Iris Reticulata

Signs of Spring at last in the garden.
These tiny irises have just begun to flower, and are in a pot on the garden table.

Still a cold wind, but not too bad in the sun.

I have been out in the garden for the first time this year, and it felt wonderful!
The honeysuckle had got very overgrown and straggly, and so I decided to cut it right back to the bottom. (Hope I haven't killed it off!)
Then a trip to the "tip" with a car load of twigs and stems.
Finished with digging over the boarders, and putting down a layer of soil improver.
It now looks so much better. Hope Winter is now over!!!!!

We had a fun wine tasting last night, in the form of a "Call my Bluff".
We had 6 wines to taste , and two of our committee members each gave their account of what the wine was. We had to guess which was the right answer.
I'm afraid I only got 1 out of 6 right!!!! (along with at least half the others!)
Both J and L are really good at this, and fooling us completely!

The best wine of the evening was a red from South Africa.
Percheron Old Vines, Cinsault, from the Western Cape.

Percheron is the name of the heavy work horses which they still use in these vineyards, and there is a picture of the horse on the label.

Cinsault is the grape variety, which is usually mixed with other varieties, such as grenache, and syrah, in the Southern Rhone.
This is the first time I have tasted it on its own.

Jancis Robinson calls this wine "flirtatious,light and fruity". It is a lovely wine for summer.
Although the wine is grown in South Africa, it is bottled in France by Paul Boutinot.
We all enjoyed it and at £5.99 was good value.

I don't think the Supermarkets sell it, but you might find it in a small independent wine shop.
We have a fantastic shop in Huddersfield called Hoults, run by a very fun guy, Rob Hoult. He sells this along with many more very good wines.
Call in if you are in the area. They have a huge selection of wines. Often some to try as well.

Have had a wine free day today!