Wine Society Dining Club 278th dinner

The Apothecaries' Hall, London. Wednesday 05-February-2020.

The WSDC dinners are mostly in various guild halls, this time the Apothecaries' Hall.

An elegant building with dark panelled rooms lined with portraits of the great and the good.

Panorama:

The WSDC has been going since before I was born hence they are up to a large number, 278 to be precise.

The theme was Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The food, of course, chosen to match the wine rather than the other way round.

Menu

Artichoke Hearts, Brown Shrimps and Iberico Puffs

Whipped Herb Butter, Wild Garlic Oil

***

Filet Mignon of Roe Deer

Red and Green Grapes, Tarragon Veronique

Root Vegetable Rosti, Caramelised Leeks

***

Shipwreck Apple Tart

Cider Brandy, Clotted Cream

***

Fairtrade Coffee

A Selection of Teas and Infusions

Handmade Chocolates and Sweetmeats

The food was excellent, one would expect no less.

Wines

Grahams NV White Port

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Blanc 2013

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe 2000

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Clos des Papes Avril 2000

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Clos des Papes Avril 1998

Chateau Suduiraut 2001

The aperitif was delicious: white port with tonic and mint. I cannot remember the last time I had white port, it needs to go back on the drinking list. The Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Blanc was fine but the red 2000 had some bottle variation. Mary and the gentleman opposite her were served from different bottles which made it easy to taste and confirm.

I have a soft spot for Suduiraut which we visited many years ago. A delicious neighbour of Chateau Yquem at a fraction of the price, it did not disappoint.

A wonderful meal.

There will be wine (and beer and more wine)

Champagne and Sparkling Wine.

Philglas and Swiggot. Battersea. Thursday, 31-October-2019.

A walk around tasting of champagnes and sparkling wines and from around the world. Some very knowledgeable presenters made it an informative evening. In particular, for me, it highlighted the huge variety of grape varieties used to make sparkling wines. Champagne may use pinot noir, chardonnay and a little pinot meunier but producers of presecco, cava and Tasmanian sparkling have others grapes at their disposal. Our three favourites bottles were:

• Antonij Rupert L'Ormarins MCC Brut NV
• LLopart Brut Reserva Cava 2016
• House of Arras Tasmania 'Grand Vintage' 2008

11th Wandsworth Beer Festival.

Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, Wandsworth. Saturday , 02-November-2019.

Our third WBF at the wonderful gothic pile that is Royal Victoria Patriotic Building. It was the last night of the festival and beers were running low. Our friends who arrived half an hour after us got in for free because so many barrels had run out!

I focussed on porter and stout as I dislike this current fad for overly sharp pale ales. I started at the back of the catalogue hoping to catch some beers still on offer as I am sure many start on page 1. Even so only half the dark beers were still showing. I had enough to provide a satisfactory tasting but might think about an earlier start next year.

Afterwards we went with our friends for a lovely Italian meal at the family run Dan and Angel, named after the owners two children.

Wine Society Dining Club 277th dinner.

Drapers Hall, London. Tuesday, 05-November-2019.

At the other end of the spectrum from the beer festival is fine claret at a black tie dinner in the elegant surroundings of the Drapers' Hall.

The WSDC proposition is that the members of the main Wine Society buy wines for laying down and some years later consume them when they are ready for drinking.

The theme was "The Three Leovilles". We had an informative introduction to the wines, a lovely meal with superb wines and talked to charming strangers.

Hic!

Wine Society Dining Club 244th dinner

A Burgundian dinner with a couple of German outliers. The deal with the WSDC is that they lay down WS wines then drink them on such occasions as these some years later. So generally "not available in the shops".


Wine Society Dining Club 244th dinner

Lincoln' Inn is an extraordinary place. A hidden oasis in the middle of London it looks like an Oxbridge college dropped into the centre of town. And The Old Hall looks like a college dining room.


Wine Society Dining Club 244th dinner

As we don't know the other members we chat to strangers in the pre-dinner drinks and get pot luck on the seating plan. We were fortunate in being placed opposite Ray Bowden and his wife Gill. Ray was for many years chairman of the wine society and a most charming dinner companion.


Wine Society Dining Club 244th dinner

My favourite wine of the evening was the Beaune Marconnets as it was of the assembled company by a show of hands. Second favourite was the Gevrey-Chamberttin.

A most enjoyable evening and a reminder of why we should go to more of these events.

Company Christmas Party '08

The taxman allows a company to spend up to GBP 150 per annum on work do's for the staff. Since Mary and I are the workforce we decided that the office Christmas party would be a "Right Bank Stars Dinner" organised by The Wine Society Dining Club. A fine evening with some fine wines:

The Wine Society Dining Club
THE 236th DINNER

Wednesday 12th November 2008 at 7.00pm

Guest Speaker Mr David Peppercorn

In the Chair Patrick Karney

The Painters' and Stainers' Hall, 9 Little Trinity Lane, London EC4V 2AD

MENU

Smoked Chicken & Woodland Mushroom Terrine
Red Onion & Mustard Seed Relish
Kalamati Olive Biscottini & Fresh Chervil Pluches

Selection of Warm Organic Rolls

Loin of Lamb with Pinenut Rosemary & Parmesan Crust
Fondant Potatoes
Primo Cabbage & Chatenay Carrots Cumberland Sauce

Selection of Cheeses

Individual Spiced Apple Charlottes
Florentine Biscuit with Butterscotch Ice Cream

Tea and Coffee
Selection of Indian Teas and Herbal Infusions
Richly Roasted Arabica Coffee
Chocloate Mints and Truffles

WINE

Boizel Champagne

Chablis Les Clos 1996 Drouhin

Chateau Canon 1985

La Fleur-Petrus 1995

Cheval Blanc 1993

Warre 1983

The Wine Society Dining Club - 235th Dinner

A while back we went to an Alto Adige Wine Tasting Dinner at Enoteca Turi and got chatting to Stuart and his wife. It turned out Stuart was chairman of The Wine Society Dining Club. He invited us to their next dinner but alas we had prior arrangements.

However time passed and we were able to make Thursday's dinner which happened to coincide with their AGM. The nature of these dinners is such that, even if you know no one, you can be sure to have an enjoyable time. People who go to such events are self-selected to be types who enjoy good food, fine wine and convivial company. The theme of the dinner was Champagne Alfred Gratien with a guest speaker from the house that supplies much of the Wine Society offerings.

The Wine Society Dining Club

The 235th Dinner
Tuesday 17th June 2008 at 7.00pm
Guest Speaker Mr Olivier Dupre
In the Chair Nigel Black
The Painters and Stainers Hall 9 Little Trinity Lane, London EC4



Menu

• Tian of Smoked Chicken & Avocado Smoked Pancetta Wafer & Lime Creme Fraiche
• Selection of Warm Organic Rolls
• Grilled Supreme of Salmon With Tied Green Bean Bundles, Fennel & Artichoke Confit White Wine and Chive Butter Sauce Chateau Potatoes
• Selection of Cheeses
• Mango and Fig Tarte-Tatin Served with Vanilla Pod Ice Cream & Butterscotch Sauce
• Tea and Coffee Selection of Indian Teas & Herbal Infusions Richly Roasted Arabica Coffee Hand-made Chocolates & Petit Fours

The wines

• The Society's Exhibition Blanc de Blancs
• The Society's Champagne, Brut
• The Society's Rose Champagne
• Macon-Farges, 2006, Paul et Mallory Talmard
• Alfred Gratien Brut 1997
• Alfred Gratien, Cuvee du Centenaire
• The Society's Demi-Sec Champagne