2023 Wine Appreciation Group Programme
(This page is U3A WAG2, if you were looking for WAG1 click > Wine Appreciation Group 1 ).
WAG2 is a friendly social & informative group who meet once a month on the first Tuesday of the month. We started in September 2019, largely because the other group in Dunmow had no capacity for new members, we now have about 20 members. Our membership includes couples as well as individual members.
Each month one of our members offers to host the meeting and recently occasionally we have started to have another member planning the wine theme. The member planning the wine event would decide on a theme and this can be wines of a particular country, wines from small producing countries, local wines, wines for a particular event such as summer barbecues or even bonfire night. The theme member will usually purchase the wines, (normally 3 reds and 3 whites). We use special small tasting glasses. We often start with blind tasting to see if we could work out from tasting where the wine was from, grape variety, flavours, aroma, strength etc and after we vote which one we all liked best. The cost of the wine is be divided equally between all who attend the evening and usually under £10 per person.
We normally meet at 7:30PM and after we have sampled the first three wines we stop for some nibbles and chat before continuing. Sometimes there is a fun quiz, and we normally finish by 9.30PM. The host provides a spittoon as the wine may not be to everyone’s taste, or they may be driving. We try to share lifts where possible. We are all quite scattered from Thaxted in the North to Hatfield Broad Oak in the South.
WAG2 Group Leaders - Sheila & John Stanley
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting December 2023
In December our wine group had a private wine tasting from Thoroughbred Wines who are based in Newmarket. Debbie who hosted the evening had met Jo at the Cressing Temple Barn’s Christmas Fair and arranged our evening event.
Jo came with 13 wines for us to taste, a mixture of red, white and rose, also a port from Portugal. Our top choices were Les Giustianina Gavi di Gavi priced at £17.00 from Northern Italy and a red Pinot Noir, Blaufrankisch costing £14.00. There was no pressure to purchase but a number of members did, the Kopke Tawny Port proving very popular as well as some of the wines.
It was a fun evening, rather more many wines than we normally sample but a lovely start to the Christmas festivities with an extra special Christmas spread (thanks Debbie)
The next meeting will be hosted by Sheila & John 7:30 January 30th 2024
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting November 2023
Sonia was our host, and we were treated to a selection of South African wines, most of which had travelled back with Sonia after she visited SA earlier this year, on holiday.
WHITE WINES
1. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc - Vergelegen Winery
Extremely aromatic with ripe passion fruit and rich gauvas, black currant leaf, a touch of lemongrass and good minerals.
13.5%
2. 2021 Chardonnay - Chamonix Winery
At an altitude of 450m above sea level this wine has been aged for 12 months in 225 litres French oak bottles.
13.5%
3. 2022 Chardonnay -Eagles Pass.
A fresh fruit driven wine with layers of ripe pineapple with zesty lime flavour, peach and vanilla.
12.5%
RED WINES
1. 2020 Pinotage - Rickety Bridge Winery
Red fruit forward with black and blueberry flavours in the background, while the light oaking accelerates flavours of redcurrant and blueberries. (All grapes picked by hand).
13.5%
2. 2018 Shiraz - Vergelegen Winery
Stunningly ripe and concentrated berry fruit including ripe black cherry fruit, hints of liquor, violet and spice. The flavours on the palate are intense and long-lasting with soft tanning leading to a clear finish.
14.5%
3. 2020 Pinotage - Fishhoek.
Full bodied wine with flavours of plum and fruit cake and a touch of oak
13.5%
The Chardonnay Chamonix Winery and Pinotage Fishhoek were the most popular white and red wines.
Following on from the tasting we were challenged by a wine quiz.
Our next meeting, on December 5th, will be with Debbie. It is our regular Christmas get together and will be a little different to our normal meetings.
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting October 2023
Our meeting in October was hosted by Toni and Mick. We were pleased to welcome Glenda and Colin, who are prospective members of the group and joined us, on this occasion for a trial meeting.
All the wines were French, locally purchased by our hosts when they were on holiday earlier this year. The evening theme was an expensive versus an economical wine - to see if we could see which was which.
The first challenge was sparkling wines:-
Vin Mousseaux Brute €1.65 versus Champagne Canard Duchene demi-sec €21.96
The Mousseaux one was a beautiful green / yellow colour with fine constant bubbles, fruity nose with flowery scent and slight fermentation notes. Alcohol 11%.
The Champagne was Pinot and Chardonnay grape with an elegant freshness and balance. Alcohol 12%
The next challenge was white wines:-
Croix D'Or €2.5 vs Petit Chablis La Sinuliere €9.9
The Croix D'Or probably used Sauvignon grape, golden shade, with a perfume of fruit tree from the orchard. This wine pairs well with foie grass trees and fruit desserts. Alcohol 11%.
The Chablis is based on the Chardonnay grape with lemon citrus fruit with refreshing acidity. This wine is best drunk young, and pairs well with fish or sushi - and can be used as an aperitif. Alcohol 12.5%
The final round was Red wines:–
Croix De Ceyassac (Bordeaux) €1.99 vs Château De Caladroy Antoine 2020 €14.75
The Bordeaux wines are usually a blend of Sauvignon and Merlot. This wine had the aromas of red fruit and caramel, with notes of smoke, and on the palate the tannins are round. The colour was intense garnet. This wine pairs well with cheese and grilled red meat .Alcohol 13%.
The Caladroy uses Mourvendre grape & was a deep and intense colour with the nose of red fruits. On the palate licorice with round tannins giving a long silky finish. This wine pairs well with red meats. Alcohol 14.5%
It was fun comparing, and in many cases, we were unable to identify the more expensive wine. Sometimes the cost differential was tenfold, so we concluded that it is worth assessing the economical ones to see if they suited our taste. The photo shows the chosen most popular wines.
The November meeting will be hosted by Sonia.
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting September 2023
WAG2 5th Sept 2023
Look to the East
Our first meeting after the summer break was on 5 September. Barbara kindly hosted the evening, and Bob had planned the wines. On this occasion we tasted a range of wines from Eastern Europe. The most popular white was a Chardonnay from Romania, and a red from Moldova. We also enjoyed the bonus Hungarian desert wine.
Incanta Chardonnay 2021 12.5% £7.99 (8.99) Romania
In recent years Romania has enjoyed a winemaking renaissance. Much of this is down to the family owned Cramale Recas winery where some of the vines date back to 1447. This Chardonnay is ripe and rounded with tropical fruit and citrus aromas and flavours of Melon and stone fruits.
Carpe Diem Bad Boys 2018 14% £19.99 (22.99) Moldova
No country demonstrates the hidden treasures of Eastern Europe like Moldova. Wine has been produced here for over 5 thousand years so they have learnt a thing or two. The Lucas family have dedicated their lives to crafting expressive wines over 4 generations
Under soviet control the vineyards were nationalised and the family shipped off to a Siberian labour camp! Eventually some of the family returned and the estate is thriving
Crafted from 2 local varieties Fetasca Neagra and Saperavi combined with Cabernet and Merlot this is seriously soft and rich. Ripe notes of blackberry and cherry with hints of pepper and cocoa. 12 months in French oak casks adds roundness and vanilla spice.
Royal Tokaji Late Harvest 2018 12% £13.99 (15.99) Hungary
This wine is making a return to the group having featured previously in one of Phil’s selections, but it is too good to ignore and fits perfectly into the Eastern European theme. Since it is a larger 50cl bottle there is more for you to enjoy! Royal Tokaji was formed in 1990 and brings together 62 small growers from Hungary’s finest winemaking areas. The sweetness is achieved by allowing the grapes extended ripening time on the vine increasing their sugar content. With notes of peach and exotic fruits it has the perfect balance of honeyed sweetness and fresh acidity.
The other white wines we tasted were:-
Royal Tokaji Dry 2019 13% £10.99 (12.99) Hungary
Krasno Pinot Bianco 2021 13.5% £8.99 (9.99) Slovenia
and these reds:-
Incanta Pinot Noir 2022 12.5% £7.99 (8.99) Romania
Colliano Merlot 2021 13.5% £11.99 (14.99) Slovenia
our next meeting scheduled to take place on 3rd October, hosted by Toni and Mick.
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting July 2023
This month our meeting venue was hosted by Debbie, with Phil hosting the wine content. We enjoyed a different evening, on this occasion we were told all about the wine, with the exception of its country of origin. We had to choose the country from a map of Europe. A different approach which was great fun. We largely avoided the obvious places - France, Spain and Italy - and chose wines from Greece, Bulgaria and Hungary, amongst others. None of the wines had been tasted in advance.
Several people liked Wine No. 1 (2017 Artemis Karamolegos – Santorini – 14% £16.50 Luckins) although others were not keen.
Wine No. 2 (2021 Junge Winzer Grauer Burgunder, Austria 13.5%
£8.99 Lidl) was reasonably popular.
Sadly we were unable to taste Wine No. 5 (from Switzerland) as the cork disintegrated - practically to dust - when we tried to open it.
Wine No. 7, (2014 St Stephan's Crown Tokaj Hungary 10%) A dessert wine from Hungary, was not popular amongst the group, despite being the most expensive wine per unit volume (£19 for 50cl). This was unusual the group generally enjoy dessert wines.
Next month, being August, we take a break from the normal formal meetings however it is likely that we will have an informal awayday – perhaps a picnic at a vineyard or we may return to Great Bardfield for their Wine and Jazz by the lake open day.
Barbara will be a host will meet again after the break on September 5th.
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting June 2023
Meeting hosted by Jane and Pete.
Another good session, this time hosted at Peter and Jane’s.
We tried something new this time. We copied a wine critic’s reviews of 4 sparkling rosés and 3 malbecs and we had to trawl through our oenophilic experiences to guess which wine was which.
Not surprisingly, we didn’t have a clue about the sparkling rosés, but the firm favourite turned out to be the Arestel Cava, which we got from Lidl for a mere £5.69.
Again with the malbecs, all of which came from Argentina, there were differences in recognising the wines from their description,
But this time the favourite wine was the 2018 Angelica Zapata malbec, our most expensive wine, which we bought from Tesco for £25. The least favourite turned out to be the cheapest.
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting May 2023
Meeting hosted by Jenny and Phil, wines by Bob.
Many thanks to Jenny and Phil for hosting the recent WAG2 meeting at the beginning of May. This month we were looking at a selection of wines priced between £10.99 and £15.99 from Virgin Wines. Although the attendees did not know it, two originated in France, the others came from Austria, Portugal, Northern Greece, Chile and California. They were asked to guess where in the World they came from and achieved mixed success.
Of the whites the favourite was the Gruner Vietliner from Austria, followed by the Greek Assrytiko with the Portugeuse Vinho Verde trailing in third place.
The Rose was deemed a bit insipid, but we have yet to find a Rose that we all liked. The Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon proved to be the favourite wine of the night, and also the cheapest, read into that what you will!
The Californian Zinfandel garnered some praise.
Kies Gruner Veltliner 2021 12.5% £13.99
Ardido Vinho Verde 2021 11.5% £11.99
Kir Yianni Assyrtiko 2021 13.5% £15.99
Penombre Rose 2022 12.5% £12.99
Astro Costera Cabnernet Sauvignon 2021 13% £10.99
The Intrepid Bear Zinfandel 2022 13.5% £11.99
We finished with a dessert wine from Majestic, which as they usually are, was appreciated by all
Castelnau de Suduiraut Sauternes 2016 14% £14.99
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting April 2023
There was no meeting this month due to illness.
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting March 2023
Meeting hosted by Peter and Glenda
The theme of the evening was ‘Nostalgia – ain’t what it used to be!’
The wines were divided into 4 groups consisting of Wine A and Wine B – 8 wines in total. The group were asked to say which they preferred A or B. Sometimes A was from the 1970’s and sometimes B, versus a 2023 wine.
1. Mateus Rose (1970) Portugal. Youthful and fresh wine with a touch of sparkle and hints of red fruit.
{versus}
2. Sancerre (1923) France. Made from Pinot Noir grapes from the famous Sancerre vineyards. A delicate rosé with refreshing flavours of stone fruit, red cherries and a long crisp finish, served with salads or spicy food.
3. Cuvee Prestige (2023) France, Cotes de Rhone Village. This wine reveals a beautiful ruby colour and is the prefect accompaniment to roast meats, rustic dishes and mature cheese.
{versus}
4. Bulls Blood (1970) Hungary. Made from the native Furmint grape this has a divine mineral quality. Pear, quince, white peach and a dash of sage to give a fruity, fresh and distinctive wine. The rare volcanic hills of the region give the wine a delicate mineral freshness.
We then had a quiz based around whether an item cost more in 1970 or pro rata in 2023 allowing for inflation (£1 in 1970 is worth £19.79 in today’s money). E.g.
A loaf of bread cost 5d in 1970 equivalent to 86p today. Actual cost today £1.15
A pocket calculator cost £15 in 1970 equivalent to £236 today. Actual cost £10
A cup final ticket cost £2 in 1970 equivalent to £39 today. Actual cost £45 - £225
Refreshments were then served and we continued our wine tasting.
5. Gruner Vetliner (2023) Austria. This wine has white peach and lively lemon fruit flavours backed up with subtle white pepper and spicy notes.
{Versus}
6. Blue Nun Liberfraumilch (1970) Germany. The winemakers have selected this medium sweet white from a blend of traditional German grape varieties to give a floral nose and soft citrus notes. Served chilled goes well with spicy curries.
7. Black Tower (1970) Germany. Refreshing and fruity with flavours of zesty pineapple and lime. Goes well with noodles, veggie wraps and spicy chicken wings.
{versus}
8. Nero Oro. (2023) Sicily. It is very unusual to find a white wine made appassimento style. It is made by drying a portion of grapes on the vine and a proportion in the sun. This method is best known for making decadently rich reds, like Amarone. But this is something entirely new. Grillo is a wonderfully aromatic and distinctly Italian white grape. The perfect base for this style of winemaking. Honeyed and full of dried fruit notes, this has the fresh zing of grapefruit and is delicious with Moroccan spiced rice dishes.
To round off the evening for those with a sweet tooth we sampled a dessert wine.
Tokaji Aszú from Hungary accompanied by a mini dessert.
(Aszú is the Hungarian word for when the grapes are attacked by the botrytis fungus and become dark, dried, shrivelled berries. This fungus pierces the skin of the grapes, allowing the water from the berries to evaporate. This concentrates the sugar, the acids and the flavour).
Conclusion: the majority of wines were liked 50:50 with the exception of Blue Nun which was a clear favourite with everyone!
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting February 2023
Meeting kindly hosted by Sheila & John
2023 Feb 7- WAG2 Wine Meeting – Why did we taste that wine?
Our first meeting of the year when 12 of us met at John & Sheila’s for an evening of sampling wines linked to celebrities or traditions. It involved a musical quiz whereby a short piece of music would be played and once that was known it should then help to lead to the person or tradition that it was linked to. Some found this easier than others!
We began with a track from Born to Run (Valentine Day) by Bruce Springstein and the wine we sampled was Orvieto Denominazione di origine Controllata Classico a full flavoured white wine costing £5.00 from Sainsbury and this was one of the faavourite wines of the night. This wine is from Terni, Italy the area in which Saint Valentine was born and beheaded.
Next we listened to “Iconic” a song by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette and the words in this song include It’s a black fly in your Chardonnay. We tasted Le Champ Des Etoiles Chardonnay 2021 from Laithwaites costing £10.49 which was not so well liked. Chardonnay is also linked to Bridget Jones as her favourite tipple and in her Diaries she writes about drinking copious amounts. However it is said that the sales of Chardonnay dropped dramatically afterwards, who wants to drink wine that makes you miserable!
Thirdly we listened to Mozart Don Giovanni (the Champagne aria) the name comes from an old tradition that required the singer to swig a glass of champagne before launching into the tongue twisting lyric and then hurl the glass away. For this one we sampled Etienne Brut Champagne from Sainsbury at£17.00 a bottle. This was also well liked and good value.
After a short break with nibbles, we continued with Whispering Angel Cotes de Provence Rose from the Esclans valley in France, a mixture of grapes including Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, 13% vol and costing £20.00. Currently a very trendy wine as it is Adele’s favourite tipple! The music link was Adele - I Drink Wine.
Our 5th wine was related to legendary actor Michael Douglas and the music was from Fatal Attraction. When at the Global Awards and asked about his favourite wine he said he liked Spanish wines Tempranillo being his favourite. We tasted Running with Bulls Tempranillo although this was from South Australia not Spain. This was from Tesco and cost £8.00.
Our last wine of the evening was Dark Horse a California Cabernet Sauvignon bold complex smooth with notes of plum a hint of oak and a smooth finish. From Sainsbury at £8.50. Ideally we should have been trying Chimney Rock as this was the wine linked to the music from Sex in the City. Carrie played by Sarah Jessica Parker frequently has a glass in her hand. However at £86.00 a bottle outside our budget.
Our next meeting is on March 7th hosted by Peter and Glenda, the theme yet to be revealed.
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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
Our March wine meeting was hosted by Peter and Glenda and the theme was “And Now for Something Completely Different” Well indeed it was completely different and all 18 of us had to put our thinking caps on that evening. We were all given a sheet to provide our answers to the following: - the Region/Country, Alcohol Content, Cost and Wine Name and there was a prize for the person who got the most points. Ideally, we were all to answer individually, no conferring! We were also given a sheet with Wine Name Clues which was to help with working out the name of the bottle of wine together with listening to 2 pieces of music which should help with deciding which country the wine was from.
The first wine clue was (A word with 2 vowels) She said, “you are showing no understanding of what is proper or acceptable, you are rude and insensitive” and there is a word for that. He replied “most definitely not” put the statement and response together to give the wine. Well, we all found this quite hard, and I do not think anyone guessed correctly. The answer was Krasno a Slovenian Sauvignon priced at £8.99 from Majestic.
The last word clue (2 words) Sally was so overwhelmingly excited and ecstatic when in the restaurant with Harry. He was a disciple of quality food that had not been subjected to chemicals or genetically modified in any way. Put them together and that’s our wine. Again, we listened to 2 pieces of music and tried to decipher the clue. The answer was Organic Orgasmic £15.00 + £.9.50 p&p. Most of us worked out the name included the word Organic This red wine was from Vin-Yard wines in Penedes, Spain and was intended to appeal to a young clientele.
We certainly had a fun evening with lots of laughter and Glenda provided lots of nice cheeses and savouries, together with home-made brownies and profiteroles to go with a glass of sweet dessert wine Late Harvest only £4.95 from Majestic. There was a prize for the person who scored the most points and also one with the least.
Our next meeting will be on April 5th commencing at 7:30PM. Marian will be hosting, and the wine theme is being developed by Philip.
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WINE APPRECIATION – for wine lovers!
Wine Appreciation Group Meeting 1st February 2022
Our first wine meeting of the year and 16 of us met at Barbara’s house with Bob providing a knowledgeable and entertaining evening around the theme of The Grape Less Trod
Our first wine of the evening which according to some historians was where it all began
Tbilvino 'Qvevris Rkatsitelli' 2019/20, Georgia 12% Majestic £13.99 (£11.99)
This wine from Tbilvino is a very Georgian affair. Its name comes from the Qvevri, a traditional clay pot that's used to ferment wine in Georgia. Rkatsiteli (er-kat-si-telly) is one of the oldest grapes in the world, traditional to Georgia. The grapes are macerated and fermented with their skins and then buried underground in the pot. In this amber wine, you'll find notes of apricot and pear along with beeswax and walnuts with a subtle tannic grip.
Secondly Dr Loosen Slate Hill Riesling 2020, Germany 8.5% Majestic £11.99 (£9.99)
The Dr Loosen has been in the same family for over 200 years and included vines in some of the best vineyards in Germany. Yields are strictly limited with rigourous selection to remove inferior fruit before vinification. A classic, fragrant and honeyed Mosel Riesling with pungent fruit flavours of peach, apricot and lime. The finish is refreshingly crisp and mineral making this a dangerously quaffable wine.
Next up Winzer Krems 'Orange' Gruner Veltliner 2019, Austria 13% Majestic £10.99 (£8.99)
In Krems, winemaking goes back more than 2,000 years. So it's safe to say that Winzer Krems, one of Austria's most significant producers. This Grüner Veltliner is a deep gold colour, from its time spent in contact with its skins for 18 days to develop a deeper colour and a rich, textual, spicy complexity. Discover complex flavours of pepper and honey, with a fresh finish.
After sampling the three whites and trying to decide on the country of origin, the grape, taste and alcohol percentage we took a vote on our favourite with the majority voting for the Riesling. The wine from Georgia was not popular but some members recognised the Riesling and the Veltliner. After a break for cheese and biscuits we continued with the reds.
Von Der Land Zweigelt 2020, Austria 13.5% Majestic £11.99 (£9.99)
This Austrian wine is a project between the prestigious Bauer family and one of the country's leading wine experts, Ferdinand Mayr. Zweigelt is a cross between Saint Laurent and Blaufrankisch created in 1922 by Frederich ZweigeltDiscover notes of cherries, fruits of the forest and a touch of oak. A hint of vanilla from the oak helps finish the taste.
Solomonar Reserve Red 2020, Romania 14.5% Majestic £9.99 (£7.99)
Sometimes good, sometimes a bit wicked the Solomonar is considered the great sorcerer of storms and winds, master of all lakes, mountains and deep caves and creator of frost, mist & hail. This wine is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and the indigenous Feteasca Neagra grape made by one of the country's very best wineries. It's luscious, full-bodied and rich with notes of blackcurrant, plum, blueberry and vanilla.
Cuvée Pierre Brun 2019 Domaine des Tourelles, Lebanon 14% Majestic £12.99 (£9.99)
Founded in 1868, Tourelles is Lebanon's oldest winery. It's now run by Faouzi Issa, who earned his stripes working in Côte Rôtie and at iconic Château Margaux. The wine is made with minimal intervention and aged in concrete tanks. A blend of Cabernet, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan, this has fine aromatic morello cherry and spice aromas, a dark fruit core with layered earthy spice, and balanced tannins.
Essensia Orange Muscat 2019 Andrew Quady California 15% Majestic £13.99 (£11.99)
Outrageously rich and delicious with a vibrant peachy, orangey bouquet. Try it with the most wicked chocolate pud you can find! With an aroma reminiscent of orange blossom and apricots. The palate is rich and sweet, with vibrant peachy and orangey fruit. Ends with a lingering, refreshing aftertaste. Very good with almost any dessert, but particularly those with chocolate, orange or apricots.
After enjoying sampling the reds we again voted on our favourite out of the three and the majority agreed that the Solomonar Reserve Red from Romania came out tops. Bob also finished the evening with a Muscat dessert wine always a favourite with the ladies!
Our next meeting is on March 1st hosted by Peter and Glenda theme yet to be revealed.
Click on a picture below to see it full-size with more details.
