Dinner Xara Lodge on the 24th May 2022

Dear friends and fellow wine lovers,

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Attached please find the session report for last Tuesday’s session at Xara lodge.

 

First of all, especially for those of you who were not there and may have heard on the 'grapevine’, we had a minor crisis when an agent failed to deliver a wine (although both he and Xara had confirmed to me on Monday that the wines were delivered) 

 

Fortunately, this was ably mitigated by Nick Calamatta, the session leader, who called the agent and succeeded in getting the missing wine from stock supplied to a restaurant.  we were only able to get 6 out of the 11 bottles  of Ch de Pez ordered and they were different vintages (2x2009; 2x2010 and 2x2015 - which was the vintage ordered) but fortunately it still was enough to give us 2+ pourings and so adequately sample  the wine.

 

While I thank the Sales Director of Charles Grech for his assistance outside office hours to partially solve a problem of his delivery staff's making, it is disappointing that to date no apology has been received from the company.

 

Getting back to the wines - and the accompanying dishes - again Xara's front of house staff lived up to their reputation of service, including searching everywhere for the missing wines both at the Lodge as well at de Mondion.  

 

I found all the wines equally enjoyable and really have nothing to add to what Nick states in his report.  On average it seems that the diners on the day agreed with me as the votes are very close although I find it extraordinary that one diner considered the Fleur de Bouard and the Ch de Pez so poor as to deserve only 10/20 

 

The food too divided the diners with one table feeling that the food while very well-presented lacked flavour.  As always, everyone is fully entitled to their taste and so fair comment.  Personally, I found that the food was good - not great like last time - but a good match to the wines of the night.

 

a final note.  Next month will be our traditional Ladies Night and will - barring unexpected hiccups - be on Tuesday 28th June.  I hope many of you will come to this event - more details will follow soon

 

Cheers

 

Iro