Tasting Notes NI

Gatherings at the table are my absolute favourite. Hosting tastings since last year has been such a joy — every bottle shared expands my palate, deepens my knowledge, and reminds me how much there still is to discover. Private tastings are always especially fun: good company, curious minds, and wines that spark conversation and connection. 🍷✨ Featured wines at Saturday’s tasting were sourced from @jnwine and @thesourcingtable

On Saturday I hosted a lovely tasting for 10 to celebrate Paul’s 40th 🍾 We kicked off with a joyful Crémant de Bourgogne — and Paul’s first sabrage was handled like a pro. The full wine line-up is coming soon, but 4 of the 6 wines featured were from @jnwine . After returning home from South Africa in 2020, I really missed vineyard life, tastings, and the wine community. By chance, I ended up living in Crossgar — just around the corner from the glorious @jnwine (pure coincidence, of course). Tasting 🎶 * Allo by @quinta_soalheiro — Crisp and refreshing, with citrus, green apple, pear, and white peach balanced by bright acidity and a mineral finish. Tasting 🎶 * Pinot Gris by @forrestwines Forrest Estate — Smooth and textured, showing ripe pear, baked apple, and soft spice with a fresh, aromatic finish. Tasting 🎶 * Domaine Cavalier Sauvignon Blanc & Viognier @chateaudelascaux — Zesty citrus and tropical fruit meet soft apricot and floral notes in this fresh, rounded blend. Tasting 🎶 * Secateurs Red Blend @aabadenhorst — Juicy blackcurrant, plum, and red cherry layered with cracked pepper and subtle spice, finishing smooth, savoury, and easy-drinking.

I’ve made a new friend 🍷 I met Marabino yesterday at a tasting—and my goodness, I’m glad I did. The colour alone is a surprise, and while it’s beautifully juicy, there’s real structure here too. The kind of rosé that doesn’t just sip—it sits confidently beside a hearty meal. I’ve always had a soft spot for gastronomic rosés, and this one has firmly earned its place in my friendship circle. My husband and I were in Noto, Sicily recently, and we haven’t stopped talking about the wines of Etna, Vittoria, and the stunning Val di Noto. Wines that feel made for the southern Sicilian sun… yet somehow shine just as brightly in a Northern Irish “heatwave” (14°C). Tasting notes 🎶
Wild strawberry, cherry, mint, spearmint, thyme @marabinowine #winelovers

If you see Vouvray on the bottle, you’re drinking Chenin Blanc. 🍐🍋 Located east of Tours in the Loire Valley, Vouvray is one of the most important appellations in Touraine, with the best vineyards lining the slopes above the Loire River. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a Chenin Blanc fan — especially from South Africa — but the moment I spotted a bottle of Marc Brédif, on the shelf this week, the heavens opened and all the angels sang whilst helping my arm reach for it and proceed to payment! ✨ This wine is crafted, not simply produced. Grateful to @belfast.wineschool for introducing it to our @wset_school Level 3 class — it was love at first sip. Tasting notes 🎵 pear, peach, lemon, minerality, joy, and abundance. If you’re old enough you’ll remember… it has a “totally tropical taste” #lilt #Vouvray #CheninBlanc #WineLovers #WSET

☀️ Mediterranean Scrub 🍷✨ The 2024 Envinate Albahra captures the wild energy of southeast Spain with effortless charm. Crafted by cult producer Envínate, this expressive red is a blend of Garnacha Tintorera and Moravia Agria — vibrant, fresh, and full of character. Perfect for a sunny afternoon alongside a braai or BBQ with good friends and great food. 🇪🇸🔥 Tasting 🎵 
Bright and floral with a vibrant purple colour, Albahra opens with aromas of wild berries, sour cherry, rose petals, Mediterranean herbs, and cracked pepper. The palate is silky yet energetic, layering crunchy red fruit with subtle spice, earthy minerality, and a touch of smoky depth. Refreshing acidity comes from the high-altitude vineyards of Spain’s Extremadura region, while Garnacha Tintorera adds juicy texture and gentle structure, finishing long and savoury.

Discovered The Doctors Flat during WSET Level 3 tastings with @belfast.wineschool from The Wild Irishman @wildirishmanwines , where it quickly became a favourite at our table. This week I opened the Tuturi, and it was gloriously magnificent. Tasting note 🎵
Silky texture, vibrant cherry and raspberry, hints of wild thyme, subtle spice, and earthy undertones. Elegant, balanced, and beautifully lingering on the finish.

Award Day Started at @vagabondwines for a gorgeous glass of @langhamwinery followed by @thorneanddaughters Old Vine Chenin @oldvineproject - an appropriate nod to my soul home 🇿🇦 and outfit! Congratulations @cathymarston Food and chit chat with Jennifer & @belfast.wineschool Off to the QEII @qeiicentre to celebrate with @wsetglobal , @lauracatenamd Sharing the occasion with Sake Winner @luther97 - humble and gentle and @decanter @decanterawards Canadian awardee Nathaniel Cross Celebrated with Celebrated with @champagnelaurentperrier Hertitage The celebrations will continue into June with a gorgeous meal @thebucksheaddundrum and I’m sure I’ll stretch them into July when I get to embark on the actual award 🇫🇷 @vinsdebordeaux

On 6th January this year, I received an email from WSET congratulating me on being the highest achieving candidate for WSET Level 3. I scanned it for any sign it might be fake and replied with one short question: “Is this a joke?” I was kindly assured it was not. Until then, I hadn’t even been aware of the awards. Last week, at London’s QEII Centre, I had the honour of receiving the @wsetglobal Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux Prize 🥇 @tastewithleona It was a truly humbling experience to sit among such dedicated individuals from around the world, celebrating the achievement of the DipWSET and the journeys that brought them there. I worked hard for the exam not in pursuit of an award, but to deepen my passion for this subject and what it allows me to bring to the table. At the same time, I don’t believe exams are the only measure of knowledge—since completing these studies, I have learnt so much that can’t be quantified. I deeply value education and feel incredibly grateful to everyone who shows up to my tastings—your curiosity and support have brought me so much joy and have furthered my knowledge significantly. I am immensely thankful for the support, knowledge, and inspiration of those around me— @dylanmurtagh_ @clarkymeboy @kerrycchew Marie-Claire @belfast.wineschool @muntonguy and many others (as tagged). Also @winewithjimmy (you were with us every evening for drinks and dinner! - hope to meet in person one day)

Sunshine on the terrace at Kinsbrook Wine Estate, where a fantastic relay of small plates made their way to the table, perfectly paired with the Kin flagship sparkling—now proudly awarded Double Gold at the London Wine Show. A sip of Rosé followed, then a glass of still Chardonnay to swirl. Golden views, bubbles, and unforgettable moments with @suburbans_uncorked 🍾✨ #Kinsbrook #DoubleGold #SparklingWine #WineLovers #TerraceViews SipAndSavor

Turquoise and pink on the label—an instant promise of colourful aromas and flavours. ✨ A visit to Wiston Estate Winery reminds you just how exciting English wine has become. We enjoyed a beautiful tour through the vines, followed by a fun, relaxed tasting of four sparkling wines that really showcased the estate’s precision and style: Blanc de Blancs NV, Brut NV, Rosé NV, and the standout Estate Cuvée 2020. Highlight: Estate Cuvée 2020 — 9 months on oak, 4 years on the lees. Primarily Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Meunier… and without question, my personal favourite. Tasting notes: crisp green apple, citrus peel, lemon posset, almonds, tarte tatin, delicate brioche, and a fine, persistent mousse. And a small but memorable touch — delightfully solid pencils in hand, jotting down tasting notes as we went. The real fun, though, was in the company of @suburbans_uncorked Perfectly poured, perfectly shared. 🍾

Sun-soaked Sussex, sparkling moments & vineyard hopping done right ☀️🍾 Kicked off our first proper day of wine exploring in West Sussex in style, starting with a relaxed lunch and wine at Kinsbrook, soaking up those vineyard views. From there, we headed to Wiston Estate for a brilliant winery tour and tasting (English sparkling really holding its own 👏), before finishing at Nutbourne with a glass of bubbles right between the vines, honestly, doesn’t get much better than that. We wrapped up the day back home with something a little special, a stunning Alsace Chardonnay from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, shared with great company and even better conversation. Days like this are what it’s all about 🍷 📍: 1. @kinsbrookvineyard - Lunch and wine 2. @wistonestate - Wine tour and sparkling wine tasting 3. @nutbournevineyards - Bubbles inbetween the vines 🗺️: West Sussex, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🥘: Vineyard lunch boards, light bites & good company 🍖: Charcuterie and a beautiful bottle of @zindhumbrecht Chardonnay 2024 A perfect mix of English terroir, sunshine, and a touch of Alsace elegance to round it all off. Who’s joining us for the next Sussex wine adventure? 👀🍇

A year ago: South Africa. Now: counting down to familiar souls, unforgettable bottles, and moments that never really left me. What makes it all the more special is knowing I’ll soon be reunited with people and wines I know and love— and this weekend, celebrating something unexpected and quietly extraordinary, surrounded by South Africans. (More to come…) To the Winelands, the bush, and the simple luxury of sipping beauty— savouring every note of the finest melody of all… friendship. 🍷✨