It was nice to see Ian Hewson of the Wine Man Ltd, Streatly on Thames, again at the wine club. This has now become an annual event and a very welcome one. He was introducing us to some new ideas on wine for Christmas, and his choices where indeed interesting. Especially the Scharzhofberger Riesling 2003

Bischofliche Mosel. Ian recommends this light wine as an aperitif before dinner, low alcohol content is always useful if you still have dinner to finish, especially in my case.

The other remarkable wine of the evening was the Central Otago Pinot Noir 2006 Wild Earth, from New Zealand this was the most glorious wine I have tasted in a while. Smooth complex and very satisfying on the pallet, several of us went away a few pence lighter, despite the credit crunch, but looking forward to Christmas!!

The next wine club meeting is on SPARKLING WINES, so we hope to see plenty of villagers to enjoy this fun evening.

Chris Traynor

It was nice to see so many members at the wine club meeting on the 15^th of October, plenty of familiar faces and lots of new ones, 44 wished to attend, this called for extra wine to be ordered, and plenty of merry members.

The evening tasting was on the Wines of Provence and South West France, well travelled by many an English foot.

The wines started off with an exceptional desert wine Chateau Jolys, 2004 Jurancon Curvee Jean 13% Waitrose £10.99. This is a lovely wine, and John on the committee raves about it quite indecently, makes a girl blush.!

The wine is produced by leaving the grapes to shrivel and thus concentrate their flavour, and sugar content. Some times the grapes are harvested individually, that takes great patience and a strong pair of glasses, and the harvest can last from October until January.

One other interesting way of producing desert wines is the ice method. This method allows the grapes to be harvested at below 8 C, before hand picking, with a good pair of gloves. The frozen grape produces exceptionally concentrated juice, but the catch is 80% less juice than a normal grape, hence the price between £37-£50 even more in Asia where it is extremely popular. Canada has cornered the market, something for the more sensitive lumberjack to do.

The reds where very nice on this occasion especially the “ Black Wine of Cahor” a very medieval label, this is a very famous wine, and can be very full bodied, and powerful, sounds a bit like the new James Bond, not that I am a fan.

Please feel free to join our interesting, entertaining evenings at the wine club by contacting Mike or Fiona on 850989, or 851001.

We hope to see more people from the village.

Chris Traynor

Dates, topics and Speakers have been arranged for the Wine Appreciaton Meetings for the next 5 months.

Continue Reading Dates for Wine Appreciation Meetings

Call My Bluff
Wednesday 21st February, 8pm, Village Hall

Continue Reading Wine Appreciation Club – February