White Hart wine tasting a huge success
I ATTENDED one of the jolliest wine tastings of the year at the White Hart, Lydgate near Oldham.
More than 250 folk got the chance to sample 130 wines from Winos of George Street, Oldham, ballasted by cheese, sausages and oysters.
Stand-out whites (Winos shop prices) were the Circumstance Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa (£9.95), Joaquin Rebolledo Godello from Portugal (£9.95) and Spain’s Crego Monaguillo Monterrei (£7.95).
The Circumstance and the Godello accompanied my assault on the oyster tray. The Circumstance from the Cape’s Waterskloof estate, was minerally but fresh, exhibiting asparagus flavours, perfect to match the salty bivalves.
Surprise package
All apricot and peach on the nose with more restrained fruit, the Godello coped equally well.
The Crego Monaguillo Monterrei, from Galicia in north west Spain, was a real surprise package. It also contains godello but in a blend with treixadura. It was quite lovely – straw coloured with fresh aromas of hay and apple, a whack of acidy then a long finish. What a pity I had finished my oyster quota!
Stand-out reds were two sturdy mouthfuls from south-west France – Chateau Bouscasse (Madiran) at £11.95 and Chateau La Pineraie (Cahors) at £9.95.
Considering it is a Madiran, traditionally harsh and unyielding, the Bouscasse was more approachable with lots of ripe, sweet fruit with liquorice in there, while the Pineraie was earthier, plummier with perhaps greater complexity.
At first I resisted the Portuguese Niepoort Drink Me Douro Tinto because of its name, which sounded a bit cheesy for a wine costing £9.95, but it was actually a terrific soft drop, from native grape varieties given 12 months in French oak.
Spicy character
It is a dark ruby wine with an intense red fruit aroma with spicy character.
The White Hart event raised £1,450 for the Mayor of Oldham’s charities – the Oldham Education Trust, Doctor Kershaw’s Hospice, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Diabetes Phlebotomy Chair, Oldham Cancer Support Centre and Life Education Centres.
For information on events at the White Hart ring 01457 872566 or visit thewhitehart.co.uk. Winos website is winoswineshop.com.
Published: Mon, 13 April, 2009
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