Meeting 16th June 2009

Great summer weather for this meeting so we all relaxed in the shade of John and Sheila’s garden and enjoyed as usual two very interesting wines. Both wines were from France, from different areas, from different grapes and very different in their taste. The first wine was a Sandpiper 2008 Carignan- Shiraz from the Pays de L’Herault, an area of Southern France between Perpignan and Montpelier. This was very well liked by the group and with a score of 8.1 was equal to our previous high scoring wines. A bright clear ruby /purple in colour the wine had a strong fruity smell that was evident as soon as the bottle was opened. Lots of summer fruits were present in the aroma, the taste was slightly sweet, well balanced, medium body with the fruits carrying into the long lasting taste. A very easy drinking wine, which is available form Morrison’s at £4.45. Not for the first time it was the cheaper wine which was preferred by the group. The second wine, although from the more prestigious area of St. Emilion, where so much Merlot is cultivated, there, on the right bank of the Gironde, was only given a score of 5.3. Not the lowest score but certainly one of them. The Lusac 2007, St.Emilion, a Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, is also available from Morrison’s at £5.45, The wine had a pleasant clear and red appearance but seemed to lack any particular distinctive smell with a taste that was variously described as insipid, nondescript, light, flabby and with no noticeable after taste.

The next meting will be held at Pat and Brian’s on Tuesday July 14th 2.00pm. If there are any other U3A members who would like to join us, then don’t hesitate to give me a call on 80 872222 - Mike