May 2017 - Desert Island WInes

As usual, we had 8 wines, this time presented by members of the society. Wines which had some meaning for the individual member, or just highly recommended, or had a story behind it

We had

Tio Pepe Sherry, £10 - £12 – Tim

Muscadet Sur Lie, Aldi - £4.99 – Sue

Marques de los Rios Rioja blanca reserva – Esther

Gewurztraminer, £7, Leclerc, Boulogne – Tim

Ramon Reserva £7.49, Majestic – Tim

Valpolicella Ripasso – La Cassetta £13.99, Majestic – Tim

Mas de Daumas Gassac Red - £15+ - Keith

Kommandaria St John, Cyprus. £14, Winesupermarket.com - Phil

The stories:

Sue brought along the the Muscadet because its a wine she (and the rest of us) remember with affection from the 1980's. It then disappeared from view for maybe 15 – 20 years, but in the last 5 years the French producers have picked up there game and now its back and as good as it should be. This ones's a steal at £4.99 from Aldi 

Esthers Rioja brought back memories for her of some excellent early UWS meetings at the late lamented La Giralda Spanish restaurant in Pinner.

Keith's Mas de Daumas Gassac is a special wine which he saves for best – buys a case per year (or something like that) en-primeur from the vineyard, being the only way he dares to afford it – at retail it can be easily north of of £30. He very kindly shared 2 bottles with us.

Phils Kommadaria St John has childhood memories in south Wales in the 1950s/60s of a well loved cousin who travelled to Cyprus regularly and brought this Dessert wine back. ' the oldest named wine in the world apparently – a fortified dessert wine. 

Tim, the ex-chairman presented 4 wines – 1.Tio Pepe, as probably the best Fino you can buy, and a must have in anyone's fridge. 2. Gewurtztraminer, his long time favourite white, best bought in France as you get much better choice and price. 3. Ramos Reserva Portuguese red, one of his brothers (in the wine trade) best wines, excellent VFM, and someone has to drink the family into profit! 4. Valpollicella has a similar story in this country as the muscadet. We all remember the alcoholic Ribena, easy drinking wine from the 1980's, which also disappeared. Again, it's back , and the Ripasso variant has much more body and substance. Worth paying a little extra for.

April 2017 - Wines from Waitrose

PRESENTATION OF WINES FROM WAITROSE BY TONY HOOPER & JEAN STEPHEN

AGM 20/04/2017

Terre Di Chieti - Pecorino Abruzzo, Italy 2015 13% £7.99

Arnaud De Lassalle - Pouilly Fume Loire, France 2015 13% £15.99

Hunky Dory ‘THE Tangle’ Marlborough New Zealand 2015 14% £11.99 (Blend Of Pinot Gris 55% Gewurztraminer 35% Riesling 10%)

Cave De Beblenheim - Pinot Gris Alsace, France 2014/15 13% £9.99

Cave De Tain Les Hauts De Pavieres N. Rhone, France 2014 12.5% £11.49 (Croze Hermitage - Syrah)

The Hedonist Shiraz Mclaren Vale, Australia 2015 14% £13.99

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Suavignon Aconcagua Valley, Chile 2014 14% £12.99

Chateau Jolys - Petit Marseng Juracon, S.W. France 2014 13% £12.79 (50cl)

NOTES

To me the best white was the Pecorino & at a good price. Fresh tropical fruits with delicate florality &minerality.

The Pouilly Fume I thought was overpriced especially as it did not match my need for a little more bite.

Of the reds, The Hedonist Shiraz was outstanding. It was delicious & excellent with intense dark fruit flavours.

Closely behind was the Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich fruit tones enhanced by the blending of Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc brought a frim finish with a hint of smokiness.

A very good evening enjoyed by all members.

March 2017, Italian WInes from Majestic, Ruislip

This month we had Anani, the deputy manager of Majestic, Ruislip presenting Italian wines. I ought to mention, in passing, that Anani is the first black presenter we've ever had. And thats all I'm going to say about that. I just seemed daft to not say something. 

The wines were:

1. Tasca “Regaliali” Bianco di Sicilia 2015.£8.99
2. Falanghina 2015. Terredora. £9.99
3. Pietraticcia Fiano 2015. Surani. £7.49
4. Triplica. Greco di Tufo 2015.
5. Negroamaro 2013. Fuedo Dei Tari. £6.99
6. Dolcetto d'Alba 2015. De Forville. £8.99
7. Aglianico del Vulture 2013. Cantina di Ventosa. £7.99
8. Primitivo di Manduria. Surani Costarossa 2015. £8.99

All prices are the “mix 6” price.

All good wines – none of them stunning, all good. Try any of them, you will not be dissappointed.

On that basis, it seems churlish to chose “the best”, so I wont.

Feburary 2017 - Richard Bost - Wines of Bulgaria

Richard Bost gave us one his excellent evenings, presenting Wines of Bulgaria. I certainly remember those days in the 1980s when Bulgarian Wine was good, and cheap. Unfortunately it all suffered post 1989 and the collapse of communism and is only now starting to pick up again.

We had 8 wines as usual

1. Eduardo Miroglio Brut 2007. 12% £19.85. www.turtonwines.co.uk
2. Soli White 2015 .13.5% £10.50 www.swig.co.uk
3. Bio Viognier/Traminer. 2015. 13.5% £11.50 www.swig.co.uk
4. Soli Pinot Noir 2014. 12.5% £11.95 www.swig.co.uk
5. Eduardo Miroglio. Pinot Nero 2008 13%. £14.95 www.swig.co.uk
6. Eduardo Miroglio. Merlot 2012 14%. £12.50 www.swig.co.uk
7. Villa Melnik Bergule Mavrud 2012. 13.5% £9.95 www.theoldcellar.co.uk
8. Dragomir SARVA, Mavrud/Merlot 2013. 13.5% £14.95 www.theoldcellar.co.uk

Wine 1, compares well with a vintage Champage, but at much the same price. Wine 2 is a curious blend of Riesling/Sauvignon Blanc/Viognier/Gewurtztraminer which, to be honest didn't work. Wine 3 better. Wine 4, not a good example of Pinot Noir, but Wine 5 better.

The last 3 reds were all good, but the best wine of the evening was, for me, the cheapest – the Mavrud.

So, on balance, not one of the best sets of 8, but a few good ones in there.

New Year Party

A good evening, with a good turnout, and excellent selection of food brought along by a great number of society members.

The wines

Sparkling
1. New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc. Split Rock 2014
2. French. Cremant de Limoux, Rose. Roche Lancour 2013

White
3. Peach Stone. Sicily. Grillo/Sauvignon Blanc
4. La Cabalie. French. Viognier blend

Red
5. Porta 6. Portuguese.
6. La Cabalie. French. Grenache Blend

Dessert
7. Lidl Tokay
8. Blandy's Duke of Clarence.

December 2016. World of Wine from the WIne Society

This month we had our very own John Denman presenting wines from around the world from the Wine Society.
For thoe who don't know about the Wine Society, its a non profit members society, dedicated to wine. Its bee  in business since the 1800's. It costs £40 to join, and you get £20 off your first order. They do some great wines and great prices.
Membership would make a great gift to a wine lover.

The wines were:
1) Spain - Cava Conde de Haro Brut. £12.50
2) South Africa - The Society`s South African Chenin Blanc. £6.95
Stellenbosch 2016
3) Germany - Ruppertsberger Honeburg Reisling Kabinett 2015 £6.95
4) New Zealand - The Society`s New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon
Blanc 2016. £9.95
5) Italy - Red Lambrusco. £10.95
6) USA - The Society`s California Old-Vine Zinfandel 2013 £8.95
7) Lebanon - Hochar 2011. £11.95
8) France - Rivesaltes Vin Doux Naturel - Parce Freres 1998 £14.50

Best wines: The Hochar was very good, as were the Chenin Blanc and Riesling, but the steal of the nigh has to be the Zinfandel. Excellent value.

November 2016 - Wirra Wirra wines from Gonzalez Byass, Ben Wyse

An excellent evening, presented by Ben Wyse of Gonzales Byass, who don't just do sherrry – these are from Wirra Wirra in Australia

The wines were:

Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise White 2015: RSP £9.99 Ocado, Amazon.co.uk

Wirra Wirra Adelaide Chardonnay 2014: RSP £12 Cheers Wine Merchants, Divine Wines, Hennings Fine Wines

Wirra Wirra 12^th Man Chardonnay 2015: RSP £19 The Wine Society, Hennings Fine Wines, Cheers Wine Merchants, Bin 21, Harper Wells, The Wine Chambers, Winos (Oldham)

Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigley Moscato 2015: RSP £9.99 Ocado, Cheers Wine Merchants, Bin 21, Hennings Wine Merchants, The Wine Chambers, The Vineyard (Dorking), The Whalley Wine Shop, Mmm & Glug (Newcastle), The Oxford Wine Company

Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise Red 2014: RSP £9.99 Ocado, Amazon.co.uk

Wirra Wirra Adelaide Shiraz 2014: RSP £12 Hennings Fine Wines, Divine Wines

Wirra Wirra Church Block 2013: RSP £13.50 Waitrose, Ocado, Tesco.com ‘wine by the case’, Morrisons Cellar, The Wine Society

Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz 2013: RSP £19 thedrinkshop.com, Cheers Wine Merchants, Divine Wines

Wirra Wirra Dead Ringer Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: RSP £40 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Vagabond Wines, Abbey Fine Wines, H2Vin, The Wine Chambers, Cheers Wine Merchants, Vinea (Liverpool)

All good wines, I rather liked the first 2 whites – but the last wine is truly a great wine. Yes, it is £40, yes, i'm not going to drink it as an everyday wine, but it could well be the best wine you've ever tasted.