NOVEMBER 26TH. 2013.

WINE TASTING GROUP.                   AT DAVE AND MOLLY’S.

We met at Dave and Molly’s and were once again welcomed warmly. They provided an excellent selection of cheese and biscuits to accompany the wines, followed with tea/coffee and biscuits.

WINE NO. 1.  2012  FAIRTRADE MALBEC FROM THE LA RIOJANA WINE COOPERATIVE IN THE FAMATINA VALLEY IN ARGENTINA.  13% vol.   PURCHASED FROM THE COOP AT £8.49.

This wine was a hit with our members and it received an average score of 7.5. We appreciated the spicy overtones, with smooth tannins. A full bodied wine at a reasonable price, this was a very drinkable wine. Originally produced in the French Bordeaux, the malbec grape has become very popular in Argentina.

WINE NO.2.    2013  YELLOWWOOD MOUNTAIN PINOTAGE FROM THE WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA.  13%.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £4.

A very drinkable wine, this one has juicy ripe red berry notes, with a bright red notes, with a bright red medium intensity. Quite a tart wine it had a good lasting flavour. A cross between the Pinot Noir and Cinsault grape this wine is a major player in South Africa. We gave this wine an average score of 6.5. Modesty prevents me from identifying the person who guessed the wine and location !

                                                                                                       JOHN BENFIELD.

Oct Meeting

WINE TASTING  GROUP               22^ND. OCTOBER2013                             AT   RAY & JUNE’S.

The meeting this month was held  at Ray and June’s, who welcomed us with their very warm hospitality, providing us with a good selection of  cheese and biscuits, to accompany the wine.

WINE NO. 1.  2010 SHIRAZ from the WOODBRIDGE winery of Robert Mondavi in Acampo, California USA. Purchased from Morrisons at £7.99.

This wine proved to be very popular with our members, the lowest marking achieving 6 points. It brims with vibrant dark berry flavours, laced with spices from oak aging. We felt that this  wine had a healthy, pleasant appearance, with a medium body and a lasting flavour.  This wine received an average score of 7.5, which reflected our view of it, as a very pleasant drink.

WINE NO. 2.   2011 WINEMASTERS RESERVE SHIRAZ from the NEDERBURG WINERY of Paarl, Western Cape South Africa. Purchased from Morrisons at £5.99.

Another purchase from Morrisons which proved to be very popular with us all. This bright Ruby wine with a pleasant nose, proved to be long lasting in flavour, and was thought to be good value for money. It was medium bodied with a very balanced taste. This classically styled food friendly wine would be excellent with all red meats, with flavours of plum, prunes, and cherries. It also attracted an average score of 7.5.

                                                                                                                                                                                       JOHN  BENFIELD.   

Oct Meeting

WINE TASTING GROUP.  8^TH OCTOBER 2013.       AT JOHN AND SHEILA’S.

We met at John & Sheila’s with a full complement of members and enjoyed two bottles with cheese and biscuit accompanying them.

WINE NO 1.  2012 CAPE HERITAGE SHIRAZ.   FROM THE WINERY OF JAN VAN RIEBEEK NEW COMPANY GARDENS SOUTH AFRICA. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT SPECIAL OFFER PRICE OF £4.99.

This wine has a bright ruby red colour with aromas of red berries and spices, and was enjoyed by most although it did not suit the palate of one member. We felt that it was a pleasant smelling wine with a medium intensity, and a lasting flavour.  However it scored an average score of 7 which indicated that most members were happy with it. This wine is best drunk fairly young.

WINE NO. 2.   2012  WOLF BLASS WINEMAKERS SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON. PRODUCED BY WOLF BLASS WINES  STURT HIGHWAY, NURIOOTPA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

                            PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT SPECIAL OFFER OF £4.99.

This wine has a good long lasting flavour with strong fruit taste,a pleasant ruby colour,with quite sweet overtones. A fairly deep clarity was accompanied  with some tannins, this wine is a marriage of the Cabernet Franc  and Sauvignon Blanc wines. This wine was popular with everyone and scored an average of 7.8 from members.

                                                                                                              JOHN BENFIELD.     

WINE TASTING GROUP. AUGUST 27TH 2013. AT BRIAN AND PAT’S.

We met at Brian and Pat’s on a lovely day and were all pleased to see that we would be enjoying our wine out on their patio. An excellent selection of cheese and biscuits accompanied our wine.
WINE NO. 1. WHITE 2012 PINOT GRIGIO from the TURNING LEAF vineyards of California USA, purchased from Morrisons at £4.99.
This wine is crisp and fruity with apple and pear overtones. It was very favourably received by the whole group, and was a first for our group, with a maximum score of 10,from one member. We all felt that it was a bright clear wine, with a balanced light feel to it. The overall average score was also our highest to date receiving a 9.25. Needless to say, we all felt that this wine was an excellent buy, at this price.

WINE NO. 2. RED 2012 BANKSIDE SHIRAZ from the HARDY ESTATE vineyards of South Eastern Australia. Purchased from Morrisons at £5.29.
With a very balanced deep intensity, this wine had a good acidity, plenty of tannins, and a deep intensity, with a pleasant smell. It had a good lasting flavour. The BANKSDE wines are a tribute to the cellars that were started by Thomas Hardy in 1853, making this vineyard, one of the oldest in Australia. We all enjoyed this wine which attracted an average score of 7.8.
John

July Meeting

WINE TASTING GROUP.

The group met at Jack & Joan’s for a very pleasant afternoon where we all enjoyed our host’s warm hospitality, with cheese and biscuits, followed after the wine tasting, with tea.

WINE NO 1.    2008  CHIANTI CLASSICO FROM CASTELINA ITALY. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £7.99.

This wine is a rich full bodied, spicy, red wine, produced in the heartland of the Chianti region in Tuscany, between Florence and Sienna. This wine has been aged in oak barrels to produce the rich flavours. We generally liked this wine with its tart taste, pleasant smell and good lasting  flavours. It produced an average score of 7, and we ,in the main said that we would happily drink it again.

WINE NO. 2.   2012  CAHORS MALBEC FROM LANDIRAS  FRANCE.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £7.99.

This healthy looking deeply intense wine grown in the Bordeaux region has an easy drinking style with strong fruit flavours, and peppery undertones. It had a deep purple colouring, fairly strong nose,with a good long lasting aftertaste. This wine also attracted an average score of 7. None of us managed to identify the country of origin or the grape, but it was enjoyed.

                                                                                                                            JOHN BENFIELD.  

WINE TASTING GROUP TUESDAY 18TH JUNE.

The Wine Tasting Group was hosted by Jenny at Brian and Pat’s, and we were fortunate to enjoy the weather outside. An excellent selection of cheese and biscuits accompanied the wines.

WINE NO 1 was a 2011 French Malbec from the La Patrie vineyard in Cahors This wine grown in the Bordeaux region of France, has fruity flavours with slightly peppery undertones. It  produced a lot of varied comments as our members found it difficult to assess this complex wine.One member really enjoyed it, but the general feeling was that it was a slightly disappointing wine.

It received an average score of 5.5. This wine was purchased from Sainsburys on offer at £5.99.

WINE NO 2 was a 2005 Spanish Monastrell Gran Reserva  from the Jumilla vineyard, in southern Spain.This wine was preferred to the first one. It has a full bodied fruit aroma and intense flavours of plum and vanilla. We all found it difficult to guess its origin and wine type, only one of us naming the country it came from, but we enjoyed it. We were amazed at the price of this 8 year old wine. It was on special offer from Sainsburys at £5.99, and our group gave it an average score of 7.

The afternoon was rounded off with tea and biscuits, and a good time was had by all.

JOHN BENFIELD.

WINE TASTING GROUP. TUESDAY 28TH MAY 2013.

THE GROUP MET AT DAVE & MOLLY’S WHERE WE HAD AN EXCELLENT AFTERNOON WITH GREAT HOSPITALITY FROM OUR HOSTS.

WINE NO.1.

 THIS WINE WAS A 2011 PINOT NOIR FROM THE BRANCOTT ESTATE MARLBOROUGH NEW ZEALAND, PURCHASED AT ASDA AT AN OFFER PRICE OF £6.98. THE WINE IS FROM SOUTH ISLAND WHICH AT ONE TIME WAS THOUGHT TO BE TOO COLD TO GROW WINE GRAPES. THE WINE HAS SOFT VELVETY TANNINS WITH RIPE BERRY FRUIT FLAVOURS. WE ALL ENJOYED THIS TART, LIGHT BODIED WINE WHICH HAD A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS RED WINE GRAPE IS GROWN EXTENSIVELY IN FRANCE AND IS BEST DRUNK YOUNG. WE GAVE IT AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.

WINE NO. 2.

THIS WINE WAS A 2011 MALBEC FROM THE LA PIEDRA LEON VINYARD IN THE VALLE CENTRAL AREA OF CHILE. PUCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £7.49. THIS GRAPE ORIGINATED FROM THE FRENCH BORDEAUX REGION, AND PRODUCES A WINE WITH FRUITY FLAVOURS AND SLIGHTLY PEPPERY UNDERTONES. IT HAS VIBRANT AROMAS OF BLACK FRUIT, SUCH AS PLUMS. WE ALL FELT THAT THIS WAS A HEALTHY WINE WITH A DEEP INTENSITY, MEDIUM BODIED, WITH A LONG LASTING FLAVOUR. OUR GROUP ALSO ENJOYED THIS WINE AND GAVE IT AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.4.

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HOSTED BY JENNY AT PAT AND BRIAN’S, ON TUESDAY 18^TH JUNE 2013.