July 20th saw 17 Members gather at David & Sue Rossell's house for the summer party.  

 

The weather was typically cool for a summer's day so after a welcome wine of Prosecco (of course) in the garden, just long enough to admire Davids carefully primped lawn and flower beds, we repaired to the dining room for a sumptuous buffet lunch accompanied by a slightly more than a tasting of 7 Italian wines, all drawn from Lidl's "Wine Tour range".

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If you haven't tried Lidl's wine tour you really should. They are selected alongside Lidl's normal range, displayed in tilted cases rather than stood on shelves, are changed each month (when its gone its gone) and are really rather good.  Richard Bampfield MW, who has presented to the club several times writes the shelf edge tasting notes and gives them "Parker" points out of 100.

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We tasted:

• White 1. Podere Macinatico Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2022

Lidl “Wine tour”, ABV 12.5%  Quite an unusual white from Tuscany.  Made with Vernaccia grapes (100%) savoury, fruit, juicy and well balanced with notes of apple and nice underlying spice

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• White 2. Masseria Metrano, Fiano Salento, IGT 2022 

Lidl “Wine tour”, ABV 11.5% Fiano comes from Puglia, in Southern Italy. Fiano is a great summer drink. It is a balanced wine that unfolds in the nose with intense perfumes of fruit and honey and a fresh lively taste with a smooth finish of toasted hazelnut. It is ideal with hors d’oeuvres, seafood salads, rice, crustaceans, grilled fish and fresh cheese

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• White 3. Greco di Tufo DOC, 2022

Lidl “Wine tour”, ABV 13% From Campania, southern Italy. 100% Greco. Pleasing zip and freshness but balanced by a richer, slightly creamier body. Notes of peach, passion fruit, pear.

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• Red 1. Albaruta  Rosso de Montefalco DOC, 2021

Lidl “Wine tour”,  13.5% This Italian red wine hails from the Umbria region. It is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Sagrantino grapes. It offers a delightful depth of fruit flavour. Dry and robust, edging on astringency, lots of blackcurrant, cedar wood and smoke. Tannic enough to demand food. You can expect hints of cherry and tea-leaf on the palate.

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• Red 2. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Lidl “Wine tour”, ABV13.5% Comes from Tuscany. Made from Sangiovese, like Chianti. This DOC spends 18 months in oak Barrels. Earthy notes with soft tannins and a good longish finish.

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• Red 3. Corte Alle Mura Chianti Riserva 2020

Lidl “Wine tour”, ABV 13% Chianti is nestled within the larger wine region of Tuscany, an area that conjures up thoughts of rolling green hills and picturesque Roman ruins. This area is famous for Sangiovese, and Chianti is one of the most productive hotspots for the grape producing lovely wines with tart and fresh flavours of cherry, strawberries, and red plums. This Chianti is a good example if its style and fully deserves its Riserva status.  It shows good fruit and has a dry, appetizing finish.

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• White 4. Moscato spumante dolce VDQ, Dessert wine 

Lidl “Wine tour”, ABV 7.5% From the Asti region of NW Italy, sweet but fresh and fruity.  Notes of pear and vanilla. A good pairing with desserts.

Sue, with help from Brian and Ruth Wiseman, produced a splendid menu of:

Antipasti
Meat platter
Insalata tricolore
Smoke salmon squares
Olives
Padron Peppers 
Primo
Lasagne al forno
Cannelloni Spinach and Ricotta
Chicken Pizza (no tomato)
Garlic bread
Insalata misti
Dolce
Panna Cotta & fruiti rosso
Tiramisu 
Formaggio
Coffee

We eventually rose from the table at around 6pm well fed and well "tasted".

Thanks are due to David and Sue for the excellent meal, for the selection of wines and for the use of their lovely house and garden.

O