Volume 2 Issue 3

WEALD NEWSLETTER

Autumn 2004 from Malcolm Valentin - Commandeur (

Weald) HUGE APOLOGIES, but your Autumnal Newsletter is not only over a month late but might also have been a somewhat truncated issue. Having had severe computer problems, still not solved unless I apparently buy a new one, virtually all of my carefully compiled St Bacchus records have disappeared or been addled in such a way as to be irretrievable. It has been very depressing, but after some six weeks of trying to ‘restore’ things to what were several years’ worth of files, I have had to accept the inevitable loss! The lesson might be not to get involved with such a complicated piece of gadgetry after the age of nine or so and to ‘back up’ more often. In this edition I am especially grateful to John Rudolph for his article on sourcing wines - enjoy Part Two next time.

THE GARDEN PARTY Prayers were certainly answered and Sunday August 1st proved to be a glorious Summer Day for our second annual Summer Event. Some thirty odd members, friends, neighbours and even a new-born baby appeared to enjoy a splendid barbecue meal, wonderful food brought by so many lovely people, brilliant sunshine, freely flowing drinks, sparkling conversation and spirited team games. Once again, we were enormously grateful for help from Phil the chef and Jenny the co-ordinator of all things edible. After last year’s experience the event was a little more organised and thus easier to prepare - we also got our pricing right and even made a very small profit!

... but just to show that some people looked happy!

THE ENGLISH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL This took place at Bentley, near Lewes, home to a collection of vintage cars and not quite such old wild fowl, on 4th/5th September. Due to the lateness of this Newsletter, no reminder further to that given in the Summer Issue was given. Did anyone go? If so, a report next time!

Magistral in Lyon Due to take place on Saturday October 16th, a dozen or so from the Weald Connetable have booked to attend what looks to be a memorable occasion. A ‘Diner de Prestige’ is promised at l’Abbaye Paul Bocuse - home to the eponymous chef - after the 114th Chapitre Magistral of the Grand Connetablie de France. A full report to tease those who did not attend will be forthcoming! NOTE that a Grand Council Meeting of the Grande Connetablie d’Angleterre has been called by our Grand Connetable, John Rudolph, to take place at the Hotel Ibis in Lyon in the afternoon of the 16th. A pre-Christmas WEALD CHAPITRE MEETING has been planned as a ‘good idea’ for a get-together to foster good fellowship and sample yet more vin vray. Details have yet to be confirmed, but provisionally to be held at the Powder Mill Hotel, near Battle, for lunch on Sunday December 5th.

Believe it or not - Basil was thoroughly enjoying himself! ...

Once a decision has been made, a ring-around will follow: but Jack and Angela Muncer will be fielding your enquiries. (Jack - telephone : 01323 470 300)

ADVANCE NOTICE of the Weald Chapitre Meeting & Weekend The Sixth WEALD MAGISTRAL will be held at the Hickstead Hotel on Saturday June 4th 2005 Please make a note - to note in in your diaries when you get them - to come, bring friends and introduce some new members! Suggestions and ideas welcome for the weekend programme -

A contribution from John Rudolph

An approach to buying wine

always have the question in the back of your mind - ‘what is the worth of what is in the bottle’. WINE CLUBS AND OTHER MAIL-ORDER SUPPLIERS You should be wary of this category. They are set up to provide Joe Soap with the wines their market research thinks he wants; that sounds commendable and a good recipe for success - the opposite would be disastrous! The problem is that Joe Soap - and I generalise - has no taste and is a glutton for an easy way to buy wines. The selections give variety and take the opportunity to to offer some smaller tranches of production often from buying up what are effectively bin-ends or wine that needs moving fast. But - Wine Clubs are in the game for profit and to keep their clientele happy with a minimum of stock and an efficient delivery system that you probably pay for direct. The customer is probably happy if eight out of the twelve bottles are really what he wants and he thinks, along with the tasting notes, that he is becoming quite an expert ... and goes back for another few pre-selected cases.

One remarkable exception is called The Wine Society which has been going strong since 1874. It is run like a co-operative for the benefit of its members who buy one share (currently You buy wines from a range of outlets to satisfy your own for a one-off payment of £40.00) and thereafter receive wine needs and tastes. The purpose of this article is to show a lists and programmes of the Society itself. Their buyers choice that perhaps you have not considered in order to select wines from all over the world to put in their cellars that obtain the most satisfaction from your purchases. they think that their members will want to buy. This avoids all the garbage with fancy labels that is truly undrinkSUPERMARKETS able. In general supermarkets supply wine separated by price bands of which their largest sales are in the cheapest The net result is that without the great profit motive (there are brands. These are designed to be drunk by the undiscerning no dividends) somebody is tasting wine on your behalf with palate and are bought, in the main, by the housewife (who a view to stocking a cellar and your buying them. Conseprobably has a better sense of taste than her husband!) and quently if you know more or less what you want, you are are within her shopping budget. Generally they are for imme- assured of quality control and reduce your risk as well as diate consumption, not benefitting from ageing - and the having complete control over what you order - from amongst supermarkets don’t even advise you to let them rest before the best wine lists available in the country. consumption! The Wine Society has an outlet in France, a good hour’s You are doing well if you find a wine that you really like and drive from Calais, where you can buy avoiding the Excise would want to buy regularly. Most of these wines come from Duty. Should anyone wish to join the Society, you will need sources large enough to supply a supermarket chain and are a member to propose you. .......and ... er.. I am a member.

PART 1

bought after heavy negotiation for the best price. When you deduct the ‘fixed costs’ of bottle, cork, seal, labels, distribution and excise duty, there is not much left for the retailers profit - most important to them - and the actual worth of what is in the bottle. WINE MERCHANTS AND OFF-LICENCES Well, some are better than others. The best are the very best, have few premises and rely on their service and knowledge to keep their clientele. Others have outlets in most High Streets and, frankly, you are lucky if the manager knows anything about his products - he was probably selling mobile phones last week! Oh yes, you will get all the patter, but that’s all. Such places have a better chance of buying wine from smaller producers but then you are less likely to go back and buy some more of what you had last time. You should again

J.R. (to be continued)

Articles, reports, cartoons, jokes or comments are invited - any such contributions are always welcome! Jack Muncer has suggested that any members who are interested might like to contact him with a view to forming a Weald Connetable Golf sub-section. Perhaps we could take on other like-minded societies!

With best wishes to you all .... and looking forward

Par Saint Bacchus - Aymons Nous!