December 2018. Wines of Tuscany

This evening we had 8 Tuscan wines presented by our very own Tony Hooper. All available from the supermarkets – Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons. A decent selection of predominantly Reds – as Tuscany is more well known for Red than White wine.

Whites:

Burdizzo Vermentino 2016 (Asda, £6.18)

Rondolino San Gimignano 2017, Vernaccia. (Waitrose, £8.99)

Red

Villa Cafaggio 2014. Chianti Classico (Waitrose, £13.49)

Barone Ricasoli 2014. Chianti Classico Reserva (Sainsbury's, £15)

Nipozzano Frescobaldi 2015. Chianti Classico Reserva (Morrisons, £16.50)

Villa Antinori 2015. (Waitrose, £15.99)

Principesco Brunello Di Montalcino 2012. (Sainsburys £18)

Fortified

Vin Santo Santa Christina 2013 (Waitrose, £16.49, 500ml)

Nov 2018. Duncan Ross, Berkmann WIne Cellars. Australian Wine

We had Duncan Ross of Berkmann Wine Cellars, Presenting wines from Australia

The wines were:

Deakin Estate Brut Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. 12%. NV

Between Five Bells White Blend (Pinot Gris/Riesling/Gewurztraminer/Chardonnay) 13%. 2016

Wattle Brae Eden Valley Riesling 11.5%. 2017

Wilybrub Valley Chardonnay 13%. 2016

Lethbridge Pinot Noir 13%. 2016

Chapel Hill McClaren Vale Grenache 14.5%. 2011

Valley Floor Shiraz 14.5%. 2015

Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5%. 2014

Prices ranging from £11.34 up to £25.55 (Special price on the evening)

Oct 2018. Mexican WIne, Richard Bost

Mexican Wines – Who knew? Well, we did, as we have had Mexican wines before, but many don't. And to be fair a) Mexico is a pretty small producer – not even top 20, and b) The wines are from the very north end of Baja California, hard by the US border near San Diego (so "californian"maybe).

We had 8 wines, presented by Richard Bost. Richard always likes to go a little off piste, which suits us, and always is a mine of information. So a good evening

The wines were all by LA Cetto, Mexico's largest wine maker:

Whites:

Chardonnay Brut NV, Baja California. 12.5% £10.50

Chenin Blanc 2017, Baja California. 12.5% £8.50

Chardonnay 2016, Baja California. 13.0% £8.50

Chardonnay Private Reserve 2016, Valley de Guadalupe. 13.5% £12.95

Reds

Petit Sirah 2015, Baja California. 14.0% £8.50

Zinfandel 2015, Baja California. 14.0% £8.50

Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 2012, Valley de Guadalupe. 13.9% £12.95

Nebbiolo Private Reserve 2015, Valley de Guadalupe. 14.0% £13.50

All available from Albion Wine Shippers www.albionwineshippers.co.uk

Nearly all excellent wines. The only miss was the standard Chardonnay which was not well liked – a pity.

The Sparkling NV Brut is a charmat method, but nicely balanced, biscuitty type taste, well liked. A good alternative to Prosseco, or Cava, or NZ fizz

Chenin blanc – a good well balanced wine, with hints of Honeysuckle and Mandarin orange

Chardonnay Private reserve. Full of oak. Old school oaky Chardonnay, grows on you (if you like oak!)

Petit Sirah and Zinfandel – both very powerful wines and excellent value. The Zin probaly needs to be drunk with food for best results

Cabernet and Nebbiolo – both superb. Again, great value for money. The Nebbiolo in particular beats Barolo on price by a factor of 2.

I've bought a case of 6 x 2  of the wines.

September 2018 - Californian Fine Wines, E&J Gallo

This month we had Californian Fine Wines from E&J Gallo Winery, presented by Robbie Rugman of E&J Gallo.

The accent was definitely on the “Fine” in Fine Wines – These are all quality wines, with prices to match.

Whites:

Mac Murray Pinot Gris, Russian River. 2015/16. £17.95

Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve, Chardonnay. 2015/16 £17.99

Edna Valley Chardonnay, Central Coast. 2015. £15.99

Reds

MacMurray Pinot Noir, Central Coast. 2015. £21.50

MacMurray Pinot Noir, Russian River. 2015. £27.50

Rancho Zapaco Zinfandel, Dry Creek. 2014. £15.25

Frei Brothers Sonoma, Cabernet Sauvignon. 2015 £17.99

Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley. 2015. £19.95

All available in the UK from Great Western Wine.

August 2018. Lindsay Oram, Alsace WInes

Lindsay Oram presented Wines of Alsace. The wines were

Chateau de Riquewihr, Doppf & Irin. NV. Pinot Noir (Sparkling). £13.99 from House of Townsend

Vin d'Alsace, Hugel. 2016. Blend of 5 grapes. £9.50 from the Wine Society

Muscat Reserve, Trimbach. 2015. Muscat. £14.95 from the Wine Society.

Kuentz-Bas Trois Chateau. 2014. Pinot Gris. Not available in the UK

Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr, Stone Heart. 2015. Riesling. Not available in the UK

Domaine Weinbach, Grand Cru Schlossberg. 2015. Riesling. £32 ex-bond from Justerini & Brooks

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Clos Windsbuhl, 2015. Gewurztraminer. £12.99 from Majestic

Domaine Bott Geyl Alsace Grand Cru Sonnenglanz. 2010. Gewurztraminer.. £17.68 ex bond from JN Wines

July 2018. Languedoc and Piedmont. Bill & Keith

This evening was presented by our very own Bill & Keith. Keith presented wines from Languedoc, where he visits every year, all wines bought in France. Bill presented wines from the other side of the Alps, from Piedmont in Italy.

The wines were:

Whites

Chateau Rives Blanques. Blanquette de Limoux (Mauzac), 2016. €10.80

Araldica Vini Piemontese. (Cortese) 2017. Wine Society £5.95

Chateau Rives Blanques. Dedicace 2017 (Chenin Blanc) €10.20

Cantina Del Nebbiolo. Langhe Nascetta 2016 (Nascetta) Wine Society £11.50

Reds

Ciabot Berton. Barbera d'Alba Fisetta (Barbera) Wine Society £10.95

Domaine Lorgeril. Chateau de Pennautier Cabardes 2015 (6 grape blend). Majestic £11.99/9.99

Luigi Einaudi. Dogliani 2016 (Dolcetto) Wine Society £11.50

Dessert

Chateau Rives Blanques..Lagremas D'Aur 2016 (Chenin Blanc) €13.50

All excellent wines and a good evening with over 40 people showing up

June 2018. Wines of Brazil. Nick Corfe

Nicholas Corfe – Go Brazil Wines www.gobrazilwines.com

Don Guerino Brut Chardonnay – Sparkling (Charmat method) - £15

Sinais Sauvignon Blanc 2017 - £11.50

Sinais Italico Riesling (AKA Welsch Riesling) - £11.50

Campo de Cima Viognier - £12.00

Aurora Varietal Pinot Noir 2015 - £7

Sinais Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 - £11.50

Don Guerino Reserva Telodego 2016 - £16

Pizzato Reserva Tannat 2012 - £18

Nick presented 8 wines from Brazil, all available direct from the website. He did say that Brazil is an expensive country, so the wines are all a touch more pricey than their competition, but not madly so.

Pretty well all of Brazils wines come from the very south of the country, close by Uruguay and Argentina – there are also some grown in the centre close by the equator.

The fizz was a well balanced, biscuitty style, which many liked, and at £15 compares well with many other decent sparkling wines.

The 2 Sinais whites, were yet another example of clean, fresh, well made whites – no complaints there, while the Viognier was a good example of the rich and oily Viogniers that I personally really like.

The Pinot Noir is, as Nick admitted, getting close to past its best, but many liked it, and if PN is your thing, its a steal at £7.

The Teroldego is an unusual grape variety from Northern Italy, and a good wine with hints of cherry & smokiness in there.

Finally, the Tannat, which at 6 years old, was still quite tannic – will it soften with age? Time will tell.

May 2018 Keith Grainger.- Cru Borgeois

This month we had Bordeaux Wines presented by Keith Grainger.

The main focus was on reds from the Haut Medoc, although we started with a Sauvignon Blanc and finished with a Sauternes.

Price wise, the reds were all in the £13 - £17 region, although as they were all bought at the Chateau, Keith used the Euro price to give a guide. Actual UK retail prices will be in that sort of region.

Keith is a real enthusiast for these wines, and you will have an entertaining evening.

However, for me the red wines here were all too similar – all a Cab Sauv/Merlot/Petit Verdot mix and although Keith implored us to search for the differences, I really couldn't. I guess I'm just not a Cru-Borgeois kind of guy. I did get in a bit of trouble at the end when the “mature” and “at its peak” 2010 Chateau La Tour Haut Causann felt to me to be well over the top, and lacking in character & fruit. Sacrilege!

I did rather like the first wine, and at £8.50 it is pretty good value from the Wine Society.

2017 Dourthe No1 Bordeaux Suavignon Blanc

2015 Chateau d'Hanteillan – Haut Medoc +

2015 Chateau Cambon La Pelouse – Haut Medoc

2014 Chateau Barreyres – Haut Medoc

2014 Chateau Fonreaud – Listrac Medoc

2014 Chateau Larose Trintaudon – Haut Medoc

2010 Chateau La Tour Haut Causann – Haut Medoc

2014 The Societies Exhibition Sauternes

www.crus-bourgeois.com

April 2018. Unusual Grape Varieties, Phil Miles

As it was the AGM, Our Chairman, Phil Miles presented a set of wines made from obscure grape varieties. And these are obscure! Amazingly they are also readily available – M&S or Laithwaites and inexpensive. For those who don't know the first 4 are whites, the rest reds.

Apostolos Thymiopoulos	Thiva	Malagouzia	Central Greece	2016	12.0%	£10.00	M&S
Le Revelation	Carcassonne	Chasan	France	2016	13.0%	£11.00	Laithwaites
Chateau Mukhrani	Kartli	Rkatsiteli	Georgia	2015	13.0%	£10.00	M&S
Lyrakakis	Heraklion	Dafni	Crete	2016	13.0%	£10.00	M&S
Cabeza De Toro	Utiel-Requena	Bobal	, Spain	2015	12.5%	£8.50	Laithwaites
Aluado	Lisbon	Alicante Bouschet	Portugal	2016	13.0%	£9.50	Laithwaites
Pillastro	Puglia	Susumaniello	Italy	2015	13.5%	£11.00	Laithwaites
Alexis Machua	Paphos	Maratheftiko	Cyprus	2015	13.0%	£9.00	M&S

The whites were all fine, but this is one of the problems with modern whites – clean fresh, well made etc... Nothing to complain about at all, except they are all a bit same-y. But you won't be dissappointed either.

The reds were more interesting. The Alicante Bouschet is a very particular taste, but deep, deep red. Itsoften added to other wines to add body and colour. Many liked it. The Susumaniello was widely liked – full bodied, well rounded, and a real star. The Maratheftiko however was really quite tannic, too tannic for most.

That being said, all of these wines are a good buy, and worth a punt to see if oyu like them, and are after something a little off-piste.

March 2018 - WInes of Uruguay, Carla Bertellotti

For the 3rd time in 8 years, we had Carla presenting her range of Uruguayan Wines, particularly Uruguay's signature grape variety, the Tannat. As always, some good wines at some good prices

The Wines:
Marichal Permium Varietal Chardonnay 2017. £11.99
De Lucca Marsanne Reserve 2016 (Marsanne/Roussane). £9.99
Vinedos de Los Vientos Estival 2016 (Gewurztraminer/Chardonnay/Moscato Bianco). £12.99
Vinedos de Los Vientos Notos 2016 (Nebbiolo/Tannat). £12.99
De Lucca Nero D'Avola 2016. £16.99
Vinedos de Los Vientos Anarkia 2017 (Tannat). £12.99
De Lucca Tannat Merlot Reserve 2013. £11.99
Bodegones del Sur Tannat 2015. £13.99

The Marsanne is a marmite wine - love it or hate it - a very particular style. For me, a bit like a cross between a classic Gewurz and an old style heavily oaked chardonnay. I really liked it. Many didn't.
The Estival Gewurz blend is again something that perhaps shouldn't really work, but does, really well - the Moscato adds a nice touch of fresh grapiness.
The reds were all good, with perhaps the Anarkia being the most popular on the night, although I went for the Tannat/Merlot reserve.

Claras website is www.winesofuruguay.co.uk - well worth looking at

February 2018. English Wines, Robin Goldsmith

This February we had English Wines, Presented by Robin Goldsmith www.thewritetaste.co.uk.

The wines were:

• Jenkyn Place, Classic Cuveee. Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier - £29.50
• Exton park, Blanc De Noirs Pinot Noir - £29.95
• Chapel Down. Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs. Chardonnay -£40
• Hush Heath. Balfour Brut Rose Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier - £29.50
• 2014 £38
• Nyetimber Rose NV Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier - £39.99
• Camel Valley. Darnibole Bacchus - £17.99
• Chapel Down. Bacchus reserve - £14.99
• Bolney. Lychgate Red. Rondo. - £14.99

The real difficulty for me is the sheer price of many of these wines. As you can get a half decent fizz for £10, and a half decent Champagne for £20, the sparkling English wines have a real challenge. So they are a bit niche. And for me, the first 4 were very much at the dry brut end of the scale. I did like the Nytimber as it came across as more well developed and rounded, and less austere.

The Bacchus wines were interesting, and certainly worth trying whilst the Lychgate Rondo Red was a bit of a novelty. A most peculiar nose, but tasted pretty good.

January 2018 - New Years Party

January, as always, was the UWS New Years Party

For the record the wines were:

Sparkling:

Bouvet Sparkling Saumur

Whites:

Dr Loosen Grey Slate Riesling

Invivo Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley (NZ)

Reds

Incanta Pinot Noir – Romania

Catena Malbec – Argentina

Dessert

Concha y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. Valle Del Maule

Domaine de Leyrissat Monbazillac

Harveys Signature 12YO Cream Sherry.

All readily available Waitrose, Majestic etc....