The Edinburgh Wine Club 

 'I'm a celebrity - get me a glass of wine!"

16 November 2017

WINE

APPELLATION/ REGION

GRAPE

COUNTRY

PRODUCER

SUPPLIER

PRICE




COMMENTS

Ranking 1-3; Best White; Best Value

1. Pol Roger

12.5%

Champagne Reserve Brut

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay

France

Pol Roger

Waitrose Cellar

34.99

Totally delicious, with lots of biscuit on the nose. Would go well with cigars!

2nd

and

BW

2.

Champagne Cocktail

a) The SocietyÕs

Saumur Brut (12%)


b) Trenet Absinthe (60%)

a) Chenin Blanc,

Cabernet Franc,

Chardonnay


France

a) Gratien et Meyer


b) Trenet

a) Wine Society


b) Drink Supermarket

a) 9.95


b) 7.55

per 10cl.

There was a lot of interest in tasting absinthe, and a lot of people liked Saumur, but not a lot of interest in having them together. ÒThe spittoon speaks volumesÓ. ÒNot deeply unpleasant!Ó. ÒCreamy, but a bit soapyÓ. One or two Ð well ok just two - differed, finding it surprisingly palatable and refreshing.


3. Blue Nun

Wine from various EU countries

Not specified

Not specified

Sichel

Sainsbury

5.00

Quite a good reception for Blue Nun (and it got a vote!) Ð sweet, very pleasant, vanilla custard/marshmallow (and even tuna) on the nose. It was even correctly identified. The leopard hadnÕt changed its spots, but our nostalgia was broken by the trendy new bottle Ð did Posh Spice design it? So, from Blue Nun to Blue EyesÉ.


4. Bolla Soave Classico 2016 (12.5%)

Veneto

Garganega,

Trebbiano di Soave

Italy

Bolla

Uvinum

5.75

On the positive we found strawberries and pear on the nose, and a sweet and sour palate. Less positively it was inoffensive, sharp and a bit thin.


5. Ischia Biancolella

2016 D.O.C. (13%)

Campania


Biancolella

Italy

Feudi di San Gregorio

Uvinum

11.61

We found vegetables on the nose (greens, broccoli) and fruit on the palate (citrus/grapefruit). ÒI liked it, and could get used to itÓ).


6. Copertino

D.O.P. 2013 (13%)

Puglia

Negroamaro

Italy

Artieri

Majestic

7.99

This sparked a lot of comment. On the nose, aromatic wood (cedar or sandalwood), spice (Old Spice to go with Blue Nun nostalgia? Or even the smell of Cremola Foam in a tin?). While the palate offered black fruits, damson, vanilla, more spice Ð what a flavour! But it was a bit short Ð no, long! Ðshort! long! -Éva bene, it now seems longÉ



BV

7. Domaine de la Janasse 2012

(14%)

Terre dÕ Argile,

C™tes du Rh™ne Villages

40% Grenache 20% Mourvedre,

20% Carignan,

15% Syrah,

5% Cinsault

France

La Janasse

Wine Society

14.95

Lots of fruit such as ripe raspberries on the nose for some, but others found a typical grenache nose and cabbage. On the palate soft tannins. And also spice and white pepper, which suggested the Syrah was coming through even at only 15% of the blend. Overall a very nice, very good wine (Òmy first love, C™tes du Rh™ne!Ó)


8. Domaine Maume Marchand Tawse

2012 13.5 %

Gevrey-Chambertin,

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

France

Domaine Maume

Wine Society

36.00

On the nose some found fragrant cherries, some found it earthy with raspberry, and others found lavender. On the palate it was very clean and uncomplicated with good tannins and a taste of cherries. Overall very good with a significant presence Ð a wine to be reckoned with. But at least some questioned whether it was sufficiently better than the previous wine to justify the much higher price.


9. Chateau Chasse-Spleen 2010 (13.5%)

Moulis en MŽdoc,

Bordeaux

55% Cab Sav,

40% Merlot,

5% Petit Verdot

France

Chateau Chasse-Spleen

Waitrose Cellar

37.00

Fabulous! Smells like KeatsÕ Ode to Autumn!... Though for another it smelt more like his grandsonÕs rugby socksÉ It was a more complicated wine than the Burgundy Ð so many subtle flavours bound together that it was difficult to specify them. But that didnÕt stop us tryingÉblackcurrants ready to go into jam, plums, lots of spices, hint of raisins, hint of liquorice, touch of mineral É and tremendous length. Claret is king! You can still rock them, B****!!

1st

10.

Moscatel de Setubal

(17.5%)

DO Setubal

Moscatel de Setubal (aka Muscat of Aleandria)

Portugal

Adega de Pegoes

Wine Society

9.95

By this time the discussion must have been fairly chaotic (because my notes are fairly illegible) but highlights wereÉMy absolute favourite Muscat!...Wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity, of syrup and astringency ÉThe Biz!.. Fragrant! ÉÒIs it Morish?ÓÉItÕs the nutmeg!... ItÕs the burnt oranges!..ItÕs the persimmon!............

3rd




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