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

September

WINE TASTING GROUP.   HELD AT BRIAN AND PAT’S ON TUESDAY  16^TH SEPTEMBER 2016.

IN EXCELLENT WEATHER, WE ENJOYED AN AL FRESCO AFTERNOON, WITH GOOD WINE AND EXCELLENT FOOD.

WINE NO. 1.   2015  JACOBS CREEK CLASSIC SHIRAZ.  SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA.                             13.9 %  VOL.                                                     PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £5.50.

THIS MEDIUM BODIED WINE, WITH OAKY PLUM, PEPPER AND SPICY FRUIT FLAVOURS, AND IS A PRODUCT OF THE FAMOUSJACOBS CREEK VINEYARD ESTABLISHED SINCE1847. WITH A BRIGHT, HEALTHY APPEARANCE, IT HAD A VERY PLEASANT BOUQUET, AND MEDIUM INTENSITY. THERE WAS GOOD SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, AND BALANCED ACIDITY. GOOD LASTING FLAVOURS, WITH A PLEASANT FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH, THIS WINE WAS ENJOYED, RECOMMENDED AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10.

WINE NO. 2.    2015   ANAKENA  CABERNET SAUVIGNON.     CHILE.                                                                  13% VOL.                                                      PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS  AT  £4.75.

FROM THE AWARD WINNING ANAKENA WINERY NESTLED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS. A FULL BODIED WINE WITH BRAMBLE AND PLUM CHARACTERS, IT HAS A RICH PALATE WITH A LINGERING FINISH.WITH A DEEP INTENSITY AND RICH RED COLOUR, IT HAD A PLEASANT MEDIUM BOUQUET,AND A GOOD STRONG SWEETNESS IN THE MOUTH.BALANCED ACIDITY, AND A MEDIUM BODY. STRONG LONG LASTING FLAVOUR,PRODUCED A GOOD REACTION AND THIS WINE ALSO ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10 . RECOMMENDED.

WINE TASTING GROUP.   HELD AT JOHN AND SHEILA’S ON TUESDAY 20^TH SEPTEMBER 2016.

A VERY PLEASANT AFTERNOON AT MY HOUSE, WITH (WE HOPE) GOOD HOSPITALTY.

WINE NO. 1.        2015  HAWKES BAY  SYRAH.   NEW ZEALAND.                                                                         12.5% VOL.                                                      PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £9.

GROWN IN ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIUM RED WINE AREAS, IN NORTH ISLAND, THIS OFFERING HAS CONCENTRATION,BALANCE AND COMPLEXITY. A HEALTHY APPEARANCE WITH DEEP RUBY COLOUR, IT CERTAINLY TAXED MEMBERS TASTE BUDS. ONE OF US THOUGHT THAT IT HAD FLAVOURS OF XMAS PUD! WITH LITTLE SWEETNESS AND SLIGHTLY TART TASTE,IT HAD GOOD TANNINS AND STRONG FRUIT FLAVOURS. THE LENGTH DID LAST, AND THIS WINE  ATTRACTING AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8..210. IT WAS ENJOYED BY US. RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO. 2.     2011  SOLIGAMAR RIOJA.  CALIFICADA SPAIN.                                                                           14% VOL.                                                          PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £9.

THIS 5 YEAR OLD WINE, FROM CALIFICADA, HAD A PLEASANT GOOD , BRIGHT RED APPEARANCE, WITH A PLEASANT BOUQUET . AND STRONG FRUIT FLAVOURS. THERE WAS SWEETNESS IN THE MOUTH, BALANCED ACIDITY AND TANNINS. THE BODY WAS LIGHT, AND THE FLAVOUR LASTED. WE DID NOT ENJOY THIS WINE AS MUCH AS THE FIRST ONE BUT IT DID ATTRACT A REASONABLE SCORE OF 7.3/10.

PRODUCED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.3

                                                                                                                                                         JJOHN BENFIELD.