November at John's

                                                                                                        WINE TASTING GROUP

HELD AT JOHN AND SHEILA’S ON 26^TH NOVEMBER 2019, WHERE WE HOPE THAT OUR GUESTS ENJOYED THE HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO 1.     2018  HACHON ROBLE TEMPRANILLO  SPAIN. 13.5% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £6.99.

THIS HEALTHY LOOKING WINE HAD A DEEP INTENSITY AND RED/RUBY APPEARANCE. WITH A PLEASANT BOUQUET , IT HAD A MEDIUM INTENSITY AND CHARACTER. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE NOTICEABLE SWEETNESS, BUT HAD VERY TART ACIDITY, PLENTY OF TANNINS AND GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH.THE FLAVOUR DID LAST, AND THIS OFFERING ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. 

WINE NO2.     2018  CHENAS COLLIN-BOURISSET BEAUJOLAIS  FRANCE.  13.5%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £7.99.

THIS SEASONAL WINE HAS A BRIGHT HEALTHY APPEARANCE WITH STRONG RUBY COLOURS. A PLEASANT OAKY BOUQUET WITH STRONG INTENSITY, IT HAS GOOD SWEETNESS TASTING, AND BALANCED ACIDITY. STRONG TANNINS AND MEDIUM BODY ALLIED TO A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH,GAVE IT A LASTING FLAVOUR. WE FOUND IT DIFFICULT IDENTIFYING THIS WINE WHICH ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10.  

THE WINE GROUP WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OF OUR READERS A GOOD, HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

                                                                               JOHN BENFIELD.

...

October

HELD AT DAVE & MOLLY’S ON 29^TH OCTOBER 2019, WHERE WE WERE MADE VERY WELCOME. WE ALSO HAD, ALONG WITH THE EXCELLENT FOOD,  A SPECIAL OFFERING OF AN EXTRA UNIQUE WINE, WHICH WHEN REVIEWED RESULTED IN SOME AMUSEMENT!

WINE NO1.   2018 VALLE DE ACONCAGUA PINOT NOIR CHILE.  13.5%VOL.   PURCHASED FROM ASDA  AT £6.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            WITH A RATHER WEEK INTENSITY NIGHTS GIVE IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS, THIS WINE HAS A BRIGHT HEALTHY APPEARANCE, AND PALE INTENSITY AND RED/RUBY COLOUR.  A GOOD BOUQUET  ALLIED TO WEAK INTENSITY AND VARIED CHARACTER, IT HAD SOME SWEETNESS AND BALANCED ACIDITY.  THERE WERE  TANNINS AND IT HAD A LIGHT BODY. A LITTLE FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH AND SOME LASTING FLAVOUR MADE THIS AN INTERESTING DRINK. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8.5/10. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO2.  2018 TRIVENTO RESERVE MALBEC, MENDOZA WINDS, ARGENTINA. 14%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £6.

NAMED AFTER THE THREE WINDS, THE POLAR,ZONDA AND SUDESWELL THIS WINE HAS BALANCED TANNINS NOTES. THIS IS A BRIGHT CRIMSON COLOUR AND HAS PLEASANT PLUM AND RASPBERRY AROMAS. IT HAS A VELVETY FINISH WITH GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR.  WE GAVE THIS WINE AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.3/10. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOOD VALUE.

                                                                                                                         JOHN BENFIELD.

September meeting

HELD AT JACK & JOANS ON 24^TH SEPT. 2019, WHERE WE WERE MADE VERY WELCOME, AND ENJOYED THEIR HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO1.   2018 OYSTER BAY MERLOT HAWKES BAY NEW ZEALAND. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £8.

THIS OFFERING HAD A VERY HEALTHY APPEARANCE WITH A RUBY TONES. THE BOUQUETWITH BALANCED ACIDITY AND LITTLE TANNINS. WAS CLEAN WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY AND A VARIED CHARACTER. A LITTLE SWEETNESS WAS EVIDENT. IT HAD A MEDIUM BODY, AND FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUT, WITH A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. IT SCORED AN AVERAGE 7/10 AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PLEASANT OFFERING.

 WINE NO2. 2014 MONTELCIEGO RIOJA SPAIN. 13.5%.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £8.

WITH A BRIGHT RUBY APPEARANCE OF DEEP INTENSITY, THIS POPULAR WINE FROM SPAIN HAS GOOD DEEP AROMAS OF MEDIUM INTENSITY, AND BALANCED ACIDITY.THERE WERE TANNINS EVIDENT WITH SOME SWEETNESS.WITH A MEDIUM BODY AND GOOD FRUIT TASTE, THIS WINE HAD GOOD LASTING FLAVOURS. IT  ATTRACTED THE SAME AVERAGE SCORE AS THE FIRST OFFERING OF 7/10, AND WE ALSO THOUGHT IT A GOOD BUY.

                                                                    JOHN BENFIELD.

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.