Meeting 447 - -" Wines from Doug Miles' Cellar"
Friday 18th March 2022
Neville Hall, Waltham St Lawrence
Preceded by the AGM
This meeting was a very special one. Very sadly, our former Vice-Chairman Doug Miles
has not been able to attend our meetings for some time because of illness. But he has kindly offered the Branch a selection of
wines from his cellar including some excellent bottles from Germany and Bordeaux. All profits and donations will go to Doug's chosen charity, the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The meeting started with The Branch's AGM. Highlights were firstly, the Branch made a small profit over the year, but secondly,
the membership has decreased over the last couple of years. Anthea, our Membership Secretary pointed out that, despite this evening
being a full house, the average attendance recently has been in the low 20s. All other aspects of the AGM followed normal
procedure with just the post of Secretary remaining vacant for the moment.
The AGM was followed by awards for special services to the Branch over the years. The Diplomas were presented by our President,
Julian, to Colin Mair, David and Ros Kirk and John Farren.
Doug's wines were started with 3 white wines presented by Ian Roe. The aperitif, Von Buhl Sekt made a very pleasant
start to the evening with it's flowery nose and its easy drinking lime/lemon palate. The Dr Hermann Spätlese from the Mosel,
which followed presented a strong nettles nose, was characteristically semi sweet, good fruit and a clean finish. Despite
being 7 years old, it had many more years to go. The Donnhoff Kabinett, from the Nahe, was a little down on the Spätlese -
slightly less sweet but still with a flowery nose but a little less fruit and less full. Probably needs drinking now.
The white wines were accompanied by an excellent selection od canapes prepared by Charlotte. (see below}
The Bordeaux Reds were introduced by Chis Gutch. The Clos du Clocher Pomerol (70% Merlot) had a good sloe and raspberry nose,
full fruit on the palate but a rather strong level of tannin. Although 13 years old, it still had some time to go before
it was likely toachieve a good balance. The Ch. Batailley which followed, unfortunately seemed to have one bottle
which was oaked. While half the members had to put up with a questionable nose and a totally flabby and tasteless palate,
the rest enjoyed a true Pauillac wine. The Cru Bourgeois, Chateau Cissac, had a good stone fruit nose with balanced
but medium fruit, had reached its peak and clearly needed drinking up. The Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou also needed to be drunk.
Strong plummy nose, nicely balanced fruit and comfortable tannin made for a good finish to the reds before the Supper wine.
This latter wine, the Chateau Pey La tour Reservewas well appreciated as a full classic product of the Medoc.
Full fruit and a balancing tannin with a fairly long finish, and being a 'young' 2018, it perhaps showed why the
French as opposed to the Brits like to drink their wines young. While this wine could well be drinkable for some
time to come. Why waste time? It was probably the most popular wine of the evening. Of course that may have been
because it was accompanied by Charlotte's main meal!
Charlotte's food was excellent as usual. Starting with the canapes then a main meal of slow cooked shoulder of lamb accompanied by carrots, cavalo nero greens, dauphinoise potatoes and a delightful gentle but flavoursome pea and mint pesto.
To finish off the evening, Charlotte prepared a plum and almond tart. This was accompanied by Clos de Sainte Catherine wine, almost orange on the nose, full fruit on the palate, and too easy to drink with a light acid finish. Based on professional scores, the current vintage of this wine was rated as one of the top 10 Coteaux de Layon wines. The final Chateau de Rayne Vigneau had all the attributes of a good Sauternes despite being over 20 years old still had some time to go. But again, why wait?
Altogether, an excellent evening which we hope did credit to Doug and the Charity he supports.
The Wines
Aperitif:
Snapper Rock Sparkling Cuvee Rose NV, Marlborough
The Whites:
1. Two Rivers Isle of Beauty Rose 2020, Marlborough
2. Two Rivers Isle of Beauty Rose 2020, Marlborough
The Reds:
3. Clos du Clocher Pomerol 2009
4. Chateau Batailley 2003
5. Chateau Cissac 1995
6. Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
7. Baumard Clos de Sainte Catherine 2004
8. Chateau de Rayne Vigneau Sauternes 2001
The Supper Wine:
Chateau Pey La Tour Reserve 2018, Dourthe
Charlotte's Meal:
Canapés
Crab in filo baskets
Duck liver and quail egg croutons
Goats cheese and tomato pastry
Melon and Parma Ham
Asparagus and hollandaise
Main Course
Slow roast shoulder of lamb with madeira jus
Pea and mint pesto
Dauphinoise potato
Cavolo nero
Baby carrots
Green beans
Dessert
Plum frangipan tart with creme fraiche
Dark chocolate truffles
Passion fruit curd raspberry