As January draws to a close ....

.... another era closes for us; tomorrow is Hubby's last day at work as he is retiring. We've many plans for 2018, home and away, it's an exciting time which we young retirees are looking forward too.

Another close is I opened the last tasting bottle for the Aldi 17th Panel - Leaf Plucker Sauvignon Blanc. This was nothing like I expected, in fact the whole experience gave wine tasting a new dimension.

The label: certainly not a traditional wine design. I loved the pencil cartoon of the sheep being washed in the tub with instructions and of course the wolf in sheep's clothing. Why sheep on a wine label? A flock managed to enter this South African vineyard and started nibbling the leaves, wine maker Thys Louw soon realised they helped expose the grapes to more sun, a great example of nature working in harmony. 

I decided to try this at room temperature and chilled to see which suited this Sauvignon best, so after pouring my initial glass I popped the bottle in the fridge for later; there were some interesting differences.

Room temperature - a very pale olive yellow in colour with tiny bubbles collecting on the bottom surface of the glass. On the nose it was tropical with green apples and a citrus crispness. It had an underlying fizz in the mouth, slightly creamy, appley with a lengthy sharp citrus finish. I enjoyed a small plate of cheddar cheese and biscuits with this which brought our a little minerality. The fizz disappeared as the wine sat in the glass.

Chilled - a much brighter colour, sparkling pale green pear with no bubbles in the glass. It's much lighter nose was green apple with a high note of citrus. In the mouth the wine was much dryer, no evidence of the fizz. It was a sharper wine, more Sauvignon Blanc like with a smoother, less creamy taste, although not so long in the finish.

I did miss the gooseberry, melon, grassy notes I enjoy in Sauvignon Blanc but all told I enjoyed this wine. I found the creaminess in my first glass more like Chardonnay, maybe due to  its fermentation in contact with the skins and 25% of the wine being in oak barrels. 

Thank you Aldi for this and all the other wines I've enjoyed in your Wine Club 17th Tasting Panel.

It was Burns' Night last Thursday, I usually cook a three course dinner for high days and holidays, giving Hubby and I a chance to try food and wine from specific places. We had been out in the day enjoying Afternoon Tea with family so this year we just had Haggis and tatties, although I did make peppercorn sauce to accompany the dish. 

With our Scottish meal we had Diet Coke, not something you expected but every year I make Bobby Burns' cocktails and they are quite strong. Even stronger her this year as instead of ice (which would dilute it slightly) I used our whisky stones. It's a very easy cocktail: equal measures of whisky, vermouth and herbal spirit.

The 20th of each month is review time for the nominated tasting on Cuvée Reserve. I really enjoy hosting this forum, our members write some great reviews, in face we've built up quite a library. There's plenty of buying tips too and heads up regarding events, saying that I was quite disappointed not to make the France Show this weekend just gone.

The January tasting at Cuvée Reserve was Morrison's White Douro chosen by Dave. We really enjoyed this wine: here's Hubby's review.

"Those of you who know me, know that I am not that keen on white wines, but I do make exceptions! Not a big Portuguese wine drinker either, but have previously been surprised by Vino Verdi, the Wine Societies own label VV is lovely, white Porta 6 a disappointment. 

Anyway I liked this delicate white. I found a nose of white back of the nose mineral stones, feint traces of pineapple, tropicality. A light floral mouth, not overly in your face, but thirst quenching if a little short lived and watery but very quaffable. We both liked it and would buy it again which is a good sign. 

One for the summer in the garden for me."

And so to close with two 'last' ones - on separate shops both Hubby and I found the last bottle in these two Lidl promotions: Val de Salis Blanc de Blanc and Tokaji.

Amazingly both reduced to £3.99, an amazing 71% discount on the Tokaji.  I'm sure with our celebrations this week the bubbly will be popped but I'll be saving the Tokaji as I think it deserves a special dessert.

104K walk

Not me - unfortunately my ankle is not quite up to that distance just yet. It was our Scout Groups annual relay walk last weekend. This all started in 2014 as part of our centenary celebrations; in relay teams, over one day, our Group members walked a total of 100K.

Every year since we have added on 1K so this year the Group walked 104K. If you are local you'll know the area; the circuit is mainly footpaths from our HQ at the top of Tuttlehill across to Caldecote, then to Hartshill and back along the Mancetter Road. Each team takes our Group Pennant with them so by the end of the day the Pennant has traveled 104K/

Our HQ is at B4114 marker - the circuit is approx 6K

Nick did the 7am start with Rob and Alan, along with their dogs Emmit and Millie. Quite a feat in the dark and with two excited dogs sniffing their way around. The Challenge started at 2am and finished at 10.36pm with 73 people (and a few dogs) taking part - great walking everyone!

It's a great way to start the New Year, lovely to see famillies all coming to walk the circuit. We don't do this as a fundraising activity it is 'just for fun' and looking at the photos taken on the day I think everyone enjoyed themselves even in the rain and snow!! Maybe next year I'll be taking part too :-)

Nick, Rob and Alan handing the Pennant over to the next group of walkers

Walking Crusaders links nicely into my highlight wine of the week - 1136 Commanderie from Cellier des Templiers. Nick and I are very interested in the Knights Templar, especially having been to Rennes le Chateau in Southern France many years ago. We would love to revisit this area to find out more about the Templars.

Whilst on holiday last year in the Cotes du Rhone region we discovered a small village Richerenches which had been a garrison for the Knights Templar. A beautful village with solid walls and towers enclosing its centre, it is one of the best preserved garrisons in France.

Here's my 1136 Commanderie review post on Cuvée Reserve :

"Not surprisingly for a wine from this region it had plenty of blackcurrants and cherries, 

but there was a surprise.....a hint of balsamic which lengthened its finish and enhanced 

its spice notes. There was also a very subtle hint of truffle, something we noticed on its 

nose when trying this in France.  Richerenches hosts the most important truffle market 

in France every Saturday in season as the area is renown for growing the best, 

which explains its presence in this 13.5% wine."

There's great history behind the wine's name too, in 1136 a local lord, Hugh of Bourbouton, gave the land at Richerenches to the Knights Templar.  A few years later he took hi vows as a Templar, gave more land and became the Commander of the Templar garrison at Richerenches which in time became the one of the most important Templar commanderies in Provence.

A great story and a superb wine which I wish we had more of .... yet another reason to go back to France ... on y va !!

That's a good one !

Whilst in France last year we visited BeauVignac, one of the Languedoc's largest producers especially in the Etang du Thau area. When visiting these huge caveau it's hard to take it all in, especially if only a 'calling by' visit.

Everyone is always so helpful, so knowledgeable and ready to pour any (if not all) of their wines: another problem if driving by. You can read more about our visits to the caveau and domaines we visited in my previous post Wines of Languedoc 

One bottle at BeauVignac that caught our eye and was superb on tasting was Moelleux Blanc. It's blue bottle shone out amongst the usual green and white - especially with it's clear glistening contents.

Le Moelleux is a sweet wine but not a dessert wine. a floral nose with sweet citrus notes. It's flavour was full of oranges and lemons, citrusy yet slightly sweet, with floral highlights. A lovely finish that despite its sweetness was neither cloying or syrup. A blend of Picpoul Blanc and Colombard (grapes used in producing Cognac) it's a light wine at 10.5% with a slight watery edge but the finish is soft and long.

All told this was a very enjoyable wine; its look in the bottle and out, its nose, its flavour and its finish. We will be bringing more than the one bottle next time we're near the Etang du Thau.

Another 'good one' we have recently enjoyed is my penultimate tasting for Aldi's 17th Wine Panel. Estevez Chilean Cabernet Carmenére Syrah was a wine I knew I would enjoy settled on the sofa rather than with a meal... and it was!

A deep inviting red that had a great pour and a nose full of fruit with a spicy edge. It was full of dark cherries, plums, dried fruit with such a wonderful warming body. I don't normally enjoy tannins but the tannins in this wine were so soft, developing lightly with the spice, lovely tabacco notes and a smooth long finish.

Its characteristics derive from its three grapes:

Cabernet - its fruitiness

Carmenére - its creamy smoothness

Syrah - its spice

For me this was a bottle to sink into, hence the need to be sofa bound with a few nibbles. It really is a great wine, especially at £4.79 - thank you Aldi.

There are two more wines which I expect to say 'that's a good one' on opening - Canadian Icewine. For Christmas my Hubby gave me a bottle of Lidl Pillitteri Estates Riesling Icewine, as yet unopened as I am waiting to find the deserving dessert and opportunity to enjoy this sweet delight.

Icewine is made from grapes picked in December or January once the temperature has dropped below -8 degrees; Canada's terroir and winters make it ideal. The iced grapes are pressed immediately producing a small amount of highly concenrated juice often referred to as 'The Nectar of the Gods'.

And to our amazement on a visit to Lidl a the weekend it is now reduced to £7.99, as is the Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine - that's an amazing half price. Needless to say I now have both bottles to plan that special dessert/moment for.

I have no idea what wine we'll be opening this week - life is a little strange at the moment with Hubby retiring at the end of the month our plans are as comes just now. However I'm sure whatever it is I'll be letting you know all about it - cheers!

2018 has started well

2018 started with celebrating the New Year with friends, always a good way to bring in the new. It will be new for us this year as at the end of January Hubby is retiring from work - so many plans, so many holidays, so exciting!

We've already started the holiday booking (to be honest a few trips were already booked in 2017) with a long weekend in Guildford. No need to dash home Sunday anymore - why Guildford???

It's the Love Wine Fest at the end of March. We had a great time in Birmingham last year, you can read about it in my previous post here. We're delighted to book for Guildford and being as it's not a straightforward train trip a few nights away seemed the obvious choice.

Two wines have helped us get 2018 off to a good start; a red and a white. The red being Marques de Caceres Gran Reserva 2009 and the white Les Petites Baies 2016.


Marques de Caceres is a Sapnish wine from, Rioja. A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano it enjoys 2 years in American oak and then some time in the bottle.


Not my preferred wine but Hubby enjoyed its deep crimson colour, black cherry nose and smooth vanilla infused smoky oak tannin flavour.


It's quite a pricey wine at nearly £20 a bottle but if you enjoy a Rioja you can settle into it comes highly recommended.



The white wine was a bottle we picked up on our holiday last year in France. We did think it was from one of the caveau we visited but maybe not. Looking online I did see a reference to Lidl France so maybe it was one of our supermarket buys.

In the glass this had a very shiny colour, lots of glistening highlights. It's tropical nose with the hint of white blossom lead the way to a mouth full of citrus and passion fruit. A lovely well balanced wine with a clean finish.

It is one to grab if we see it again on our travels, a super white wine.

This month brings Burn's Night on the 25th which will be the first of my 2018 themed dinners and of course Hubby's retirement will require the opening of something special so here's to a great January !