March 2019. Portuguese Wines, Pippa Hayward

We had Pippa Hayward present 8 wines from Portugal. Sadly, I wasn't there, but reports were all good. The wines were:

1. Vinho Verde Loureiro 2017.

Adega Cooperativa de Ponte de Lima. DOC Vinho Verde

Grape: Loureiro

ABV: 12%

Cost: £7.99

Where: The Wine Society

2. Ribeiro Santo Dao Branco 2017

Carlos Lucas Vinhos: DO Dao

Grape: Encruzado & Malvasia

ABV: 12.5%

Cost: £8

Where: The Wine Society

3. Planalto Douro Branco Seco Reserva 2017

Casa Ferreirinha: DO Douro

Grape: Viosinho, Arinto, Codega, Gouveio, Malvasia, Moscatel

ABV: 13%

Cost: £6.99

Where: Majestic

4. Ribeiro Santo Dao Tinto 2016

Carlos Lucas Vinhos. DO Dao

Grape: Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz.

ABV: 13%

Cost: £7.95

Where: The Wine Society

5. Monte Velho Tinto 2017

Herdade do Esporao. Vinho Regional Alentajano

Grape: Aragonez, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Syrah

ABV: 14%

Cost: £7.75

Where: The Wine Society

6. Alemida Garrett Entre Serras 2016

Sociedade Agricola. DO Beira Interior

Grape: Tinta Roriz, Trincadeira, Tinta Barocca

ABV: 13%

Cost: £6.25

Where: Wine Society

7. S&R Douro Red 2016.

Dourum Vinhos. DO Douro

Grape: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz.

ABV: 13.5%

Cost : £8.99 (Mix 6)

Where: Majestic

8. Moscatel de Setubal

Cooperativa Agricola Santo Isidro de Pegoes. DO Setubal.

Grape: Moscatel de Setubal

ABV: 17.5%

Cost: £9.95

Where: Wine Society

February 2019 - New Zealand Wines - Marisco Estate

Wines presented by Chris Lysley of Marisco Vineyards, Marlborough, New Zealand

Kings Favour – Sauvignon Blanc. £11.99

Kings Thorn – Pinot Gris. £11.99

Kings Legacy – Chardonnay £11.99

Craft Series - Viognier £25+

Ned Rose – Pinot Noir/Pinot Gris £8.99

Ned Pinot Noir – Pinot Noir £12.99

Kings Wrath – Pinot Noir £15 or so

Kings Sticky End – Sauvignon Blanc (Dessert) £16.99 (500ml)

The wines are available in the UK – The Ned series is widely available, the King Series less so, and the Craft Viognier is a rarity.

2019 New Years Party

And the Wines Were;

Sparkling

Bouviet Labuday brut (chenin blanc) Saumur - France

Whites

Falanghina 2016 Terredora -  Italy

Dourthe sauvignon blanc 2016 -  France

Reds

Lorca Esoterico cabernet franc -  Argentina

Finca carelio 2015 tempranillo -  Spain

Desserts

Triana Hildago pedro ximenez -  Spain

Fonseca bin 27 reserve port - Portugal

Muscat of Samos vin doux - Greece

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.