THIS WINE BEFORE, WITH COMMENTS OF PLEASANT, CLEAN, MUSTY AND FRUITY SMELLS. THE CHARACTER ALSO HAD US GUESSING.SWEETNESS WAS EVIDENT, AND THERE WAS BALANCED ACIDITY. WE DIDN’T NOTE A GREAT DEAL OF TANNINS, AND THE BODY FELT LIGHT.THERE WAS A DEFINITE FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH, AND THE FLAVOUR DID LAST. THIS WINES COUNTRY OF ORIGIN WAS ONLY SUGGESTED BY 2 OF US, BUT WE DID GIVE IT AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. QUITE A GOOD OFFERING AND VALUE.

WINE NO 2.  2017 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL USA. 14.5%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £9.50.

WITH A DEEP INTENSITY THIS OFFERING HAS A BRIGHT RUBY APPEARANCE AND DEEP INTENSITY. THE BOUQUET WAS CLEAN AND PLEASANT WITH A STRONG INTENSITY AND PLUMMY CHARACTER. THERE WAS PLENTY OF SWEETNESS WITH TART ACIDITY, PLENTY OF TANNINS AND A HEAVY BODY. FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH, WITH A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR MADE FOR AN INTERESTING DRINK. IT SCORED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.5/10. THIS WINE WAS MARKED AS HIGH AS 9/10 BY ONE MEMBER AND 4/10 BY ANOTHER!  WE THOUGHT THE FIRST WINE WAS THE BEST VALUE.

                                                                                       JOHN BENFIELD.

...

Wine group. At June and Ray 's .on their. 60 th Wedding Celebration Year

May & June

HELD BY JENNY AT PAT’S  ON TUESDAY MAY 28^TH. 2019 WITH EXCELLENT HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO.1.2018 KUWALA RESERVE MALBEC WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA 13.5.% VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £6.

THIS WINE HAD A GOOD BRIGHT APPEARANCE AND A DEEP INTENSITY, WITH A STRONG RUBY COLOUR. THE BOUQUET WAS VERY PLEASANT, BALANCED AND WITH MEDIUM STRENGTH.  A RIPE FRUIT CHARACTER, WITH BALANCED SLIGHT SWEETNESS, IT  HAD SLIGHT TANNINS AND A MEDIUM BODY. THIS WINE HAS A GOOD PLUMMY TEXTURE WITH BLACKCURRENT OVERTONES, AND A LASTING AFTERTASTE. IT WAS GENERALLY LIKED WITH ONE MEMBER MARKING IT 10/10. THE AVERAGE SCORE WAS A GOOD 8/10, AND IS RECOMMENDED. GOOD VALUE AS WELL.

WINE NO. 2   2017 SWARTLAND SOUTH AFRICA PINOTAGE. 14.5% VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £6.

THIS WINE HAD A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE OF MEDIUM INTENSITY AND RUBY COLOUR. THE BOUQUET DID CAUSE SOME HEADSCRATCHING, WITH COMMENTS OF PEPPERY, PLEASANT AND CLEAN, BUT IT WAS VERY GOOD ON THE NOSE. VERY TART ACIDITY AND STRONG TANNINS,GAVE IT A FULL BODIED TASTE.STRONG LASTING AFTERTASTE WAS ALSO EVIDENT. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.6/10. A PLEASANT OFFERING.

HELD AT JOHN AND SHEILA’S ON TUESDAY 25^TH JUNE 2019 WHERE WE HOPE THAT OUR MEMBERS ENJOYED THEIR AFTERNOON.

WINE NO.1.   2018 PINOT NOIR MARLBOROUGH NEW ZEALAND. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £6.

A BRIGHT APPEARANCE WITH PALE INTENSITY, THIS WINE HAS A PLEASANT BOUQUET,OF QUITE WEAK INTENSITY BUT GOOD CHERRY AND PLUMB AFTER TASTES. TART ACIDITY ALLIED TO STRONG TANNINS, AND AN OAK FINISH LEFT A GOOD LASTING OFFERING. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10. INTERESTING!

WINE NO2. 2016 LEPA LEBREL GRACIANO RIOJA SPAIN. 14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £7.

THIS WINE HAD A VERY DARK APPEARANCE WITH PURPLE OVERTONES, A DEEP INTENSITY AND PLEASANT SLIGHTLY MUSTY, STRONG  BOUQUET., ALLIED TO GOOD SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE. BALANCED ACIDITY AND STRONG TANNINS WERE EVIDENT. THE BODY WAS QUITE HAVY AND IT HAD A LASTING FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.8/10, AND WAS A GOOD DRINK AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

                                                                     JOHN BENFIELD.

March & April

WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT JACK & JOANS ON TUESDAY 26TH MARCH 2019, WHERE WE HAD A LOVELY AFTERNOON BEING WELL LOOKED AFTER.

WINE NO. 1.  2017 HARDY’S BANKSIDE SHIRAZ. SE AUSTRALIA. 13%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £5.

A BRIGHT HEALTHY LOOKING PALE WINE, THIS OFFERING HAD A DEEP RED APPEARANCE. THE BOUQUET WAS VERY PLEASANT WITH A MEDIUM INTENSITY, BUT IT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN AN ACTUAL CHARACTER. IT HAD A STRONG SWEETNESS IN THE MOUTH, WITH BALANCED ACIDITY LITTLE TANNINS, AND A LIGHT TO MEDIUM BODY.THIS WINE HAD LOTS OF LASTING FRUIT FLAVOUR, AND WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED ATTRACTING A HIGH    8/10 AVERAGE. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2.   2017  TURNER ROAD RESERVE MERLOT, CALIFORNIA USA.  13.5%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £5.

THIS HEALTHY LOOKING DEEP RUBY APPEARANCE, GAVE THIS OFFERING A PLEASANT APPEARANCE, AND WITH A STRONG PLEASANT BOUQUET OF MEDIUM INTENSITY IT HAD AN UNUSUAL CHARACTER. SOME SWEETNESS WITH TART ACIDITY AND LITTLE TANNINS. A MEDIUM BODY AND STRONG FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH LEFT A STRONG LASTING FLAVOUR, AND ATTACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.4/10. GOOD TASTING VALUE FOR THE MONEY.

HELD AT MOLLY & DAVE’S ON 17TH APRIL 2019 OUR HOSTS ENTERTAINED US TO A FINE AFTERNOON OF WINE AND DRINK.

WINE NO 1. 2018 WESTERN CAPE CINSAULT 13.5VOL. PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £5.75.

THIS BRIGHT PALE RUBY COLOURED OFFERING IS AN UNUSUAL WINE WITH A PLEASANT MEDIUM INTENSITY BOUQUET. WITH A MIXED REVIEW OF ITS FRUIT   IT HAS A LIGHT BODY AND LITTLE FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THE FLAVOUR LASTED WELL, AND THIS WINE HAD A MIXED REVIEW. SOME RATED IT MORE HIGHLY THAN OTHERS. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.7/10. INTERESTING WINE!

WINE NO2.   2016 WO SWARTLAND SHIRAZ SOUTH AFRICA. PURCHASED FROM  ASDA AT £8.

THIS WINE HAS A DEEP HEALTHY RUBY APPEARANCE AND VERY PLEASANT BOUQUET. WITH A MEDIUM INTENSITY IT HAD LITTLE SWEETNESS , TART ACIDITY AND STRONG TANNINS. IT HAD GOOD CHERRY, RASPBERRY AND BLACKBERRY FLAVOURS, AND WITH A MEDIUM BODY, IT LEFT A FRUIT TASTE WITH A LASTING FLAVOUR IN THE MOUTH. WE LIKED THIS WINE AND IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10. RECOMMENDED.

                                                                                                    JOHN BENFIELD.

January's meeting

WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT JOHN & SHEILA’S ON TUESDAY 22^ND.  JANUARY 2019. WE HOPE OUR MEMBERS PRESENT ENJOYED OUR HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO. 1.   2017 HARDYS NOTTAGE HILL CABERNET-SHIRAZ AUSTRALIA. 14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM ASDA  AT £6.75.

THIS BRIGHT HEALTHY LOOKING WINE IT HAD A RED/PURPLE APPEARANCE. THERE WAS SOME SWEETNESS, WITH A TART ACIDITY AND STRONG TANNINS. THE BODY FELT LIGHT AND HAD A GOOD LONG FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THIS WINE HAD A MIXED REVIEW AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2.   2017  LA MONEDA MALBEC, CHILE.13%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £7.

FROM THE FAMOUS VALLE CENTRAL REGION OF CHILE  THIS OFFERING HAS A BRIGHT HEALTHY, DEEP INTENSITY, WITH A RED/PURPLE  APPEARANCE.   A SLIGHTLY WEAK BOUQUET WITH GOOD FRUITY OVERTONES, IT HAD A TASTE WITH TART ACIDITY AND STRONG TANNINS.A LIGHT FINISH WITH STRONG FRUITY LASTING TASTE, THIS OFFERING DID NOT HAVE A LASTING FLAVOUR, IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6/10 AND ENJOYED A MIXED REVIEW.

HELD AT PAT’S AND HOSTED BY JENNY ON TUESDAY 26^TH FEBRUARY 2019, WHERE WE WERE ENTERTAINED TO AN ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON WITH EXCELLENT HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO. 1.  2016  BEYERSKLOOF SYNERGY PINOT/CAB SAV/ MERLOT BLEND, SOUTH AFRICA. 14.5% VOL. PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £7.      

A SLIGHTLY HAZY APPEARANCE WITH CLASSIC OAK MATURATION, THIS OFFERING HAS A PLEASANT BOUQUET WITH A FAIRLY STRONG FRUITY TASTE. THERE WAS BALANCED ACIDITY AND SOME TANNINS EVIDENT. THE BODY WAS LIGHT AND THERE WAS A GOOD LASTING FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH.  THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.8/10. ENJOYED BY US ALL AND RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO.2.   2016   DARK HORSE MERLOT, USA. 13.5%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM SAINSBURYS AT £8.50.

THIS HEALTHY LOOKING, RUBY/PURPLE WINE HAS A GOOD CLEAN BOUQUET OF MEDIUM INTENSITY. GOOD SWEETNESS IN THE MOUTH,ALLIED TO GOOD FRUIT FLAVOURS, OFFERS A PLUSH YET DISTINCTIVE FINISH.TANNINS WERE EVIDENT WITH FRUIT TASTE ALLIED TO A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10 AND WAS ENJOYED.

                                                                             JOHN BENFIELD.

Christmas celebration dinner

November meeting

 WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT PAT’S BY JEAN ON TUESDAY 27^TH NOVEMBER 2018. ONCE AGAIN A LOVELY SELECTION OF CHEESES AND OTHER ACCOMPLIAMENTS WERE PROVIDED.

WINE NO 1.       2017 PINOTAGE, SOUTH AFRICA. 14.5%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £8.50.

A HEALTHY LOOKING WINE, THIS OFFERING HAS A DEEP APPEARANCE ALLIED TO DEEP RUBY COLOURING. A GOOD BOUQUETWITH MEDIUM INTENSITY, AND SOME DARK FRUIT CHARACTER, IT HAD GOOD SWEETNESS AND BALANCED ACIDITY. STRONG TANNINS WITH A MEDIUM BODY, ALLIED TO SLIGHT AFTER TASTE, GAVE THIS WINE A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR.  THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO2.    2012  RIOJA GRAND RESERVE MARQUES, SPAIN.  13.5% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £12.

THIS WINE NEEDS TO BE AGED FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS FROM BOTTLING, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO CONSIDER THIS 6YEAR OLD WINE, WITH SOME INTEREST. AGED IN FRENCH AND AMERICAN OAK BARRELS, IT IS A BRIGHT HEALTHY LOOKING WINE. INTENSE COLOURING ALLIED TO A RICH RUBY APPEARANCE IT HAS A STRONG PLEASANT BOUQUET.  OUR MEMBERS HAD A NUMBER OF GUESSES AS TO ITS CHARACTER, RANGING FROM CITRUS TO LIQUORICE! SOME SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, AND TART ACIDITY ALLIED TO STRONG TANNINS, GAVE IT MEDIUM BODY AND LASTING FRUIT FLAVOURS.  THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10.

WE QUITE ENJOYED THIS WINE, BUT GIVEN ITS PRICE, WE FELT THAT COMPARED TO THE FIRST WINE, IT WAS NOT GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY.

OUR WINE TASTING GROUP WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, TO WISH ALL OF OUR U3A MEMBERS A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY HEALTHY 2019.