Hello again! I hope you all enjoyed the Elysium with your Christmas pudding and that the start to 2009 was a good one.

Since my last article we have been to a couple of tastings at the recently moved Red Zebra. David (Owner) has a fabulous new shop in Derby▓s Cathedral Quarter on Queen Street, which has a cellar and he is making full use of this space, by holding wine tasting evenings down there. We have been to two since my last article. The cellar is very rustic, but had a fabulous atmosphere, with lots of candles lit to add to the ambiance.

The first we went to was an evening of white and rose wines and a week later followed this with a red wine tasting. It was interesting having the opportunity to try different wines in a small group and consider the different aromas and flavours of each of the wines. The evening was informative, friendly and informal, we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

David plans to do more of these throughout the year and I highly recommend booking on one of them. The information will be on his website www.redzebradrinks.com or give him a call on 01332 607 607 to find out more..

The wine I have chosen for you this month is one we tried at the Red Zebra tasting. It is a:

Winery:═ Pascal Toso
Range:═ Single Varietal
Region:═ Maipu (Mendoza), Argentina
Grape:═ Malbec
Year:═ 2007
Alc Strength: 12.5%
Colour:═ Mid═Orange/Pink
Bouquet: Slightly aromatic, white plums and sweet red cherries
Flavour:═ Ripe red cherries and═strawberries, with a subtle hint of watermelon give an intense and refreshing flavour to this wine.

It's dry but not bone dry, clean and crisp with a lovely fullness of flavour in the mouth, slightly creamy - simply delicious!═ One of the best examples of new world rose we have ever had.