For our May event, we were delighted to welcome Mark Bedford of "Caviste".

Caviste have two shops, one at Newlands Farm near Odiham and the second in the centre of Overton.

You can also visit their web site at
https://caviste.co.uk/

Mark entitled his presentation "Madmen and Dreamers" showing wine created by what can be termed "maverick" winemakers, who step outside the usual.

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Mark is a theology graduate and after a while as a schoolmaster and a brief spell in the army he joined Berry Bros, where during 14 years there he set up their Basingstoke shop.

He left BB and joined the Cellar door which became Caviste. 

He has been in the wine business now for 35 years.

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Mark showed a sparkling wine, two whites, a rose and four red wines, followed by a sweet, desert wine.

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The wines were as follows:-

Mas Beltram Balma Cava Brut 2021 (Penedes, Catalonia)  £18.95

Pale yellow with lively, fine bubbles; aromas of citrus peels, apples, and freshly baked bread evolve into hints of peaches, quince, and unripe pineapple; fresh and vibrant with a honeyed, citrus-recalling finish.

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Marco Abella Olbieta Blanco 2023 (Priorat, Catalonia)         £16.95

Aromas of pear, lychee, white flowers, fennel and citrus fruits. Complex, fresh and mineral with great length on the palate. The palate is balanced, unctuous, and very fresh.

Rusden Christain Chenin Blanc 2023 (Barossa Valley, South Australia)  £23

Lifted and vibrant, this is no exception. The nose shows pear, citrus, tropicals and wet stone. The palate is awash with pear, passionfruit, lemon drops, honey and chamomile tea. Great acidity to keep it linear and focused on the finish.

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Massaya Rose 2022 (Beqaa Valley, Lebanon)                         £19.95

A gorgeous strawberry colour, with aromas of red berry fruits and subtle spice. Beautiful freshness thanks to vineyards’ altitude.

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Skipskop Sangiovese 2022  (Klein Karoo, South Africa)        £13.95

Cherry fruit on nose and palate, light refreshing red with soft tannins from 12 months in French Oak. Serve chilled!

Villa Wolf Pinot Noir 2022  (Pfalz, Germany)                           £15.00

A fine Pinot Noir full of character, characterized by the mild climate and the warm mineral soils of the Pfalz. A long aging, partly in small oak barrels, gives it the typical Burgundian elegance and silkiness.

Tumunan Syrah Libra 2021  (Colchagua, Chile)                      £20.00

Attractive aromas of red and black fruits, with a spicy touch and notes of vanilla. Rich and complex flavour, with a combination of ripe fruit and spices. 

Holden Manz Visionaire 2019  (Franschhoek, South Africa)   £24.00

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec. Red and black fruits dominate balanced with a graphite steeliness. The tannins are soft and refined and exquisitely round off the aromas of spice and fresh plum. 

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Niepoort Old fortified Moscatel  (Douro, Portugal)                £22.00

A super-sweet desert wine, but with excellent balancing acidity. Very few (half) bottles left at the time of the tasting, so probably unavailable now.​​

 

We would also like to thank Andy Bori (our Secretary), who provided the excellent finger buffet at half time.