CLWS Newsletters

Hi everyone,

Website Booking System

Some of you have yet to make a test booking of the virtual “practice tasting”. Please now do so. We need to ensure that both the website and Stripe work properly before booking for 2027 tastings opens, and that you are familiar with the procedure.

Go to clws.org.uk, click Book here, click BOOK NOW!, enter your email address, then click ‘Continue to payment’. Enter Stripe’s dummy card shown on that page. Click ‘Pay £xx.00’.

You won’t be charged; in fact, a real card won’t be accepted for this practice. You can book again if you like, perhaps to practise making a group booking. There is no need to cancel.

Let me know of any issues.

If you have Apple Pay or Google Pay, which I don’t, please try to make a booking that way. It should go through, but you won’t be charged. Send me a screenshot of what you see and forward the confirmation email so I can see how it handles that.

Report

Wednesday 11^th November: Roussillon by Trevor Sharot

This tasting will draw on wines and information from Trevor’s trip to Roussillon with the Association of Wine Educators in April. While the three vin doux naturel appellations of Banyuls, Maury and Rivesaltes still produce magnificent dessert wines, most production is now vin rouge, with the rustic, bulk wine of yore having given way to emphasis on parcel management, old vines and low yields.

Wine

Note

Score

Price £

Supplier

One Block Muscat, Dom. Treloar 2021

An exception to Roussillon’s famous sweet Muscat and made under IGP Côtes Catalanes as there’s no AOP for such a wine. Aromatic tropical fruit, demi-sec (7.5 g/L RS), balanced palate also showing pear and anise. 13.5% abv.

4.6

10.37

Cellar door

Centenaire, Dom. Lafage 2025

Complex floral nose from Grenache Blanc and Gris plus Roussanne. Full-bodied, anise and celeriac, savoury rather than fruity. 13%

4.1

9.51

Cellar door

Alter, Dom. Cazes 2022

60 Syrah, 30 Mourvèdre, 10 Grenache. Nice tertiary soy sauce. Fruit hides the alcohol. 14.5%

4.7

12.10

Cellar door

Cavalcade, Ch. de Corneilla 2020

80 Syrah, 20 Mourvèdre, drop of Grenache. Tons of mostly black fruit, built for the long haul with no bricking yet. 14%

4.8

13.95

TWS

Vers le Nord, Mas Amiel 2018

92 Grenache, 8 Syrah. North-facing slopes, the Lègende on the south side. So lower abv, leaner; atypcial for Grenache and not yet ready. 13.5%

4.9

VW, Singapore

Légende, Mas Amiel 2019

80 Grenache, 20 Syrah. More aromatic, denser, a touch cloudy, long fruity finish, also still developing. 15%

5.1

VW, Singapore

Chrysopée, Domaine de Bila-Haut (Chapoutier) 2022

90 Grenache, 10 Mourvèdre. Odd wine, a long, rich fruit finish yet with little textural support. Possible early harvest &/or light extraction to hold down the abv. 15%

5.0

Vinatis

Banyuls Blanc, L’Etoile 2022

VDN. 50 Grenache gris, 45 Grenache blanc, 5 Muscat blanc. Nose of lime marmalade and apricot, then grapefruit and peach on the palate. Balanced. 16.5%

4.9

Cellar door

Or du Temps, F. Jaubert, Rivesaltes Ambré Hors d’Age 2002

VDN. Ca. 70 Grenache gris, 30 Grenache blanc, drop of Grenache noir. Hor d’Age is long-aged. Ambré indicates possible ageing in glass demi-johns (may be outside for a few months) or oak, with controlled oxidation. It was then stored in concrete and bottled on demand. High-toned nose (acetaldehyde like Fino sherry) with roast oranges and caramel. Palate reminiscent of Curaçao. 17% WOTN.

5.5

Cellar door

Next Meeting

Wednesday 18^th November, 6:30 pm: Premium: Gevrey-Chambertin’s Pecking Order by Peter Haywood

A superb flight of mature bottles, working up from commune through premier cru to grand cru.

White: La Roche Vineuse, Domaine Gonon, Macon 2023

Red: Taupenot Merme 2015; Sylvie Esmonin 2019; Vieilles Vignes, Sylvie Esmonin 2019; Mes Favorites, Vieilles Vignes, Jean-Luc et Eric Burguet 2012; Vieilles Vignes, Denis Bachelet 2012; Lavaux Saint-Jacques Premier Cru, Frederic Esmonin 2012; Lavaut Saint-Jacques Premier Cru, Duroche 2012; Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru, Joseph Drouhin 2009

Fully booked; email to join the waiting list.

Forthcoming events

Wed. 2^nd December: European Sweet Wines (£30) by Duncan Budd

Not blind this time, but a range of interesting fortified and unfortified wines from many different grape varieties. Alcohol ranges from 8 to 20%.

Sweet:

Clairette de Die Tradition, Poulet & Fils, Rhône NV; Juffer Sonnenuhr Braunberger Riesling Auslese, Willi Haag, Mosel 2020; Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszú Blue Label, Hungary (50ml) 2018; Ballet d’Octobre, Cauhapé, Jurançon 2020; Ch. Rieussec, Sauternes 2007; Passito di Pantelleria, Duca di Castelmonte, Pantelleria NV; Floralis, Vino de Licor, Torres , Spain (50cl) NV; Verdelho, Henriques & Henriques, Madeira 15 yo; Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha, Douro 2005; Triana, Hidalgo La Gitana PX, Sanlúcar NV

Open for booking.

Wed. 9^th December: Special: Port (£50) by Ed Smith

A selection of very rare bottles, including three of the greatest vintages of the 20th century: 1994, 1977 and 1963.

White:	Kopke White Colheita 2010
Red:	Martinez 1994; Quinta da Eira Velha 1994; Calem 1983; Croft Quinta de Roeda 1983; Delaforce 1977; J.W. Burmester 1977; Dow’s 1966; Taylor’s 1966; Gonzalez Byass 1963; Quinta da Foz 1963

Open for booking.

Wed. 16^th December: Christmas Social – Buffet with Christmas Wines (£50) by CLWS

Time to drink rather than taste!

White:	Henriques & Henriques Verdelho 15 yo; Altenberg de Bergbieten, Frédéric Mochel, Alsace 2021; Fifth Generation Series, Soljans Estate, Kumeu River, NZ 2022; ‘Comme Un Saphir’, Clos Bellane, Côtes-du-Rhône Village Valréas 2022
Red:	Moulin-à-Vent, La Rochelle, Ch. des Jacques, Louis Jadot 2011; Bosquet des Papes, Cuvée Tradition, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007; Ségla, Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux 2014
Sweet:	Vieille Reserve, Alain Peyronnet, Muscat de Frontignan NV

Open for booking. Please book now so I can reserve the right room.

Fri. 1^st January: Practice tasting (no money is taken) (£35) by CLWS

This is not a real event, but a test “tasting” which you can book to practise using the new booking and payment system. Try it! No money is taken. Use Stripe’s dummy Visa card so you won’t be charged. It is 4242 4242 4242 4242 exp 12/29 CVC 123. There is no need to cancel afterwards. This event will be taken down on Friday 20th November.

Sparkling:	Practice sparkling wine (not a real wine)
White:	Practice white wine (not a real wine) 2026
Red:	Practice red wine (not a real wine) 2026
Sweet:	Practice sweet wine (not a real wine) 2026

Please make a practice booking.

Wed. 13^th January: How good are PGI wines? (£35) by Trevor Sharot

The European wines we taste are mostly regulated at PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) level, a.k.a. appellations. Below these on the ‘quality’ ladder are PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) wines, with less restrictive regulations. The presence of the Super Tuscans, Le Soula and Gauby indicates that PGI wine can be excellent, but what about the smaller names, and are there any bargains?

White:	Cem Reis Viognier, Maroteira Vinhos, Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal 2025; Ossian Vinas Viejas Blanco, Vino de la Tierra Castilla y Leon, Spain 2023; Eckhof Grüner Veltliner, Qualitätswein, Wagram, Austria 2021
Red:	La Combe de Grinou, Ch. De Grinou, Bergerac, IGP Périgord, South-West France 2021; Martin Wassmer, Markgräflerland, Qualitätswein, Baden, Germany 2023; Argile Rouge, Domaine des Ardoisières, IGP St-Pierre-De-Soucy, Savoie, France 2019; Quinta da Bacalhôa Tinto, Vinho Regional Península de Setúbal, Portugal 2022
Sweet:	Baronazzo Amafi, Passito, Cantine Sociale Paolini, IGT Terra Siciliane, Sicily, Italy 2024

Not yet on sale.

Wed. 27^th January: To be announced shortly (£35) by Duncan Budd

(Description)

Not yet on sale.

2027 tasting schedule

We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. The dates for 2027 are as follows:

January 13 & 27; February 10 & 24; March 10 & 24

April 14 & 28; May 12 & 26; June 9 & 23

July 14 & 28; August 11 & 25; September 8 & 22

October 13 & 27; November 10 & 24; December 8; December 15 (Christmas Social)

Please let me know if you wish to reserve one or more dates to put on tastings.

Book online at Book here or email wine@clws.org.uk.

All Wednesday meetings take place at 6:30 pm prompt in the Edward Bridges Room, Civil Service Club, Great Scotland Yard.

Payment details are in the emailed newsletter.