October - 30 years of UWS

So, the big event. All ticket, a full 50 people showed up to taste wines at £30 quid a bottle. Who's brilliant idea was that? Mine as it happens - was it a success - I'm not sure, it was a top of my head, spur of the moment thing.

Anyway, after the 25th celebrations when classic world wines turned into top french wines, I was wanting to get great wines from around the world - you know - Argentinian Malbec, a top Riesling, or a late harvest Gewurtzraminer perhaps. We didn't quite get that, as we were limited by who we could get to speak, and although we were lucky enough to get Mike Ritchie MW of Morenos, it did mean we got a Spanish dominated selection, with wines from Sicily, Australia and Chile to finish

Vino Tondonia Bianco Reserva 1992 - £23.07 + VAT
V3 Vinas Viejas Verdejo 2008 - £22.50 + VAT
Cosme Palacio "1894" Bianco 2008 - £37.33+ VAT
Mauro 2009 - £24.00 + VAT
Cosme Palacio "1894" Tinto 2007 - £37.33+ VAT
Duca di Salaparuta Duco Enrico Nero d'Avola 2006 -  £37.33+ VAT
Penley reserve Cab Sau 2004 - £31.52 + VAT
Altazor 2006 - £22.65 + VAT

Although it was an excellent evening, I'm afraid my taste buds just aren't £30 a bottle ones. I did struggle to taste the difference - as Sainsbury's might have said. Don't get me wrong, some of them were very good, but for me, not worth £30.

If I were to choose, I'd go for the Mauro 2009, the Penley reserve and the Altazor - good tasty reds.
The Nero d'Avola was still quite tough. The Vino Tondonia is a classic Old style oxidised Rioja - quite sherry like - but definitely a particular taste.

September - Wines of Virginia

Yes, that's Virginia in the USA.  James Dare of New Horizon Wines (jamesdare@newhorizonwines.com) presented a bunch of quite pricy wines from Virginia. Apparently its quite a decent sized wine area - there are something like 200 wineries on the guide he gave us, and I assume there must be more.
Anyway, the wine - 3 Whites, all Viognier, and 5 reds, Cabernet franc x 2, Petit Verdot and 2 blends. Prices ranged from £15 to £21 per bottle. I'd like to say it was all great, but I can't say as I'd just hd my Tonsils out the previous week and could not really taste a thing. However, from all the slurping and general yum yum sounds, I think they hit the spot generally.
Are they worth the money? Thats for you to decide - they are available through new horizon wines, so if you want to try some, contact them direct. www.newhorizonwines.com