What we tasted in November 2010

Craggy Range

Many thanks to Warren Adamson for a fantastic evening.

Web: www.craggyrange.com
Email: warren.adamson@craggyrange.com

  1. 2008 Riesling Otago Station Vineyard Waitaki Valley, North Otago
  2. 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Avery Vineyard
    Marlborough
  3. 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Vineyard
    Martinborough
  4. 2007 Chardonnay Kidnapper Vineyard
    Hawkes Bay
  5. 2008 Pinot Noir Te Muna Vineyard
    Martinborough
  6. 2008 “Te Kahu” Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon
    Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay
  7. 2008 Gimblett Gravels Syrah
    Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay
  8. 2007 “Le Sol” Syrah
    Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay

Next Tasting – Friday 12th November

In November we welcome Warren Adamson who will be presenting wines from Craggy Range of New Zealand. 

More information is available on their website.

Note that Members are contacted by a member of the Committee each month to commit to attendance at the tasting. Unfortunately, it is not possible for members or guests to simply ‘turn up on the night’ owing to space limitations and the need to arrange catering in advance.

What we tasted in October 2010

Ayala Champagne

Many thanks to Simon Leschallas and Iain Phillips for a fantastic evening.

Web: mentzendorff.co.uk
Web: champagne-ayala.fr
Email: info@mentzendorff.co.uk
Orders: orders@mentzendorff.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  1. Ayala Brut Nature NV Zero Dosage
    45% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay 25% Pinot Meunier
  2. Ayala Brut Majeur NV
    45% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay 25% Pinot Meunier
  3. Ayala Blanc de Blanc 2004
    100% Chardonnay
  4. Ayala Cuvée Perle d’Ayala Nature 2002
    80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir
  5. Ayala Cuvée Perle d’Ayala 2002
    80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir
  6. Ayala Brut Millesimé 1999
    80% Pinot Noir 20% Chardonnay
  7. Ayala Cuvée Rosé Nature NV
    53% Chardonnay 39% Pinot Noir 8% still Pinot Noir 
  8. Ayala Rosé Majeur NV
    51% Chardonnay 30% Pinot Noir 10% Pinot Meunier 9% still Pinot Noir
  9. Ayala Rich Majeur NV
    45% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay 25% Pinot Meunier

 

 

Next Tasting – Friday 8th October

In October we welcome Iain Phillips of Mentzendorf who will be presenting Ayala Champagne. 

More information is available on their website.

Note that Members are contacted by a member of the Committee each month to commit to attendance at the tasting. Unfortunately, it is not possible for members or guests to simply ‘turn up on the night’ owing to space limitations and the need to arrange catering in advance.

What we tasted in September 2010

English Wine Producers

Many thanks to Julia Trustam Eve and David Welland for a fantastic evening.

Web: englishwineproducers.com
Twitter: @englishwine
Facebook: English Wine Producers
Email: julia@englishwineproducers.com

Web: welland-vineyard.com
Email: welland@talktalk.net

 
  1. Ridgeview Bloomsbury 2007
    64% Chardonnay 22% Pinot Noir 14% Pinot Meunier
  2. Welland Valley Steeplechase 2006
    60% Seyval Blanc 40% Reichensteiner
  3. Camel Valley Bacchus 2009
  4. Chapel Down Pinot Blanc 2009
  5. Biddenden Ortega 2009
  6. Three Choirs Premium Selection Rosé 2009
    Seyval blanc, Tripmphe, Regent
  7. Brightwell Oxford Regatta 2007
    85% Dornfelder, 15% Dunkelfeler
  8. Astley Late Harvest 2008
    100% Siegerrebe

Wine Gang Christmas Fair – Saturday November 6th 2010

Tickets on sale now. See below for Earlybird offer!

Book on ticketSOUP.com or by phoning 0844 481 8898 (9am-9pm seven days a week). Tickets will also be available from Vinopolis.      

Perfectly timed for the festive season, the Fair is being held at Vinopolis, London. The mood will be lively and fun, giving you the opportunity to sample 600 terrific wines, many of which we’ve rated as Gold, Silver or Bronze. The Gang will be there leading free ‘Wine Walks’, taking in some of our personal favourite wines.You have a choice of two sessions: 

Session one: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Session two: 4:00pm – 7:00pm

New for 2010: masterclasses! 

We are thrilled to announce a whole new dimension to the Fair this year: a series of tutored tastings delivered by some of the world’s greatest winemakers. 

  1. Understanding Pinot Noir & Sauvignon Blanc with Dr Damian Martin of Ara, New Zealand
  2. The Sélections Parcellaires of Maison M. Chapoutier with Michel Chapoutier, France
  3. Languedoc, the Rubik’s cube of wine with Jean Claude Mas of Domaines Paul Mas, France
  4. Champions of Chenin Blanc with Ken Forrester, South Africa

(see here for more details) 

Ticket prices 

Tickets for either session cost £20 each, with an early bird offer at £17.50 until October 15th (see code below). Note that Wine Gang members can buy tickets for just £15.00, so why not consider joining the Gang for as little as £11.99?To add any masterclass will cost an additional £10 (how’s that for a bargain!). Please note that you must hold a ticket to the relevant session of the Christmas Fair to attend a masterclass: masterclasses cannot be booked on their own and have limited capacity, so please book early. 

How to book tickets 

Use the code EARLYBIRD in the ‘Discount Code’ box on the TicketSOUP or Vinopolis web sites to buy tickets at £17.50 each. Quote the code if booking by phone. 

Book on ticketSOUP.com or by phoning 0844 481 8898 (9am-9pm seven days a week). Tickets will also be available from Vinopolis.

We don’t have any affiliation with “The Wine Gang” – it’s just a fantastic day out! 

Nine New Masters of Wine Announced

The Institute of Masters of Wine has confirmed that nine new Masters of Wine have been admitted to its membership following the results of its 2010 examination. The news brings the total number of Masters of Wine in the world to 289, who are resident in 23 different countries.  One of the new MW’s is Justin Knock who presented a Penfolds tasting to the GUWS in October 2006 – see our tasting history for details.  Well done Justin!

In order to become a Master of Wine a candidate must pass both the theory and practical parts of the Masters of Wine Examination and complete a 10,000-word dissertation based upon original research.

Dr. Josef Schuller MW, Chairman of the Institute, said: “The Institute is delighted to welcome these nine new Masters of Wine to its membership. They have demonstrated a unique set of skills in the art, science and business of wine. They must now honour the tradition of excellence upon which the Institute was founded and act as ambassadors for wine at large as they pursue their individual careers as members of our international community.”

The nine new Masters of Wine, their country of residence, occupation and dissertation titles are:

David Allen MW (UK), Private Customer Sales Manager at Coe Vintners, “An examination of the effectiveness of wine as an investment vehicle for UK-based individuals”

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW (Belgium), civil servant at European Commission, “The EU common market organisation for wine: identification and analysis of the driving forces in the policy-making process”

Sebastian Bredal MW (Norway), Managing Director of Symposium Wines AS, “Investigating the factors that influence consumers’ purchasing behaviour of wine in the Norwegian off-trade market”

Alex Hunt MW (UK), Purchasing Director at Berkmann Wine Cellars, “Rising must weights in California: trends, causes, and implications for winemaking”

Melanie Jones MW (UK), wine writer and webmaster, “Factors which contribute towards successful sales of premium Sherry in UK restaurants and their bars”

Justin Knock MW (UK), Wine Buying Manager at Treasury Wine Estates, “How important is regionality to the marketing and sales of Australian wine in the UK market?”

Kate McIntyre MW (Australia), Marketing Manager at Moorooduc Estate, “Australian Chardonnay in crisis – reality or industry perception?”

Jean Reilly MW (USA), wine buyer and journalist based in New York, “US Sommelier attitudes towards German Riesling”

Peter Richards MW (UK), wine writer and broadcaster, “Prospects for premium Chilean Syrah: UK wine trade perspectives”

More information can be found at http://www.mastersofwine.org/

Next tasting Friday 10th September

In September we welcome Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Manager for the English Wine Producers.

More information is available on their website, you can follow them on Twitter, or visit them on Facebook.

Note that Members are contacted by a member of the Committee each month to commit to attendance at the tasting. Unfortunately, it is not possible for members or guests to simply turn up on the night owing to space limitations and the need to arrange catering in advance.

What we tasted in August 2010

AGM and Members Tasting
Many thanks for your input and patience during the AGM.  Also, many thanks for the time, research and presentations from all of the presenters who took part.  The tasting was a New World v. Old World comparison of a number of grape varieties.
Wine Presenters August 2010 – Linda, Peter, Caroline, Liz, Sue, Chris, David, John
Sparkling  
     La Marca Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Extra Dry NV, Italy
    Available from Majestic
    Presented by Margaret Connor 

Chenin Blanc

  1. Le Clos des Forges Clos du Papillon 2008 Savennieres Demi-Sec, Loire Valley France
    Presented by Peter Sinclair
  2. Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2008, South Africa
    Available from Evington Wines
    Presented by Liz & David Farmilo

Riesling

  1. Louis Guntrum Riesling Kabinett 2007, Mosel Germany
    Available from Weavers of Nottingham
    Presented by Linda Moss
  2. Main Divide Riesling 2008, Waipara New Zealand
    Available from Majestic
    Presented by Sue Lobb

Shiraz

  1. Cave du Tain Crozes-Hermitage 2007
    Available from Waitrose
    Presented by Chris Lewis
  2. Viña Mayu Reserva Syrah Elqui Valley 2007, Chile
    Available from Majestic
    Presented by John Malpass

Merlot

  1. Friuli D.O.C Grave Merlot
    Available from Marks & Spencer
    Presented by Caroline Moles
  2. Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Merlot 2007, Colchagua Valley Chile
    Available from Majestic
    Presented by John Malpass

What we tasted in July 2010

Wines of Washington and Oregon

Many thanks to Andrew Williams for a fantastic evening
Web: andrewwilliamswine.co.uk

  1. Precept Sauvignon Blanc 2009
    Washington Hills
  2. Ch St Michelle Chardonnay 2008
    Columbia Valley, Washington
  3. Sokol Blosser Pinot Gris 2008
    Dundee Hills, Oregon
  4. Domaine Drouhin Cuvee Arthur 2007
    Oregon
  5. Washington Hills Merlot 2007
    Washington Hills
  6. Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir 2007
    Dundee Hills, Oregon
  7. Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2007
    Oregon
  8. Col Solare 2004
    Washington