Dunmow

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting December 2022

Meeting kindly hosted by Debbie

Our Christmas themed meeting was once again hosted by Debbie.
We enjoyed some interesting wines – all sparkling!!
We also had a fine seasonal buffet (including mince pies).

The wines:-
Wine No. 1
Full name of wine Piper Heidsieck champagne (France). Brut Divin Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
Colour sparkling white
Appearance white
Smell/taste notes of toasted brioche, almond, yellow plum, nectarine, ginger.
Percentage alcohol 12%
Where purchased and cost Tesco £36 reduced to £19.50
Other information
Champagne can only be made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes.
It has yellow gold colour with emerald hues, sparkling and crystal-clear. An effervescence of fine and elegant bubbles, the nose is mineral, followed by floral notes of white nettle and hazelnut blossom. Then come fruity hints of plum and touches of almond and barley. A light finish of meringue, white pepper and warm spices. Grape: chardonnay.
• More bold than light.
• More acidic than soft.
• More fizzy than gentle.

Wine No. 2
Full name of wine Premier Cru Brut Champagne (France)
Colour sparkling white
Appearance white
Percentage alcohol 12.5%
Where purchased and cost Tesco £23 reduced to £17.25
Other information
Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes with extra long ageing in bottle. This extra maturation makes for elegant flavours of citrus, green apple and brioche with a fine mousse. Serve with canapes or fish and chips.

Wine No. 3
Full name of wine Maschio Prosecco Extra Dry (Italy)
Colour sparkling white
Appearance light straw yellow
Smell/taste apple, pear, peach, citrus, lemon, grapefruit, biscuit, almond, toast
Percentage alcohol 11%
Where purchased and cost Tesco £10 reduced to £7.50
Other information
From Veneto region of Italy, north of Treviso. Grape: Glera (min 85%). “fresh, light and lively style”.
This prosecco has “crisp acidity, low sugar, plenty of fruit and character”.
Good with appetisers and snacks, cured meat, vegetarian dishes and shellfish.

Wine No. 4
Full name of wine Gratien & Meyer, Cremant de Loire Brut Rose (France)
Colour sparkling rose
Appearance salmon to tangerine
Smell/taste strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, citrus, lime, lemon, apple, pear, peach.
Percentage alcohol 12%
Where purchased and cost Tesco £12 reduced to £9
Other information
“Elegant and authentic, this Cremant de Loire offers you a tasting of pure tradition” (Tesco website). Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chemin Blanc, Cabernet Franc.
Cremant is used to designate France’s finest, dry sparkling wines made outside the Champagne region using the same labour-intensive traditional method of secondary fermentation in bottle. Cremant is aged on lees, giving toasty and brioche-like notes. Although made in the same way as champagne, these wines sell for much less, making them a great value alternative for celebrations and special occasions. Ideal for drinking now but can be kept for up to one year. “Love the dry crispness” (online review). Food pairing: lean fish, poultry, appetisers and snacks, shellfish.

Wine No. 5
Full name of wine Kylie Minogue Prosecco Rose (Italy)
Colour sparkling rose
Appearance peachy orange
Smell/taste strawberries, raspberries, red fruit, peach, melon, apple, citrus, lemon, orange.
Percentage alcohol 11%
Where purchased and cost Tesco £12 reduced to £9
Other information
From Veneto region of Italy. Grape: Glera, Pinot Noir. Some negative reviews online: “bland”, “doesn’t taste like anything”. Food pairing: lamb, beef, poultry and spicy food.

 
Wine No. 6
Full name of wine Lambrusco Emilia
Colour sparkling red
Percentage alcohol 11.5%)
Where purchased and cost Sainsburys £5.50
Rating (eg 2/10)
Other information
(I couldn’t find out any more!)

Wine No. 7
Full name of wine McGuigan Black Label Premium Release Sparkling Shiraz (Australia)
Colour sparkling red
Appearance dark red
Smell/taste plum, blackberry, jam, cherry, raspberry, red fruit and chocolate
Percentage alcohol 13%
Where purchased and cost Sainsburys £7.50
Other information
From South Eastern Australia. “Great Shiraz flavours of plum, cherry and chocolate. These rich characters coupled with fine bubbles deliver a delightful and refreshing dry wine that is perfect when served chilled as an aperitif, with white meat dishes or simply shared with friends” (Sainsbury’s website). “Very rich and fruity, lovely deep cherry flavours with a smooth finish” (online review). Grapes: Shiraz/Syrah, Reisling. Food pairing: lamb, salmon, tuna, beef, poultry, pork, medium and hard cheese.

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting November 2022

Meeting kindly hosted by Jenny & Phil

We had a fun evening, with a difference. For this meeting we were not trying to identify the wine, grape or region - we were told all of this. We had to guess the price range. It is fair to say that we were not always correct, and sometimes were far from it. So price can not alone guarantee a high rating with our group!
The wines tasted were:-

WINE DETAILS SHEET
Wine No. 1
Full name of wine Thornicher St Michael Mosel Riesling 2021 (Germany)
Colour White
Appearance Gold
Smell/taste apple, peach, apricot, citrus, lemon, lime, honey, minerals, stone
Percentage alcohol 10.5%
Where purchased and cost Lidl £4.99
Your Rating x/10
Other information
“Fans of medium-dry Riesling might want to try [this wine]”. Victoria Moore, Daily Telegraph.
White wine from Mosel, Germany. Top 5% of world’s wines. Grape: Riesling. Taste: halfway between bold and light, more dry than sweet, more acidic than soft. Food pairings: poultry, cured meat, pork, spicy food, shellfish.
Online review: “Incredible value. Citrus on the nose and lovely apple and plum palette, nice minerals too. Lovely as an aperitif with snacks”.
Lidl notes: Mosel Riesling is so well suited to modern lifestyle – naturally low in alcohol, low in calories and highly versatile. Delicate, peach aromas. Pure, bright fruit and off-dry. Enjoy with chicken korma or chicken with creamy sauces.

 
WINE DETAILS SHEET
Wine No. 2
Full name of wine Cellier de la Sabliere Chablis 2020 (France)
Colour White
Appearance Lemon
Smell/taste citrus, lemon, lime, apple, pear, green apple, also minerals, honey, stone: ”mineral and flinty accents”
Percentage alcohol 12.5%
Where purchased and cost Luckins £18.50
Your Rating x/10
Other information
A white wine from the Chablis region, the most northerly wine growing region in Burgundy. This region produces dry white wines made from Chardonnay. Rating of 3.9 (Good) on Vivino app. Average price £36.95. Among top 5% of all wines in the world. Taste: midway between light and bold; quite dry (not sweet); acidic (not soft). Grape = chardonnay. Good with fish, soft cheese, pork and shellfish.
Louis Jadot produces a fuller, fatter style of Chablis.
An inviting wine, made from Chardonnay grapes. Made with added sulphites but suitable for vegetarian dishes. Perfect with simply prepared seafood, chicken and salads. This very elegant Chablis is bursting with white flower and stone fruits aromas. Round and subtle on the palate, this wine has a long finish with a stony character and a fresh acidity that leaves you wanting more.

 
WINE DETAILS SHEET
Wine No. 3
Full name of wine Cabernet D’Anjou 2021 (France)
Colour Rose
Appearance bright and clear, a shimmering rosewood colour, bright orange-red with cherry-red highlights
Smell notes of red berry fruits (particularly strawberries and redcurrants), roses and fruit drops. Persistent aromas of grenadine and citrus fruit
Taste bursting with flavour, roses are smooth and rounded with a vibrant tang to refresh the finish. Honey, earthy, minerals, white pepper
Percentage alcohol 11%
Where purchased and cost Lidl £6.99
Your Rating x/10
Other information
From Cabernet d’Anjou in France. Two grapes: Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. In top 13% of wines in the world. Food pairing: lamb, mild & soft cheese, beef, game (deer, venison), poultry, pork and spicy food. A chilled Cabernet d’Anjou can soothe the palate after fiery, spicy foods. Complements a range of flavours, versatile enough to be served with both sweet and savoury dishes. An elegant, aromatic rose whose finesse is apparent from the very first sniff.

 
WINE DETAILS SHEET
Wine No. 4
Full name of wine Cloitre des Capucins Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2019 (France)
Colour Red
Appearance Deep red
Smell/taste blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, oak, vanilla, chocolate, leather, charcoal, earthy
Percentage alcohol 14%
Where purchased and cost Luckins £19.80
Your Rating x/10
Other information
A very elegant wine which features aromas of red berries, ripe cherries and toasted vanilla. The wine is aged for twelve months in French oak barrels. Red wine from Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France. Price £28.99. Rating 3.7. Taste: Bold (rather than light), midway between tannic and smooth, dry, more acidic than soft. Online reviews include “a little sharp, a little bland” and “rich, deep and smooth; dry and oaky with fruity notes; wraps around your mouth with a nice lingering aftertaste”. In the top 16% of wines worldwide. Food pairings: lamb, beef, game (deer, venison), poultry. Five grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

 
WINE DETAILS SHEET
Wine No. 5
Full name of wine Carinena Monte Plogar Gran Reserva 2016 (Spain)
Colour Red
Appearance Deep red
Smell/taste oak, vanilla, chocolate, blackberry, plum, black fruit, leather, earthy, smoke
Percentage alcohol 13.5%
Where purchased and cost Lidl £4.99
Your Rating x/10
Other information
“Smoky oak is very much part of the style of this red, also reminiscent of figs and dried cranberries. Try it with sausage and bean casserole.” Victoria Moore, Daily Telegraph.
Aged in oak barrels, hence the strong aromas of smoky oak. Mature, with flavours of dried fruit and smoky oak.
Red wine from Carinena, Spain. In top 25 Spanish red wines in UK, and top 10% of wines worldwide. Rating 3.7, price £4.74. Taste: more bold than light, slightly more tannic than smooth, rather dry, more soft than acidic. Food pairings: veal, beef, roast chicken, chickpea casserole, pasta. Three grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Garnacha. Medium ruby red bouquet cherries, blackcurrant, spices, hint of cinnamon taste, medium body, cherries, sour cherries, spices, slightly higher acidity, medium to longer finish.

 
WINE DETAILS SHEET
Wine No. 6
Full name of wine Outlook Bay Reserve Pinot Noir 2020 (Marlborough, New Zealand)
Colour Red
Appearance Pale ruby red
Smell/taste overripe strawberry, cranberry with earthy notes, cherry, red fruit, strawberry, smoke, leather, earthy, clove, tobacco, oak
Percentage alcohol 13%
Where purchased and cost Lidl £9.99
Your Rating x/10
Other information
“Good with duck roasted with colourful root veg, mushroom risotto or slow-roasted shoulder of pork.” Victoria Moore, Daily Telegraph.
Rating 3.2, Price £10.54. Red wine from Marlborough, New Zealand Grape: Pinot Noir. Taste: more light than bold, more smooth than tannic, more dry than sweet, halfway between acidic and soft. Light and refreshing, with piquant raspberry and strawberry fruits.
New Zealand has received a lot of attention for their red stunning, world class Sauvignon Blanc wines, but maybe their most exciting wine is Pinot Noir, which is currently the most successful red grape in NZ. This is an authentic, perfumed example from the dramatic vineyards of Central Otago. These wines are fresh and thoughtful, brimming with fresh red cherries, fresh cut roses, and a little bit of red earth. A fleshy, well balanced and warming wine with a dry finish. Food pairings: veal, beef, game (deer, venison), poultry, seared salmon, tuna, fresh tomato pasta dishes or wild mushroom tart.
Online reviews: “nice finish”, “bitter aftertaste” and “pale ruby colour … very drinkable”. In top 40% of world wines.

WINE DETAILS SHEET
Wine No. 7
Full name of wine Domaine de Grange Neuve 2011 Monbazillac (France)
Colour Dessert wine
Appearance Gold
Smell/taste honey, earthy, mushroom, apricot, peach, apple, marmalade, citrus, lemon
Percentage alcohol 13%
Where purchased and cost Luckins £12.50
Your Rating x/10
Other information
Dessert wine from Monbazillac, France. Rating 3.8, Price £12.95. In top 8% of all world wines. Grape: Semillon. Food pairings: rich fish (salmon, tuna), sweet desserts, shellfish.
A fabulous dessert wine, sweet and luscious, which balances dryness with considerable sweetness. The wine, rich in honey and marmalade flavours, is opulent, decadent, and ready to drink. The wine has a great backbone of fine acidity for a clean finish. The nose is fresh with classic botrytis marmalade and ripe nectarine and melon, flavours on the palate are richer, honey and toffee finishing with a twist of bitter orange zest.

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting Octber 2022

Meeting kindly hosted by Sonia and Family

Eleven members and 2 guests enjoyed white and red wines, not purchased in a local supermarket, but purchased in South West France, the white wines at Chateau Monbazillac in the Cote de Bergerac and the red wines from the Bordeaux Region but purchased at a Wine Fair in Lilande, Dordogne. The thinking behind these tastings was to discover a more refined appreciation of the wine produced in these two regions which are geographically almost adjoining.

The three whites were:
EUPHONIE BERGERAC SEC 2021, the grape blend Sauvignon blanc and Semillon;
EUPHONIE - COTES DE BERGERAC 2021 grape Sauvignon blanc (this wine won gold at Concours Bordeaux 2022).
SECRET DE M BERGERAC SEC 2019. This wine produced in a small Cote de Bergerac vineyard without the marketing wherewithal, was brought under the wing of Chateau Monbazillac. Members attempted to name the grape as the label was unhelpful.

The three reds were:
Vineyard: Vedelago Bordeaux Chateau Histoire de France
PUISSEGUIN-SAINT-EMILION 2018 Merlot grape
Vineyard: Chateau de la Lambertie
BALADE EN 2CV 2018 Awarded Silver in Paris in 2019. Once again, due to unhelpful labelling, members attempted to name the grape/grape blend.
Vinyard: Vignobles Ducau
CLOS GRAOUERES GRAVES 2018 Grape Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Members enjoyed sampling these wines, and voted practically unanimously EUPHONIE BERGERAC SEC 2021 as the most enjoyable white and CLOS GRAOUERES GRAVES 2019 as the most enjoyable red.

The meeting was hosted by Sonia, and thanks also go to Dr and Mrs Pratt for the use of their home for this wine tasting.

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting September 2022

A selection of wines from the Old world (Italy) and the New (Australia)
All purchased from Tesco. Price in brackets is the clubcard price at the time of purchase
1. McGuigan Reserve Pinot Grigio Australia 2021 12% £7.00 (6.00)
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● Our Reserve Pinot Grigio is a refreshing and delightful wine, displaying vibrant tropical fruit and pear flavours that are complemented by a crisp, clean and well balanced finish.
● A perfect partner to a fresh prawn salad or a light vegetarian pasta

2. Feudi Falanghina Italy 2020 13% £7.75

● This crisp and complex wine has been crafted by Feudi using native Falanghina grapes from Campania and small batch production methods. Some lees ageing gives added depth to the perfectly balanced flavours of orange peel, stone fruit, acacia flowers, and leaves a deliciously long fresh finish.
● Enjoy with simple seafood dishes such as fish pie.

3. Tingleup Reisling Australia 2021 13% £9.00 (6.25)

● Made by Howard Park, one of Western Australia's most celebrated wine producers, from grapes carefully cultivated in the Great Southern region. Through all of the wine making stages Riesling grapes are managed under cool temperatures, allowing them to retain natural crisp, refreshing lime and citrus flavours with subtle hints of white pepper.
● A natural pairing for Asian food.

4. Piccini Memoro Italia Italy ? 14% £8.00 (7.00)

● "Memoro Italia", Latin for Remember Italy, was born as a cuvée wine from our family's Italian pride and created as a tribute to our country's exceptional wine-making legacy and love of life.
● Intense flavours of ripe plums, sweet spices and aromas of rich fruitcake. The wine is made from slightly dried grapes, a technique used to increase the flavour complexity. Silky tannins leading to a long and generous finish.
● Enjoy at 18°C with red meats, richly-flavoured foods and strong cheeses.

5. Aprimondo Appassimento Sangiovese Italy 2021 14.5% £8.00 (7.00)
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● Obtained from Sangiovese grapes carefully dried, this appassimento, offers aromas of dried fig, date, prune and vanilla. The soft palate doles out ripe cherry alongside smooth, round tannins.
● A complex and elegant wine which is both a true innovation and a perfect combination with traditional meaty pasta recipes.

6. 19 Crimes Deported Australia ? 13.5% £10.00 (7.50)

● Each Declared by His Majesty to be punishable on Conviction by Transportation.
● A liquid ode to our past, 19 Crimes is inspired by those who, beginning in 1788, were transported to Australia for a life of hard labour. 'The Deported honours these men and women who forged fresh pathways. A pioneering jammy red with a bold coffee finish.
● Based on Real Events from the 1800s
● Red Blend Infused with a Shot of Cold Brew Coffee made with 100% Colombian Arabica Beans. (3% by volume)

7. De Bortoli Semillon dessert Australia 2017 11.5% £9.00

● An award winning dessert wine from Australia’s De Bortoli family winery in the Riverina NSW. Picked late on the vine, the grapes’ natural sugars have been allowed to intensify, resulting in a golden hued wine boasting a delicate concentration of citrus, peach and apricot flavours that are both sumptuous and fresh.
● Fabulous with sweet desserts, but try it with blue cheese for an inspired pairing.

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting August 2022

Both U3A wine groups came together on the 3rd August for a wine lovers awayday. We all enjoyed a delightful tour of the nearby vineyard at Great Bardfield. Originally known as Great Park, the estate was an enclosed medieval deer park. It was owned in the 14th century by Elizabeth de Burgh, whose royal guests including the Black Prince, would have hunted here. 200 years later it was given to Anne of Cleves by Henry VIII as part of her settlement when their marriage was annulled and our magnificent barn dates from that time. The Mansion was built in the 1620s in the alpaca field in front of the current house, which was originally its outbuildings. It was demolished a hundred years later and the buildings behind converted into Great Lodge house.

The grapes are made into 4 varieties of wine. Bacchus produces a still white wine, similar to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc; Bardfield Bacchus is a dry white wine and Anne of Cleves a medium dry white wine. A blend of predominately Pinot Noir grapes goes in to the Bardfield Blush, and the Sparkling Brut is a dry white wine, made by the traditional champagne method with a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Seyval Blanc grapes. We enjoyed a guided tour and wine tasting in the Grade 1 listed barn, followed by a ploughman’s lunch

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting 5th July 2022

The July meeting of the wine tasting Group was held at Toni and Mick Howarth’s house. Having recently returned from the South of France they decided to have all the wines from the same vineyard in that area with the exception of one sparkling wine. They chose their favourite vineyard, Chateau Caldadroy, http://chateaudecaladroy.fr/ where they often go wine tasting when they visit that part of the world and the local super U is full of their wines. The chateau is a beautiful 12th century castle in the foothills of the Pyrenees overlooking the Mediterranean surrounded by vineyards on shale hills at an altitude between 260m and 320m. The following wines were tasted

Alliance Vin Mouseux Brut. From a vineyard near Versailles. Cost £1.37. Alcohol 10.5 %. How do they do it for the price? A fresh smelling and fruity wine with a hint of flowers which can be drunk as an aperitif or with desert. We also tried it with a dash of Cassis. Everyone seemed to like it and thought it was much more expensive than it was. The hosts wanted to try it as they drink a lot of it while they were in France and were curious to see the reaction of the guests.

DC de-alcoholised wine. Vegan Friendly Shiraz from South Africa. Hazel in an ever ending quest to save our livers, kindly bought a non alcohol wine as a bonus taste. It was a deep ruby red with hints of ripe fruit, crushed pepper, dried rose petals and candied cherries. And also a hint of Ribena 😂. However it was quite popular and the most emptied bottle as it could be freely drunk without the worry of the drive home. Some said they would drink it if they needed to be alcohol free but I think taste wise we mostly prefer the alcoholic version.

The rest of the wine were from the Chateau Caladroy.
http://chateaudecaladroy.fr/

La Juliane 2020. 14.5%. £12. Aged in oak. Deep colour,taste of sweet spices, hint of vanilla, strong tannins. Grapes Syrah, Cardigan, Grenache Noir. Interestingly although the most expensive not the most popular.

We broke for refreshments of cheese and cold meats and then resumed

La Cour Carre 2019 , 13.5%. £8.60. Deep dense dark cherry colour. spicy with wild berry flavour which compliments Catalan cuisine. Popular with our tasters and the favourite red. grapes Syrah, grenache Noir, Cardigan, Mour vedre.

Vielles Vignes 2020 13.5% £5.60. Liquorice taste and wild spices, ‘goes with anything’. Great wine for the price but a lot dearer in the uk of course.

Expression 2021 14.5% £8.51 Aged in oak, smell of exotic fruits and vanilla,taste refined and light, sweet spices and brioche, fruity. Serve with seafood or grilled fish. A very pleasant white wine.

And finally Rivesalts Ambre. 16%, £8.17.orangy colour, strong smell of vanilla and cinnamon.Taste strong and exotic, gingerbread, bitter orange and honey. Drink cold as an aperitif with fois gras or desert. We chose to accompany it with chocolates and strawberries.

We finished off with a quiz. Many of the questions we all recognised.... but we could not remember. The answers. the top score was by Peter with 5/10.

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting 7th June 2022

This month’s meeting of our very friendly WAG 2 group was hosted by Therese and Philip and the
theme was “A taste of Italy”. We were blessed with a sunny evening but the outdoor temperatures were not Mediterranean so we decided against an “alfresco” tasting.

All the wines were from the Wine Society list. We started by tasting three white wines.
1. The Society’s Gavi 2021
A crisp and dry wine made from the Cortese grape in the Piedmont north west Italy
2. The Society’s Pinot Grigio 2021
With lemon and green apples on the nose and crisp minerality to taste from north west Italy north
of Verona
3. The Society’s Verdicchio Classico 2020
From an organic single vineyard in Le Marche region a vibrant crisp wine with citrus notes.
We had interval snacks with Italian hams and cheeses followed by the red wines.
4. The Society’s Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2020
Ripe cherry and strawberry perfume with a rich fruit palate
5. The Society’s Sicilian Reserve Red 2018
Smooth generous and fragrant red made from the Nero d’Avola grape
6. The Society’s Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2019
Full bodied blueberry and cherry scented with a rich leather-spiced palate made from the Corvina
grape in the Veneto north-east Italy

As a final treat we tasted The Society’s Prosecco
Grown in the province of Treviso the finest and best Proseccos come from the hilly vineyards of Valdobbiadene mostly from small family holdings. This wine is just that but bought as simple “Prosecco di Treviso” because “Valdobbiadene DOCG” commands a premium price.

During the evening there was an Italy general knowledge quiz with some quite tough questions. Who knew that the last king of Italy was Umberto II? Well we do now!

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting 3rd May 2022

16 members of WAG2 were hosted by Jane & Peter on May 3.
The theme was ‘horizontal wine tasting’. A horizontal tasting enables a range of wines from the same year (2020) to be compared, in our case, with the same grape too. The emphasis is on the difference between the wines.

For the white wines, I chose 3 chardonnays from the USA, Portugal (Aluado) and New Zealand (Gisborne). Key aromas and flavours for chardonnays are butter, melon, apple, pineapple and, if oaked, vanilla and toast.

The group’s favourite was a William Knuttel chardonnay from the Sonoma valley in California, priced at £14.99 from the Times wine club. We loved the crème brulèe and lemon aroma.

For the red wines, Peter chose 3 merlots, the first from Puglia in Italy, then a Berton All Out from SE Australia followed by a Ginestières from France. Our favourite was from Italy – a plump, fruity Tarantella, medium bodied merlot at £10.49, again from Times Wine Club.
The origin of Tarantella is shrouded in mystery – some say it was devised in Taranto, Puglia as a cure for the tarantula’s bite (provided the victim danced for 3 days and nights); others say it was an antidote to the morso (bite) d’amor. Who knows?

While eating our cheese and clementine and almond cake we had a fun quiz.

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting 5th April 2022

Another fun evening was had by seventeen members of the Wine Appreciation Group 2. Our host was Marian, and Philip had planned the evening and purchased the wines. With spring and warmer weather on its way we started off sampling crisp fresh white wines. We knew that they were all from Tesco and were Sauvignon Blanc but we had to see if we could tell which country they were from, the flavours , alcohol % and cost. This still proves to be quite difficult. The wines were:-

Tesco Finest Sancerre -Upper Loire Valley France,13% costing £14.00
Leyda Single Vineyard Garuma Sauvignon Blanc Chile 13% £12.00
Tesco Finest North Row Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 13.5 £13.00

The Sancerre was the number one choice and the Leyda was the least popular. We then stopped for a break and Marian provided us with a choice of 3 different chillies together with jacket potatoes and crusty bread followed by cheese which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
During the second half of the evening we sampled several red wines including:-

Tesco Finest Chianti Classico from classico region of Italy 13.5% £8.00
Tesco Finest Douro from Portugal 13% £10.00
Mavrodaphini of Patra Greece 15% £6.00

The last wine was a luscious full bodied dessert wine produced from the Mavrodaphni grape that grows in the vineyards on the lower hills of the Peloponnesian mountains, overlooking the gulf of Patra. Needless to say this was the most popular especially with the ladies in the group although the Chianti Classico was a close second.
We finished the evening with a short quiz and also heard from Ken who is our outings coordinator about the options for having a visit to a local vineyard with Wine Appreciation Group 1. Marian also suggested that instead of giving her money for the food we should all contribute to support Ukraine and £100.00 was raised for UK-AID Felsted Aid for Deprived Children and their families in Ukraine.

Our next meeting will be on May 3rd hosted by Jane & Peter.

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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!

Wine Appreciation Group Meeting 1st March 2022