An occasion that we had been looking forward to was a trip to The Assembly Rooms on George Street in Edinburgh to see Oz Clarke, Tim Atkin and Olly Smith at their Three Wine Men event. A leisurely drive up to Edinburgh didn’t leave us much time to check into our B&B, Dalry Guesthouse, and get across the assault course of tram works between Haymarket and the City Centre. Therefore, we arrived with all of 30 seconds to spare at Olly Smith’s Waxing Lyrical about Weird Wines.

Featured wines were:

Rockburn Pinot Gris, 2011, New Zealand, #strictlywine

Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko, 2012, Greece, #hedonismwines – Our top pick

Roccolo Grassi Valpolicella, 2008, Italy, #wineman- Kel’s top pick

Andeluna Malbec, 2012, Argentina, #spiritedwines

Kel got a mention from Olly and round of applause in celebration of his stripy jacket …

Later in the day, Tim Atkin presented cheese and wine matching with Tanny Gill of Tanny Gill Cheese and what a fabulous matching it was:

Chapel Down Bacchus, 2011 with Connage Crowdie (cow’s milk), Inverness, Scotland.

Jurancon Sec, Chant des Vignes, Domaine Cauhape, 2012 with Bonnet (hard goat’s milk), Stewarton, Scotland.

Faldeos Nevados Malbec, 2011 with Admiral Collingwodd (hard cow’s milk), Northumberland (stinky but oh so good!)

Bleasdale, The Wise One Tawny 10 year old, Langhorne Creek with Harrogate Blue.

In between these wonderful Masterclasses, we did a tour of the main hall where 27 suppliers were showcasing wines, cheese, fudge, Riedel glassware, as well as a WSET stand. Tim Atkin was displaying his photography, whilst Olly and Oz were promoting their latest books.

Our tasters:

Majestic Wine, Caixas Godello Martin Codax, 2012, Spain – very drinkable.

Wines of Portugal, Alvarinho Solar de Serrade, 2012, Portugal – zesty.

Wines of Portugal, Pato Frio Antao Vaz, 2011, Portugal – nice to taste again.

Wines of Portugal, Quinta de Saes Encruzado, 2011, Portugal

The Wine Society, Castillo del Baron Monastrell, Yecla, 2012, Spain

The Wine Society, Vinha do Reino, Douro, 2010, Portugal – we liked this.

The Wine Society, Pitti (Pittnauer), 2011, Austria – impressed.

Falcon Wine Ltd, Herdade Tapada do Falcao, Rocha Rosa, 2009, 2010, 2011, Portugal

Wines of Brasil, Aurora Pinot Noir, 2012

Wines of Brasil, Lido Carraro Dadivas Pinot Noir, 2010

Lidl UK, Medoc AC, 2011, France

Lidl UK, Chateauneuf du Pape AOP, 2012, France – not bad at all.

Wines of Chile, Valdivieso Reserva Pinot Noir, 2011, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Wines of Chile, Valdivieso Single Vineyard Merlot 2009, Sagrada Familia, Curico Valley, Chile – full bodied, dark and smooth, ummm.

Wines of Chile, Carmen Carmenere Gran Reserva, 2011, Apalta, Colchagua, Chile

Wines of Chile, Novas Gran Reserva Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010, Colchagua, Chile – Kel liked this one.

Vino Wines, Thorn Clarke Mount Crawford Riesling, 2012, Australia

Diemersfontein Coffee Pinotage, 2011, South Africa

California Wines, Parducci Small Lot Petite Sirah, 2009, California

California Wines, Bonterra Zinfandel, 2010, California – juicy, fruity and drinkable.

Morrisons, Jackson Estate Stich Sauvignon Blanc, 2011, New Zealand

Morrisons, Castigilione Barbaresco, 2009, Italy – Kel liked this one.

L’Art du Vin, Velvet, Gerhard Pittnauer, NV, Burgenland, Austria – light and fruity.

L’Art du Vin, Mencia, Pittacum, 2007, Bierzo, Spain

Yapp Brothers, Savoie L’Orangiere: Tiollier Freres, 2012, France – fresh and smooth lemon.

Yapp Brothers, Crozes Hermitage: Alain Graillot, 2011, France

Waitrose, Magnus Hill Chardonnay, 2012, Australia

Reuben’s Wine Store, Circle of Life White, 2011, South Africa

Halewood Romania, Sebes Alba Sauvignon Blanc, 2012, Romania

Mud House Wine Company, Mud House South Island Pinot Gris, 2011, New Zealand

Mud House Wine Company, Mud House Gewürztraminer, 2010, New Zealand – we liked this one. 

The day was nicely rounded off by a trip to Bon Vivant, Thistle Street, for a lovely glass of Villa Wolf, Riesling Dry, 2011 for Ruth and Alvarinho, Adega de Moncao, Portugal for Kel, followed by The Oxford Bar, Young Street (drinking hole of Ian Rankin’s TV Detective Rebus) for a pint with Oz Clarke.