A few of the Oddbins managers must have clubbed together to organise a wine tasting in Clarkston Hall in the outskirts of Glasgow as there were a few familiar faces from the various Glasgow branches.

What was really great to see was that the average age of the tasters, quite often well over 50, was probably closer to 35. Nice to feel at home then. There was a good line-up of wines, with a few sparkling wines, some port, sherry and dessert wines and even a whisky. And then of course the normal range. A bit heavy on the new world, in fact two out of the three wines described below are from Australia.

The tasting itself was incredibly informal. The organisers gave out sheets to make notes if you wanted to, but it was a shame they weren't printed with all the wines' vital statistics in place. Personally I use a voice recorder, which these days is easier and easier. Most mobile phones now have them, as do some digital cameras. The first time I used that feature was last year on holiday on the Amalfi Coast. I would take a snap of the wine label and then record my tasting note on top of that. Beats writing it down from memory.
 

The Wines:

Lost Valley
Cortese 2004
Upper Goulborne, Central Victoria
£13.99 - Oddbins

Unlike any Cortese I’ve tried in Italy (this grape is used in Gavi, the great white wine of Piemonte). Very fruity and ripe, almost sweet. Incredible lingering aftertaste. Very good wine, but a whopping 14% alcohol. Not for the faint-hearted.
 

Baileys Glenrowan
1920’s Block
Shiraz 2000
£13.00 (approx.) - Oddbins

Pre-phylloxera planting, some vines dating back to 1904. Reminiscent of  a northern Rhone Syrah, fairly restrained. Seems older than it is. Slight oxidation.

This was a blind taster, with a 'guess the grape variety'. The old world charm about it had me thinking.

 

Cuvee Flamme
Gratien & Meyer
Saumur (sparkling)
£10.99 - Oddbins

Cuvee Flamme is the prestige cuvee from Gratien & Meyer. It is made from the Chenin Blanc grape and is decent value at this price. It may not have the complexity of good Champagne, but will give plenty of 'cheap' Champagne a run for its money. Tangerine, pear and freshly baked bread or maybe custard doughnut. Pleasant, fruity drinking.