Wine Club Uncorked: December 2012

Round Robin (aka “boast in the post”) for WC 2012

Who cares about Tarquin’s progress at prep school – this is far more important – the WC “Round Robin” for 2012!

It has been rather a busy year for the Wine Club, so busy that some WCs were cancelled this year and some were missed due to family weddings and milestone birthdays. Despite this, the usual fun and enjoyment was held!

January – Italian wines were the order of the day.

February – we had snow this month and the theme for this month was based on romantic St. Valentine’s . We had hearts to wear on our sleeves to describe wines, e.g. “I am fruity and full of gas”, “Fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty and a long river” and “I still have my cherry (tones).”

March – We tried Merlot (pronounced “Marelow”) – some were actually very nice!

April - was English wine to celebrate St. George’s Day.

May was an “anything goes” theme – this applied to the wine, not the wine members acting strangely! There was also a Chelsea FC theme to this one – they were playing some important football game. Some members contacted family members during the evening to find out the score – but we did not tell our hosts – despite the old saying that drink makes you talk!

June was a collection of wines from Commonwealth countries (themed around the Queen’s diamond jubilee). I wish I could say the wine from India was lovely but that would be a lie. We all know who is responsible for providing this, so no names will be mentioned. Lots and lots of laughter occurred at this one for some reason.

July and August were missed – too busy watching the fabulous Olympic Games.

September – Chilean wines were drunk at this one but some members were missing due to a 50^th birthday celebration. However, before this, some members attended a wine tasting event organised by Laithwaites at the Margate Winter Gardens with a total of 32 wines to try. Needless to say, we did not quite manage to drink them all, but went back for seconds for one or two!

October – Wines from Argentina were the source for this one. A quote from the blog: “Mick had done quite a bit of Google research and astounded us all with his knowledge of Argentina wine” – what a surprise!

November – Another family wedding prevented some members from attending which meant some of us missed out on the fashion show provided by Mark (refer to the blog for further info). A lack of scoring sheets and pens were noted!

December – at the time of writing this has not yet been held but includes a best wrapped bottle competition, a quiz, swapping of the Secret Santa presents and a raffle. All invited to bring their favourite wine.

Notes for 2013 – use a thesaurus - not all wine can be “nice” – some can be: agreeable, amiable, attractive, charming, commendable, delightful, likeable, pleasant, refined to name a few. Actually, these are good descriptors for the WC members!

Eight more sleeps until Christmas Day... I keep asking myself where has the year gone...

We ALL (I know shocking a full house) made the December wine club on Saturday, the last one of the year, the biggy, the Christmas special, lots of extras running along side the wine tasting, our hosts had been working hard for sometime to make it extra special and they didn't disappoint. (Well one of them particularly)

We all turned up, dressed up... clutching Christmas cards, flowers & chocolates, the wine to be tasted that also had to be dressed as something Christmasy (White Angel, I thought was the best) and not forgetting the Secret Santa gifts. Nick was 'confused' about what he was giving to who or leaving where until Jacqui helped him out with the top tip that the gift wrapped was the secret santa one and the box of chocolates not wrapped was for the hostess, you can see how he became confused (not !!)

We tucked into peanuts and Bernies delicious sausage rolls with a glass of wine until everyone arrived when we were ushered into the dining room for the frivolity to begin.

To start with there was a twelve question quiz, some questions based around the Blog, I am ashamed to say I only got four questions right, not that the others did much better, Karen S did have an excuse that she never reads the Blog (Mmmm what shall I put in here about her... after all she won't see it !!). Top marks went to Karen & Terry who got 11, well done, Smartie Pants.

We started wine tasting with a bottle of Champagne brought by Jacqui & Nick, maybe if I had had a glass of that first I might have done better in the quiz... it was a 'nice' bottle of fizz (there was a round robin about the wines club with lots of other possible words to use but it never reached me..).. This DeVallois was 12.5% traditional blend of Pinot Noir Chardonnay & Pinot Meunier, flavours of rich biscuit with notes of citrus & cream, we scored this one with 42 points

This bottle started the evening dressed as a Golden Fairy, shame no picture of this 'winning' outfit, I say this thought gritted teeth as it beat my White Angel (I do have a picture of that..ha ha ha)

This was followed by another champagne, Pol Monnett 12.5% again a blend of the three grapes, elegant & fresh although a couple of of thought it might be a little past its best, however it scored the same 42 points. This bottle started the evening as a Post Box with a rather large Round Robin sticking out of it. (Thats a Round Robin letter not the feathered kind)

Round Robin Letter - Has its own page...

We then moved on to the red wine, its the one covered in holly in the picture there was also a little robin tucked among the branches, not real one of course, we decided this was a very Eco friendly dressing, from a very Eco friendly couple, the bottle had been taken to be recycled the following morning before I had all the details about this delicious wine. Our own stash of bottles takes us weeks of tripping over them before we finally get round to taking them to the bottle bank.. So Terry not only a smarties pants but an efficient one too.. We didn't get round to unveiling them all on the evening, too distracted by all the other activities... Anyway... this wine, an Amarone was very popular and received in depth comments like 'Yum', Yummy; very oaky (ha ha.. if you know us, you will get this), very smart (?) & of course nice. It was rasiny and full bodied and scored a big 52 points. Top wine of the night.

Now the next one was sooo disappointing, Micheal you really didn't step up to the mark this year... he has been the bottle dressing winner for a number of years but look at this years offering..

Its the sad knitted stocking one in the middle.. Michael had said he wasn't going to make the effort this year, (& he kept his word) let someone else have a chance to win (should have been the white angel), he said he wasn't competitive and wouldn't mind... Really ???, when everyone arrived with their creations he was most disturbed, well he only had himself to blame.. shouldn't go on too much because he did vote for my White Angel (that should have won ). Not sure what this wine was, it was just too much effort to lift it from its warm stocking.. deep dark and with a long cork. Okay were the general comments it scored 40 points. Nice Christmas tie though ... so not a total lack of effort !

Actually looking a bit rosy cheeked there...

Next up was Rudolf, with his fancy fur body, again we didn't skin him to find out what was beneath but needless to say Mark & Linda brought this one, so no surprise it was red, good flavours but with a short finish, sadly though the lowest points just 38.

Last but not least The White Angel (should have won), our wine a rich ripe powerful red from Southern Australia called Clearskin 14.% 2009 bought from laithwaits, would be good with chips and steak, scored 44 points. She even had a nice haircut & make up on !

We then played a great rowdy game, basically taking (grabbing) presents away from each other all in the name of fun, all gifts sourced by the hostess & were wine related. Here is a Mark with his.. he is easily pleased !

You know what they say about Christmas gifts and children, they are more excited by the wrapping well it applies to adults too.... but before I show you those pictures, look at these too sad bunnies..

Nick waiting for the wrapping and Karen regretting not reading the Blog or was it not ending up with a present at all ?? Nick looks happier in a moment though..once he has a box to play with !

Jacqui & I were very pleased with the chiffon wraps we received......what do you mean, they are the wrapping Tesco Finest use for flowers !

Next the big event of the night, the hand out of the Secret Santa gifts, there was an informal vote as to open now or save until Christmas day, Mark & Jacqui wanted now but the majority to wait won.. but Mark little devil, said he wasn't being told what to do & ripped his open with Jacqui following suit..what are they like.