SEPTEMBER 2007-JUNE 2008

To see a review of any individual tasting, where available, please click on the tasting title.

Wednesday 19 September 2007: What is quality? with Richard Bampfield MW

We are delighted to be able to welcome Richard Bampfield MW back to the club to kick off our 2007-2008 season. As many of you will know Richard has entertained and educated us in equal measure on several occasions in the past on a variety of topics from Bordeaux to Brands. On this occasion, at his own suggestion, he is coming to discuss the question of ‘What is quality?’.

We frequently talk about quality wines but what do we really mean by quality and how do we determine this in the finished product? To facilitate this discussion Richard will arrange for us to taste 4 pairs of wines either blind or semi-blind.  The pairs will include 2 blind whites, 2 white burgundies, 2 Riojas and 2 Australian reds.  In each pair, there will be one cheaper wine (under £10) and one more expensive wine (over £15) and Richard will tell us what the wines are but not the order in which they are being served. The aim is to demonstrate the difference in quality which justifies the premium on the more expensive wine…….or not as the case may be!

Tuesday 16 October 2007: Asian food and wine evening with Jonathan Pedley MW

We are delighted to be able to welcome Jonathan Pedley MW back to the Club for an Asian food and wine evening. Chinese and Indian flavours are often thought to be notoriously difficult to match with wine, so Jonathan has agreed to help us solve this knotty gastronomic problem. This is your chance to try a range of wines with traditional hot and cold Asian dishes and discover which wines can complement the food. The tasting will follow an informal walk around format – you will be able to eat, taste and mingle. We hope the evening will be interesting, informative and fun. Jonathan is an excellent presenter and has entertained and educated us before, including his very enjoyable and illuminating visit to the Club to present and adjudicate the California vs. Australia “Test match” evening a couple of years ago. 

On October 17, we will be able to try wines made from different grape varieties and from around the world along with a selection of dim sum, meat, fish, vegetable, fruit and rice dishes cooked to traditional Indian and Chinese recipes. There will be a chance to contrast, compare and debate. What works best? You will decide! Jonathan will introduce the wines and club member Hilary Reid-Evans, who is overseeing the cooking, will tell us about the food. The aim is try the different taste sensations with a wide range of wine styles and reach our own conclusions!

Friday 16 November 2007: Nine decades of Domain Huet, Vouvray with Richard Kelley MW

Richard Kelley has led two of the Club’s most talked about tastings starting with his memorable matching of food and wine from the Loire a couple of years ago.

Now he is back for another – quite different – take on the Loire. This time he is presenting wines from nine decades of Domaine Huet, arguably the greatest of all Vouvray’s producers. The wines go back to 1924 (and cover every decade up to 2000) and we are privileged to have this opportunity to taste not just the superb sweet wines of Domaine Huet but also examples of demi-sec, sec and pétillant wines.

Amongst the sweet wines is the legendary 1947 Le Haut Lieu Moelleux – one of the greatest ever years for sweet wine in the Loire and regarded by some as the finest wine that Huet have ever produced.

We will be tasting well over £2000 worth of wine and we have a maximum capacity of 70 people for this event. The price – with some Club subsidy – will be £30 for members and £32 for guests. Expensive, yes, but well worth it for a tasting of this quality.

Tuesday 11 December 2007: BIODYNAMICS with Jasper Morris MW

For our next Club tasting we will explore some of the leading biodynamic wines of France and other countries under the expert tutelage of Jasper Morris MW whom we are delighted to welcome back. Many of the leading growers of Burgundy and Alsace, as well as other parts of the wine world, have embraced the concept of biodynamics in their vineyards and wines. For others this is complete hogwash, with its reliance on the moon and the stars, burying dung in cow horns and the like. Jasper will unravel some of the mysteries and, if not already converted, will attempt to convince us of the benefits, by illustrating the philosophy of biodynamics with wines from such great producers as Comte Lafon, Zind Humbrecht, Felton Road and other leading domains.

It will be an interesting and entertaining evening, and a great lead into the Christmas festive season. Don’t miss the opportunity to debate the finer points of biodynamics with Jasper!

Wednesday 16 January 2008: Deep Southern Italy wine and food with Michael Palij MW

To start off 2008 in style, club president Michael Palij MW returns by popular demand to introduce us to the joys of some of the fascinating wines from (often curiously named) grape varieties originating in the South of Italy. For the purposes of this tasting the south will start in Campania (the region around Naples) and extend down into Sicily. Campania offers some ancient varieties once cultivated by the Romans which are, in particular, used to make a wonderful array of fruity white wines of which we will taste several - a Fiano, a Falanghina and a Greco as well as red wines from the Aglianico grape. Primitivo from Puglia frequently appears in relatively inexpensive guises – Michael plans to present us with a top quality example which, at around £30 retail, veers well away from the norm. To go with the wines there will be a selection of complementary Italian foods which Hilary Reid Evans has once again kindly agreed to prepare for us (in tasting sized quantities, so please do not expect a full meal). Those of you who sampled the Indian and Chinese dishes she prepared for us in October will no doubt be salivating already!

Friday 15 February 2008: Yardstick wines from around the world with Sebastian Payne MW, buyer for the Wine Society

The Wine Society is owned by its members and exists exclusively for their benefit. Founded in 1874, its aim is to introduce members to the best of the world's vineyards at a fair price. Our February speaker is Sebastian Payne MW, the Society’s Bordeaux and Italy wine buyer, who will take us on an exploration through the best of their ‘yardstick wines’ from round the world.

Sebastian went to the wine trade straight from Oxford working as a dogsbody for Fred May who had the Hungarian wines exclusivity and was a German wine specialist. He joined the Wine Society in 1974 and has been there ever since, becoming a buyer in 1985, and as such has visited many wine producing regions and tasted thousands of wines. He became a MW in 1977 and was Chairman of its Institute in 1995.

We will taste a few recognized classics with others that might be less predictable but still, wines with character worth talking about! We will also be including 2 burgundies subsidized for us by the Wine Society. 

Even if you’re already a member of the Wine Society you shouldn’t miss this opportunity to come and find out more about the world's oldest wine club and its superb list of wines.

Wednesday12 March 2008

SW wines: Cahors /Madiran /Gaillac /Jurancon

Andrew Jefford

Thursday 24 April 2008

TBC

Tuesday 20 May 2008 & AGM

Greek wines

George Lemos of Vickbar

Thursday 26 June 2008

Randall Grahm, Bonny Doon