What we tasted in September 2020

Many thanks to Andrew Hill or George Hill and Co of Loughborough for hosting a Zoom tasting of South African wines.

Details of the wines presented were:

Quando Sauvignon Blanc       

  • The vineyard and winery is owned by the descendants of the original French Bruere family that settled on this property in the 1700’s, Fanus and Martin Bruwer head up family’s wine making business six generations later. 
  • Since we started making wine in 2001 our Sauvignon Blanc has been a real crowd pleaser. It is light green in colour with exotic forthcoming frangipani flower, passionfruit and white peach on the nose. Flinty minerally notes on the pallet follow through with a crisp acidity. Delicious juicy green fruit flavours round it off elegantly.

Jordan Black Magic

  • Gary and Kathy Jordan have been making world-class wines since 1993 on a farm with a history going back over 300 years. He’s a geologist, she’s an economist – together this husband and wife team is a phenomenon. From the Jordan hillside vineyards, one has spectacular panoramic views of Table Mountain, False Bay and Stellenbosch.
  • Their focus is on producing fiercely individual wines that combine the fruity accessibility of the New World with the Classic Elegance of the Old.

False Bay Wild Bunch O V Cinsault

  • Whole Bunch Cinsault Mourvèdre is not cobbled together from off-cuts of leftover red and white wine. Nor is it over-cropped red grapes pressed aggressively to maximise juice yield and confected aromas. The wine comes from low-yielding, coastal vineyards, delicately whole-bunch basket pressed for only the purest juice. A fine wine that happens to be pink.

What we tasted in August 2020

Many thank to John Malpass and John Freeland for presenting the tasting over Zoom.

The wines tasted were:

  1. Wente Vineyards, Morning Fog Estate grown Chardonnay 2018 Livermore Valley, California
  2. California Pinot Noir “Long Barn” 2018

What we tasted in January 2020

Many thanks to Claudia Balestracci of Mentzendorff for presenting a range of Italian wines from producers Fertuna, Ceretto and Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona.

More information is available here:
Web: mentzendorff.co.uk

  1. Ceretto Lange DOC Arneis 2018 Blangé
  2. Tenuta Fertuna Droppello IGT Toscana Branco 2018
  3. Ceretto Barbaresco DOCG 2016
  4. Ceretto Barolo DOCG 2014
  5. Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona IGT Toscana Rosso 2016
  6. Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona Ateo Sant’Antimo DOC 2016
  7. Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2015
  8. Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG 2014

What we tasted in August 2019

Many thanks to our members and guests for a fantastic turn out for the AGM and Member’s tasting.  A number of varied and entertaining presentations from our members gave us a wonderful opportunity to try some wines many hadn’t tried before.

Many thanks to Margaret Connor for organising the tasting and to the members for volunteering.

  1. Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir NV, Adelaide Hills, Australia
  2. Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand 2018
  3. Les Divolottes, Jean Vullien & Fils, Chignin Bergeron, Coteau de Montmelian 2018, Savoie France
  4. Bin #002 Zweigelt 2017, Familie Mantler, Weinviertel, Austria
  5. Domaine Comte Peraldi Red 2014, Ajaccio, Corsica
  6. Chianti Classico Riserva 2013, Tenute Piccini, Tuscany Italy
  7. 19 Crimes 2018, Victoria, Australia
  8. Peninsula Palo Cortado, Jerez, Spain NV

What we tasted in June 2019

Many thanks to John Freeland and John Malpass for presenting an interesting range of wines from Jordan Wine Estate, South Africa.

More information is available here:
Web: jordanwines.com
Web: abswineagencies.co.uk

  1. Cold Fact Sauvignon Blanc 2017
  2. Inspector Péringuey Chenin Blanc 2017
  3. Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2017
  4. Nine Yards Chardonnay 2016
  5. Black Magic Merlot 2015
  6. The Long Fuse Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
  7. The Prospector Syrah 2015
  8. Cobblers Hill Bordeaux Blend 2014 

What we tasted in April 2019

Many thanks to Angela Lewis of Villa Maria Wines presenting a range of wines from their New Zealand portfolio. The audio visual presentation helped increase our understanding of the passion behind the family owned business.

More information is available here:
Web: villamariawines.com

  1. Villa Maria Cellar Selection Gisborne Albarino 2018
  2. Villa Maria Reserve Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
  3. Vidal Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
  4. Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2017
  5. Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Noir 2012
  6. Vidal Legacy Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2014
  7. Vidal Legacy Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
  8. Villa Maria Reserve Noble Riesling 2016


What we tasted in January 2019

Many thanks to Duncan Murray of local independent wine merchant Duncan Murray Wines of Market Harborough for presenting a great range of wines from the south of France.

For more information:

Web: duncanmurraywines.co.uk
Email: info@duncanmurraywines.co.uk
Tel: 01858 464935
Facebook: Duncan Murray Wines
Twitter: @DMURRAYWINES


  1. Picpoul de Pinet 2017 ‘Roches Saintes’
  2. Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh 2017
  3. Tiré-Bouché 2017
  4. Lafage Centenaire Vieilles Vignes 2016
  5. Turbigo’ Vin de France 2017
  6. Buzet Sans 2017
  7. CDRV Boislauzon 2016
  8. Madiran Domaine Serjent 2015
  9. Maury Grenat Domaine Lafage 2017

What we tasted in December 2018

Many thanks to James Long of Corney and Barrow for presenting a range of festive wines from their portfolio. We all had a great evening.

More information is available on their website and can be contacted at:

Email: newmarket@corneyandbarrow.com
Phone: 01638 600 000
Address: Belvoir House, High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8DH

  1. Marquis de Bonnières Brut, Epernay, France
  2. Quinta de Chocapalha Arinto, Lisbon, Portugal
  3. Andaina Godello, Adegas Galegas, DO Monterrei, Spain 
  4. Homer, Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand
  5. Sanziana, Pinot Noir, Recas Cramele, Romania
  6. L’Aurae, Castillion Côtes de Bordeaux, France
  7. Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso, Cecilia Beretta, Italy
  8. Cabernet Sauvignon, Bakestone Cellars, North Coast, California, USA
  9. Chateau Briatte, Bordeaux, France

Next tasting – 12th October

In October we welcome Daniel Partington from Shawbury Wine, presenting a range a Italian wines from their portfolio.

For more information:
Web: shawbury.wine
Tel: 01675 481516

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 2018

Many thanks to Tony Wellings from The Antipodean Sommelier, Peterborough, for presenting wines from their New Zealand and Australia portfolios.  We all had a very entertaining evening.

  1. Ward Valley “Triple Block” Sauvignon Blanc 2017
  2. Tony Bish “Fat&Sassy” Chardonnay 2017
  3. Silent Noise Chardonnay 2018
  4. Two Rivers “Isle of Beauty” Rose 2017
  5. Silent Noise “Nero” Rose 2018
  6. Silent Noise Shiraz//Grenache/Zinfandel 2017
  7. Two Rivers “Brooksby Hill” Syrah 2016
  8. Silent Noise Reserve Shiraz 2014