Wine Tasting Review

This page covers the wines we've done at past tastings and highlights the ones we liked and the best sellers. It is not to say the others were inferior just these suited our palate .

November 2008 - Christmas

3 Stones Sauvignon Blanc - 2007 - New Zealand
Sud Viognier- 2007 - Languedoc
Santenay 1st Cru 2003- Dom. Capuano Ferreri - Burgundy
Chapoutier – La Ciboise 2006 - Rhone
Clos Mont Blanc Masia la Comes 2001 - Spain
Neil Joubert Pinotage 2006 - South Africa
Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - Australia
Delaforce Quinta da Courte 1987 - Portugal

Lovley nose on the 3 Stones, classic NZ sauvignon blanc of gooseberry and hints of peach, great acidity on the palate but lacking some fruit, promised more than it delivered. The Sud was a nice example of the viognier grape but seemed flat after the sauvignon, I've had it since and looks like I got the order of wines wrong. The Santenay was lovley and fruity, decanting earlier had removed the gamey nose, very dry and will work really well with food however light enough for Turkey. The Ciboise is a great entry level Chapoutier good depth and flavour. The Clos La Comes was very interesting, more structure and depth than the usual wines from here but still very new world in style, quite big fruits and lovely for sipping in the candle light keeping warm. The Pinotage is not subtle, big tannis, big fruit nose, big African wine as you'd expect - does exactly what is says on the tin (bottle). The Wakefield kept up to reputation and I still believe they make great wines with big everything but still easy drinking and enjoyable with the pepper spice and fruit you want from this - Big Berry fun. Finally the port, a single Quinta from 1987 (should have been declared a full vintage but wasn't)and this proves it, lovely depth of flavour, delicate colour showing its age wonderfully and lasting a long time, just what Christmas day was made for.
As usual we held the charity raffle and raised £76 for the RNLI bringing the total up to £208 so far thanks to the ever generous people who come.

Spetember 2008 - The Americas

Night Harvest white Zinfandel (blush)- 2007
Tapiz Torrontes 2007
Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Echeverria Merlot Maule 2007
Vista Sepia Carmanere 2007
Parducci Organic Zinfandel 2004
Tapiz Malbec Reserve 2004
Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Strawberry nose and palate, great fun and a good quality blush from California, slurping juice if there ever was. If you like Alsace white you'll love the Torrontes loads of floral notes, rich mouthfeel and herbaceous flavours. I really liked it but not popular on the night but that's the joy of wine everyone likes something different. The Laposolle sauvignon was too strong for me at 14.5% and the alcohol over powered the delicate fruit you would expect from this grape but again loved by someone who isn't normally a white lover. The Echeverria is a typical new world Merlot, big black/red fruits that explode in your mouth, not subtle and a quick finish but went down well with those who attended. The Vista Sepia was interesting with wood hints (despite it not being aged in wood)and some good fruit in the middle however it didn't stand up to the company it was it, another time it might have shone but there was too much quality, Championship rather than Premiership. Parducci is produced at a carbon neutral winery so we have the green credentials and a really good example of Zinfandel with plenty of complexity and length. Then came the real classic top dog of the night, Tapiz Malbec reserve, what a fantastic wine; great nose, full bodied, loads of length, fruit and a brilliant example of how good Argentina use this grape to make great wine. Top seller of the evening and one that if you see, buy, if you want some contact us and we'll get some for you do not miss out on this if you can help it. Finally the Lapostolle Cab Sauv and a monster at 15% that has all the hallmarks you'd expect of this Chilean offering - big beefy blackcurrants and spice stripping your tongue and turning you purple. I think Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate factor must have drunk this when she swelled up like a blueberry. Excellent choice to complement a heavy stew or rich hearty winter food. The Americas did us proud and I think I am safe in saying another good night was had by all.
We did the usual raffle in aid of the RNLI and raised �44 so thanks again to the generosity of all our Customers. The total for this season now stands at �132 and counting.

July 2008 - Italy

Gavi Antario - Tenuta la Marchesa 2007
Riff Pinot Grigio IGT Terra Alpina - 2007
Chianti Classico 'Villa Cafaggio' - 2005
Tedeschi San Rocco Valpolicella - Vino di Ripasso - 2005
La Borgata Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - 2006
Nivura Nero d'Avola, Santa Tresa - 2005
Arione Barolo Gigi Rosso - 2003

The Gavi had a clean crisp acidity and the Pinot had some fruit but I still struggle with Italian white unless there is a blazing sun and I want something very light. The Chianti was excellent, loads of fruit, hints of oak and vanilla and crying out for a rich meaty pasta dish. The Valpolicella was amazing bringing loads of flavour and complexity, the marc has added something here that I loved, but not to everyones taste. La Borgata was the top seller, fun fruity and easy to drink, no complaints on this one. The Nivura was massive and one to strip the enamel from your teeth with the tannins and big fruit, needs a rare steak. Finally the Barolo and it didn't disappoint, did exactly what you expected with huge flavours then after a while in the glass, opening up further and softening out, a class act.

February 2008 - Spain

Xenius Cava
Malumbres - Rosada 2006
Clos Mont Blanc Syrah - 2003
Vallemayor Gran Reserva � 1995
Rincon de Navas Reserva - 1997
Valduero Crianza - 2003
Murrieta Tinto Reserva - 2002

Cava is cheap horrible stuff served at the reps welcome party in Benidorm - NOT this one, Xenius is dry, crisp with lovely balance and a hint of cream, this beats any Champers under �15 hands down and a great seller. The Rosada wasn't as well received but I think the cava eclipsed it a little, on going back to this the strawberry nose comes through on the palate, sunny summer afternoons for this one. The Syrah was the top seller loads of fruit, a new world style from the Old World and very enjoyable too. The Vallemayor was classic Gran Reserva Rioja, I could have sipped this all night and never have tired of it. Rincon was an enjoyable Rioja just needing some Tapas to make it great. The Valduero from Ribera del Duero was a great Rioja style wine from the next region along and I can see why this is hoping to pass Rioja as the best region in Spain, they really work hard to deliver a great wine here. The last of the evening was the Murrieta, their second wine after Y'gay but no second place in my view, a big powerful Rioja, loads of punch and an impressive 14.5%, not for the faint hearted, a bull in full flight - Bull 1 Matador 0 on this one.

November 2007 - New World

We went to Oz, New Zealand and South Africa for this one:
Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2005 - NZ
Tyrell�s Old Winery Semillon 2005 - Oz
Klein Constantia Chardonnay Reserve 2004 - SA
St Clair Merlot 2005 - NZ
Sylvan Vale Pinotage Reserve 2003 - SA
Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - Oz
Wakefield Estate Shiraz 2006 - Oz

Palliser is a classic NZ sauv. blanc loads of peach and softness kissing your tongue delicately. I still can't get on with Semillon as a grape even on this one which was a good example but if you like the grape you'll like this one. The Klein had all the new world Chardonnay characteristics one would expect, lacks subtlety but does exactly what you want if you like the new world oak approach. The Merlot was top draw, black cherries and a soft and gentle mouthfeel one bottle would never be enough, one you can drink and drink. Pinotage can be feisty, this one was and came back at you for some more, good strong flavours and wanting not just to complement your meal but eat it for you too! I've loved Vasse Felix since I first tried one about 8 or 9 years ago. This is still a great wine, expensive compared to a lot of the new world stuff but Western Oz makes great wines and this is a great example. Wakefield make classy wine (try the St Andrews if you get the chance and a few pounds in your pocket) and this is a lovely Shiraz with the pepper you want, loads of fruit, great length and flavours that assault your mouth, like the inhabitants nothing subtle but great fun.

June 2007 - France

Our first wine tasting and it had to be France because for me it is the home of wine and generally because we are Old World people at heart. France offers everything from the worst to the finest and all shades in between.
Apologies for the lack of dates but I lost the tasting notes and the review is based on my jaded old memory, but I remember the good ones.

Monmarthe Premier Cru - Champagne
Sancerre Rose - Ch. De Fontain Audon
Saint Veran, Drouhin
Gewurztraminer, Hugel
Ch. Haut Badon Gr. Cru St Emilion
Crozes-Hermitage les Meysonniers - Chapoutier
Domain Paul Mas Clos des Mures

The Champagne was average. The Sancerre lacked flavour and was such a disappointment. Drouhin makes good wine, if you like classic Chardonnay gently aged in oak with oak hints, subtlety and flavour this is for you (it was for me and Christine too - lovely). If you like Alsace whites, German grapes made into proper wine by those who know how to you'll enjoy this. A good introductory level Gewurzts. The St Emilion had a great nose and nice woody hints but the fruit you expect didn't come through, shame as Chris loves SE. Then a big boy came in beat us up, made us drink this Crozes-Hermitage and demanded we like it, this is a fantastic Crozes loads of fruit, alcohol, tannin and reminds us why we love French wine. Last but not least the region that provides so much for the EU wine lake with thin badly produced wines but not Paul Mas. Produced in an enclosed vineyard this is a thick, rich, hearty red made for winter evenings and rich venison stew (or a home made steak and kidney suet pudding). This wine was made to be drunk with roast beef and I have.


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