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.

Sept and Oct wine group

WINE TASTING GROUP.

HELD AT PAT’S AND HOSTED BY JENNY ON TUESDAY 19^TH SEPT 2017, WHERE WE HAD A GOOD AFTERNOON OF EXCELLENT HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO. 1.  2015 MALBEC GRAFFIGNA ARGENTINA.  14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM TESCO AT £6.50.

PRODUCED SINCE 1870, IN VINYARDS SITUATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ANDES, THIS OFFERING HAS AN ELEGANT AND INTENSE BOUQUET, WITH A VERY HEALTHY APPEARANCE. BLACK FRUIT CHARACTER AND BALANCED ACIDITY. THERE WAS LITTLE TANNIN AND THE BODY WAS LIGHT, BUT IT HAD A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10, AND IS GOOD VALUE.

WINE NO. 2.   2017 MALBEC KUMALA RESERVE. WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA.  14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM TESCO AT£7.50. WITH GRAPES CULTIVATED IN THE AREA OF TABLE MOUNTAIN THIS YOUNG WINE HAD A BRIGHT PURPLE APPEARANCE, AND PLEASANT BOUQUET. SOME BLACK FRUIT FLAVOURS WERE APPARENT, AND GOOD SWEETNESS WAS DETECTED. BALANCED ACIDITY, ALLIED TO STRONG TANNINS GAVE THE WINE A GOOD LONG LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10 AND WAS ENJOYED.

HELD AT JACK AND JOAN’S ON TUESDAY 17^TH  OCT. 2017, WE WERE ENTERTAINED TO A WARM WELCOME WITH EXCELLENT HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO.1.  2016  GERARD BERTRAND RESERVE MERLOT. NARBONNE FRANCE.  14%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £7.FROM COASTAL VINYARDS AND PART TARTLEY AGED IN OAK,THIS BRIGHT, DEEP, RUBY OFFERING HAS A VERY PLEASANT MEDIUM BOUQUET WITH GOOD DARK FRUIT FLAVOURS.GOOD SWEETNESS WAS EVIDENT WITH PLENTY OF ACIDITY AND TANNINS. WITH LASTING FRUIT FLAVOURS, THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10. A GOOD WINE.

WINE NO. 2.  WOLF BLASS YELLOW LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT£7. FROM SELECTED VINYARDS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA THIS OFFERING, PART OF THE VERY POPULAR YELLOW LABEL, HAS A HEALTHY APPEARANCE, RUBY INTENSITY, AND PLEASANT BOUQUET. GOOD SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, A BALANCED ACIDITY, WITH LITTLE TANNINS, THIS LIGHT BODIED WINE HAS GOOD FRUIT TASTES. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. VERY DRINKABLE.

                                                                                 JOHN BENFIELD.

Wine Group update July and August

WINE TASTING GROUP.  HELD AT MOLLY & DAVE’S ON TUESDAY 18^TH JULY 2017. OUR HOSTS DID US PROUD ONCE AGAIN WITH A FINE SELECTION OF CHEESE, BICUITS AND OTHER ACCOUTRAMENTS. A VERY ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON.

WINE NO 1. 2014 McGUIGAN FOUNDERS, SHIRAZ, AUSTRALIA. 13.5% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £8.

THIS WINE FROM THE POPULAR McGUIGAN RANGE MET WITH A MIXED REACTION FROM OUR MEMBERS.WITH DEEP INTENSITY AND A BRIGHT APPEARANCE, A MEDIUM BOUQUET AND A SHARP CITRUS CHARACTER, THERE WAS NO SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE, QUITE TART ACIDITY, AND PLENTY OF TANNINS.  WITH LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.3/10

WINE NO 2.  2015 GRAND RESERVE MERLOT VACLUSE FRANC. 13% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £4.75

A BLEND FROM A NUMBER OF FRENCH GROWERS THIS HEALTHY LOOKING WINE HAD A RICH RUBY APPEARANCE. A MEDIUM BOUQUET ALLIED TO SOME SWEETNESS, IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY BALANCED ACIDITY, SOME TANNINS, AND GOOD FRUIT TASTES.WITH A LASTING AFTERTASTE, THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.5/10. A  VERY PLEASANT OFFERING.

HELD AT JOHN & SHEILA’S ON TUESDAY 29^TH AUGUST, WHERE WE TRIED TO GIVE OUR GUESTS A PLEASANT AFTERNOON.

WINE NO. 1. 2015 DINO ROMAGNA SANGIOVESE SUPERIORE, ITALY. 13.5% VOL.  PURCHASED FROM TESCO AT £6, THIS WINE PROVED POPULAR WITH ALL OF US.  WITH A RUBY APPEARANCE AND HEALTHY INTENSITY, IT HAD A GOOD BOUQUET AND A DARK FRUIT CHARACTER. THERE WAS SOME SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE,BALANCED ACIDITY, PLENTY OF TANNINS, IT HAD A LIGHT BODY WITH A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.9/10.

WINE NO 2.  2016  MOST WANTED SAUVIGNON BLANC MARLBOROUGH NEW ZEALAND. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM ASDA AT £9.

THIS WHITE WINE, A DEPARTURE FROM OUR USUAL REDS, WAS FAVOURABLY RECEIVED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO DOES NOT LIKE WHITE WINE. IT HAS A BRIGHT MEDIUM INTENSITY APPEARANCE WITH A CLEAN BOUQUET. A STRONG CITRUS TASTE WITH TART ACIDITY, IT HAD A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. WITH A LASTING FLAVOUR THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10.

                                                                    JOHN BENFIELD.