The Wine Society Dining Club Newsletter

Walkaround Wine Tasting - The battle of the New World

11th February 2026. 18:30 to 20:30

Watermen’s Hall, 16, St Mary-at-Hill, London EC3R 8EF

We are calling our next walkaround tasting event, “The battle of the New World”. Your Committee has agreed that with most of our reserves coming from France, Italy and Spain, the Club should start purchasing young red and white wine from the New World, selecting from growers with a reputation for aging wine. This walkround tasting will feature some of the wines we might select from Argentina, Australia, South Africa and California. Four members of our Wine Buying Group volunteered to find three wines, 1 white and two red from each region for this walkaround tasting. Using our voting system, we will have a view from those members attending the event, which region(s) and wines we should concentrate on in order to build our reserves of New World wines that will age . We will continue to lay down wines from the Old World.

We are also trying a new venue near Billingsgate, Watermen’s Hall, 16 St Mary at Hill, EC3R 8EF. It is within walking distance from Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street and London Bridge railway stations. The nearest Tube is 4 minutes away at Monument Tube Station which is part of the Bank Tube complex.

We will start with a sparkling from South Africa Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique Blanc de Blanc Western Cape 2019. Pieter Ferreira is known across the globe as ‘Mr Bubbles’ for his unwavering dedication to the pursuit of thrilling, precise traditional-method sparkling wine. After decades as cellarmaster at Graham Beck, his so-called retirement project is to make his own small-batch Cap Classique under his own name, with his wife Ann. The fruit for this 100% chardonnay is sourced from diverse Cape terroirs, with the majority coming from cooler ocean-influenced locations, Cape Agulhas on the Cape South Coast and Darling on the West Coast and the balance from limestone-rich Robertson. It is aged on its yeast lees for 65 months, bringing gorgeous, toasted hazelnut complexity to the aromas and flavours, and creating an extremely fine mousse. The wine was disgorged in January 2025 and is in a beautiful place now. Fewer than 3,000 bottles were produced.

Continuing with a South Africa white Restless River “Ava Marie” Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde, SA 2022 This chardonnay is immensely textural and mineral. Salted almonds, lemon pith, Asian pears, chamomile and salted butter follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, showing lots of depth. Dry, chalky and saline. From a single vineyard planted in 1998. Drink now or it is suggested to keep until 2035.

Let’s compare with a Californian Chardonnay, Hanzell Sonoma Chardonnay 2019. Hanzell has developed a great reputation for producing some of the most age-worthy chardonnays in America. The 2019 is showing great elegance, with structured acidity and textured mouthfeel. Lemon and oyster-shell notes develop on opening, suggesting this will age beautifully.

And from Argentina Bodega Chacra Mainque Chardonnay Patagonia 2024, a wine so linear and driven, with so much tension and intensity. Aromas of sliced apples, lemons and stones. Medium-bodied with flavors of apples, seashells, lemons and crushed stones. It goes on and on. Matured in 30% amphorae and 70% oak. Drink or hold.

And the last white, a viognier. Yalumbra “The Virgilius” Eden Valley Viognier 2022 One of Viognier's global benchmarks. Though native to the Rhône Valley, viognier finds a unique expression in the cooler climes of the Eden Valley, and the tireless work of Yalumba demonstrates exactly what can be achieved. The Virgilius is the winery's flagship white and the 2022 vintage showcases a delicate yet expressive nose, with aromas of apricot, white peach, and honeysuckle, intertwined with subtle spice and light floral notes. One of a handful of the most iconic expressions of viognier, The Virgilius is a world class white.

Turning to reds let us start with several different Cabernet Sauvignons, Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Stellenbosch SA 2021. This is Super-expressive aromatics of cassis, radiant plums and black cherries, highlighted in brushstrokes of violets, dark roses and an alpine, cedar freshness. The wine paints the room. 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the winery’s Reserve bottling – and a superlative vintage for cab it was. The mild season ensured slow and extended ripening, concentrating flavours and netting in clean acidities. Le Riche has long collaborated with a network of growers across the wards of Stellenbosch, and builds in complexity from the various characteristics of the parcels with separate, micro-vinification in the cellar. Three years in total elevage, including 24 months in French oak (70% new).

Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020. Matthiasson are known for achieving great balance and restraint in their cabernet. A crunchy modern, pure California cabernet, this has cassis, plum and cedar spice notes now and, with a few more years to mature, leather, spice and floral notes will develop.

Blending Cabernet and Shiraz, two Australian wines. Penfold’s Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2019 Now hitting its stride, the 2019 Bin 389, fondly known by many as "Baby Grange" has gained polish and composure without losing any of its trademark generosity. The nose is layered and expressive, showing blackcurrant, mulberry and dark plum wrapped in notes of cedar, graphite and cigar box spice. Hints of black olive, liquorice and cocoa add depth. The palate is powerful yet refined, driven by vibrant acidity and beautifully structured tannins that frame the fruit with precision. There’s a seamless interplay between cabernet’s definition and shiraz’s plushness, leading to a long, savoury finish of cassis, dark chocolate and fine oak.

Yalumba “The Signature” Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon - Shiraz 2019. Not made every year, Yalumba's Signature cuvée is now in its 49th vintage, and winemaker Kevin Glastonbury
reckons that the 2019 vintage is the equal of any of those that have gone before. There is plushness, density and concentration here, but the wine is very together and not at all blousy, with fleshiness and roundness on the smoothest of midpalates. There are delicate notes of prune towards the finish, with plums, black fruit and leather and some peppery spices. Everything is soft, mellow and delicious.

Next up, Porseleinberg Syrah, Swartland, SA 2018 From a single-vineyard in Swartland, this 2022 Syrah delivers bold structure and refined clarity. Dark fruit richness meets chalk-like tannins in a wine clearly built for ageing and serious enjoyment.The nose offers redberry, pomegranate and a faint sprinkle of white pepper with hints of fynbos and cured-meat savoury edge. On the palate the wine is medium- to full-bodied, with layers of plum, blackberry and raspberry, detailed tannins and a vibrant chalky finish.

Then Hanzell Vineyards Sonoma County. Pinot Noir 2018. An iconic American pinot that has the concentration expected from Sonoma, but with a precision, elegance and ageworthiness that sets it apart.

Finally two from Argentina, Bodega Noenia J Alberto Patagonia 2022 From 4 hectares of vineyards were planted in 1955. The vines are massale selection, original rootstock ungrafted, so there is nothing clonal about these vines, and each one is genetically different from the other. The vineyard is composed of 95% Malbec interplanted with 5% Merlot. It is irrigated up to 4 times a year by traditional method of fl ooding, with water of maximum purity coming from the Río Negro. The vineyard is certifi ed organic.

Susana Balbo Signature limited release Valle de Uco Malbec 2021. Named after Susana Balbo’s mother, Finca La Delfi na is Susana’s favourite vineyard in Altamira. In 2013, the quality of a small plot caught her attention, so she decided to set it apart and vinify the grapes separately. Deep and dark, this limited edition Malbec was fermented in concrete eggs in order to preserve the character of the fruit. It displays intense blackberry and liquorice fl avours framed by a touch of oak from barrel maturation.

Dress Code

For this event it's smart casual.

Tickets Tickets

are priced at £85 for members and £95 for guests.

Please book early to ensure your place at this New Year event.

Future Events

18th March Black Tie Dinner at Innholders Hall
13th May Tutored Tasting at Bakers Hall
9th June AGM and Dinner at Haberdashers Hall

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