What we tasted in December 2025

Christmas Tasting - Duncan Murray

In December we gladly welcomed the return of Duncan Murray. Duncan's shop in Market Harborough is always a very welcoming spot, and his free Saturday tastings there are very popular.

Duncan told us that he has been presenting to the Grand Union for 30 years or more, in recent years entertaining us at our Christmas tasting with his terrible jokes and delicious wines.

We had a wonderful variety of both white and red wines, covering a huge range of styles. The Petali Assyrtiko was savoury with great texture, while La Baie Orientale was delicate and floral, the Chablis was unoaked in strong contrast to the Harewood Estate Chardonnay. The Marcillac was a good example of a summer red and the Pinot Noir was light-footed too. For me, the pick of the bunch was the Côtes du Rhône Villages. The Late Bottled Vintage port was a great finish with the mince pies.

We had a blind tasting too: I got the colour right, but little else. It was actually a rather good Cabernet Sauvignon from near the Gobi desert in China at over 1000 m altitude, made with the collaboration of the 15th generation of the Austrian Moser family.

For more information: https://duncanmurraywines.co.uk

The wines tasted were:

1. Diamantakis, Petali; Crete, Greece, 2024. Assyrtiko

2. Lionel Osmin; La Baie Orientale; Le Sud-Ouest, France, 2024. Muscat, Muscadelle, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Riesling

3. Domaine Fournillon; Chablis, France, 2022. Chardonnay

4. Harewood Estate; Great Southern Western Australia, 2021. Chardonnay

5. Lionel Osmin, Marcillac Fer de Soif; Marcillac, France, 2023. Fer Servadou

6. Harewood Estate; Denmark, Great Southern Western Australia, 2024. Pinot Noir

7. Blind Tasting – Changyu Moser XV; Ningxia Helan Mountain, China, 2021. Cabernet Sauvignon

8. Mas de Boislauzon. Le Deux Chènes; Côtes du Rhône Villages, France, 2023. Grenache, Syrah, Carignan

9. Kopke LBV; Porto, Portugal, 2020. Touriga National, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Sousâo

   
   

   

Duncan Murray - ready to present

Next tasting - Friday 12th December

Christmas tasting with Duncan

Web: https://duncanmurraywines.co.uk

It’s that time of year again! 

The Grand Union Christmas tasting will take place on Friday December 12th. Duncan Murray will present wines from his extensive stock, which has been developed based on his long experience in the wine business. 

Duncan’s shop in Market Harborough is a popular destination for wine enthusiasts, and is well known for its free Saturday tastings. 

As usual, we will have a free member’s raffle and minces pies for all. And, of course, we will have an excellent range of wines for you to taste.

This is always a popular event, I do hope you will be able to come. 

Please register your intention to attend by paying the standard fee. It will be very helpful to us if you could do this by December 7th. 

What we tasted in November 2025

Brazilian Wines!

In November we were treated to an unexpected treat by Nicholas Corfe of Go Brazil. Unfortunately I could not be present, but I was told that the wines were very well recieved and the Nicholas gave an excellent presentation. Although Brazil is clearly a tropical country, most of its wine is produced near the southern border with Uruguay (which also prduces some fabulous wines).

A sparkling brut Blanc de Noir, three white wines and four red wines were tasted; these covered a good range of price points and ages. People were happy to place orders afterwards.

For more information: https://www.gobrazilwines.com

The wines tasted were:

1. Família Geisse, Blanc de Noir brut, sparkling; Serra Gaúcha, 2021. Pinot Noir.

2. Campos de Cima, Três Bocas branco; Região da Campanha, 2023. Assyrtiko, Arinto, Alvarinho.

3. Pizzato, Chardonnay des Chardonnays; Vale dos Vinhedos, 2023. Chardonnay.

4. Pizzato PP Semillon; Vale dos Vinhedos, 2022. Semillon.

5. Don Guerino, Origine 1880; Alto Feliz, 2022. Terodego.

6. Campos de Cima, Dos Netos; Campanha Gaúcha, NV. Ruby Cabernet, Tannat.

7. Pizzato Gran Reserva Concertus; Vale dos Vinhedos, 2021. Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon.

8. Gauspari, Vista da Serra; Espírito Santo de Pinhal, 2018. Syrah.

   
   
   
   

   

Nicholas Corfe of Go Brazil Wines and Spirits