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.    

August & September

WINE TASTING GROUP.

THE MEETING WAS HELD BY JENNY, AT PAT’S HOUSE, ON 14^TH AUGUST 2018, WHERE WE ENJOYED AN EXCELLENT AFTERNOON WITH GOOD FOOD AND GREAT HOSPITALITY.

WINE NO 1.  2017  WINE OF SOUTH AFRICA, SWARTLAND. PINOTAGE.  14.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £6.50.

FIRST GROWN BY PROF. PEROLD AT STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY THIS GRAPE WAS ALMOST LOST FOREVER WHEN THE GARDEN IT WAS IN BECAME OVERGROWN AND A NEW GARDENER LOOKED TO DESTROY IT. HOWEVER A YOUNG LECTURER SAVED IT, AND THIS SMOOTH AND COMPLEX WINE HAS BEEN A FAVOURITE EVER SINCE IT WAS CULTIVATED COMMERCIALLY. THIS RUBY COLOURED OFFERING, HAD A GOOD BRIGHT APPEARANCE AND MEDIUM INTENSITY. A GOOD BOUQUET WITH FRUITY SWEET TASTE ON THE TONGUE, ALLIED TO BALANCED ACIDITY, AND LIGHT TANNINS, MADE FOR A GOOD LASTING DRINK. ENJOYED AND RECOMMENDED, THIS WINE ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10.

WINE NO.  2015 GRAND VIN SAINT EMILLION GRAND CRU FRANCE 13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FRO MORRISONS AT £10.99. WITH A HEALTHY DEEP INTENSITY AND STRONG RUBY APPEARANCE, THIS OFFERING HAD NO SWEETNESS ON THE FRONT BUT HAD A PLEASANT BOUQUET. VERY TART ACIDITY ALLIED TO LOTS OF TANNINS GAVE THIS WINE A SHARP TASTE WHICH WAS NOT PARTICULARLY POPULAR. IT ATTACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 6.5/10.

THE GROUP MET AT JACK AND JOANS ON TUES 11^TH SEPTEMBER 2018, WHERE WE RECEIVED THEIR GOOD, WELCOME HOSPITALITY, WITH FINE FOOD, WITH OUR WINE.

WINE NO1.  2016 VINALBA MALBEC ARGENTINA. 14%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £8. WITH A VERY HEALTHY APPEARANCE AND DEEP INTENSITY, THIS WINE HAS A PURPLE APPEARANCE, WITH A GOOD CONDITION. WITH STRONG AROMAS OF DARK FRUIT AND VANILLA,THIS WINE HAS A DRY TASTE, BALANCED ACIDITY, AND SOME TANNINS. THE FLAVOUR DOES LAST AND ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.5/10. A PLEASANT WINE.

WINE NO2.   2016 APOTHIC RED BLEND OF ZINFANDEL,SYRAH,CAB SAV.AND MERLOT, CALIFORNIA USA. 13%VOL. PURCHASED FROM MORRISONS AT £9. WITH LAYERS OF DARK RED FRUIT AND HINTS OF VANILLA AND MOCHA THIS OFFERING HAS A GOOD HEALTHY APPEARANCE ALLIED TO A DEEP INTENSITY.   RUBY/PURPLE COLOUR ALLIED TO A PLEASANT PLUM/CHOCOLATE CHARACTER, GIVE THIS WINE A STRONG SWEETNESS ON THE TONGUE. VERY BALANCED ACIDITY AND LOTS OF TANNINS WITH A MEDIUM BODY AND LASTING FLAVOUR THIS OFFERING MET WITH A MIXED REACTION FROM OUR MEMBERS. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7.4.  A GOOD DRINK.

                                                               JOHN BENFIELD

June and July wine groups

WINE TASTING GROUP.  THE MEETING WAS HELD AT RAY & JUNE’S ON TUESDAY 12^TH JUNE 2018, ON A LOVELY DAY, WHEN OUR HOSTS ENTERTAINED US WITH EXCELLENT FOOD AND WINE.

WINE  NO.1  

 2016   JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ PADTHAWAY AUSTRALIA.  14.5%VOL.  PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £11. GROWN ON 350 MILLION YEAR OLD GRANITE,  THIS FAMILY OWNED VINYARD, GROWS ON OLD ANCIENT SOILS AND BENEFITS FROM A MARITIME CLIMATE LOVED BY THE SHIRAZ GRAPE. WE FOUND THIS OFFERING TO HAVE A VERY HEALTHY SIGHT, A PLEASANT BOUQUET AND DEEP INTENSITY.  PLUM OVERTONES, WITH A SWEET INTENSITY AND BALANCED ACIDITY, MADE FOR A VERY PLEASANT OFFERING. THE FLAVOUR LASTED WELL, AND IT GAVE A GOOD STRONG FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THIS WINE ATTRACTED A VERY HIGH AVERAGE SCORE OF 8.5./10  RECOMMENDED.  

WINE NO2.  

  2016  HARDYS 1853 ANNIVERSARY SHIRAZ.  REYNELLA, SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA.  13.5%VOL. PURCHASED FROM WAITROSE AT £6.99. FONDED IN 1853 THIS FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN VINYARD HAS BEEN OFFERING EXCELLENT WINES SINCE THE 19^TH CENTURY. WITH SOFT SPICY, RASPBERRY AND CHERRY FLAVOURS, THIS WINE HAD A SLIGHTLY HAZY APPEARANCE, WITH MEDIUM INTENSITY AND A RUBY COLOUR. A PLEASANT BOUQUET, IT HAD A NUMBER OF FRUIT CHARACTERS, NO SWEETNESS AND A TART TASTE. LOTS OF TANINS GAVE IT A HEAVY BODY AND GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH.THE FLAVOUR DID NOT LAST.  THIS WINE DID NOT APPEAL TO MOST OF US BUT IT DID ATTRACT AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/1O.

THE WINE TASTING GROUP MET AT OUR HOUSE ON TUESDAY 17^TH JULY 2018, AND

WINE NO1. 

2016  MARCO TEMPRANILLO SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA.  14%VOL.   PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £6.                                        

WITH A BRIGHT HEALTHY APPEARANCE THIS WINE HAD A STRONG RUBY COLOURING, AND MEDIUM INTENSITY. A GOOD BOUQUET AND PLUM CHARACTER. IT SHOWED GOOD SWEETNESS, LOTS OF TANNINS WITH A LIGHT BODY AND GAVE THIS OFFERING A LIGHT AND BALANCED ACIDITY.SOME FRUIT TASTE GAVE THE WINE A GOOD LASTING FLAVOUR. WE GAVE THIS WINE AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 7/10. THIS WINE WAS NOT HUGELY RECOMMENDED.

WINE NO2.

2014  CARLES PRIORAT MERLOT/GRENACHE/CAB SAUVIGNON BLEND, SPAIN. 14%VOL. PURCHASED FROM LIDL AT £8.

A BRIGHT HEALTHY LOOKING WINE, THIS RED/RUBY OFFERING HAD A GOOD PLEASANT BOUQUET WITH  MEDIUM INTENSITY. IT HAS BALANCED ACIDITY AND LITTLE TANNINS. THE BODY FELT MEDIUM AND THERE WAS A GOOD FRUIT TASTE IN THE MOUTH. THE FLAVOUR LASTED AND WE PREFERRED IT TO THE FIRST OFFERING. IT ATTRACTED AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 8/10 AND IS RECOMMENDED.

                                                                                                         JOHN BENFIELD.