As the group gathered for the evening’s tasting, Honor welcomed Michael and Val France back from their eventful travels, introduced Tom as a new guest, and greeted David Lawson from Chez Vin in Otley. She had asked David to present “wines that are interesting and different,” and he responded with a line‑up of wines he is enjoying at the moment.

Whites

We began with Cantina Lavis Nosiola 2023 (Italy) — a distinctive wine whose name derives from the hazelnut, a note we picked up clearly on the finish. Next came Kir‑Yianni Assyrtiko 2025 (Macedonia, Greece), bright with acidity, clean and fresh, though without the lingering aftertaste of the Nosiola. The final white, Rioja Vega Colección Tempranillo Blanco 2024 (Spain), offered plenty of fruit on both nose and palate, finishing with a gentle honeyed note.

Three very different whites, all enjoyable, but Nosiola emerged as the group favourite.

Reds

The first red, Kanakaris Agiorgitiko 2024 (Peloponnese, Greece), divided opinion — a wine that split the room — though many felt it showed real potential. The next red, Domaine Machard de Gramont Hautes‑Côtes de Beaune 2023 (France), was universally popular: bigger and more refined than expected, and considered excellent value. We finished with Pierre Cros Les Rocs 2023 (Vin de France), a lighter wine with plenty of flavour on both nose and palate.

Conclusion

The evening was a resounding success for David and our hosts. And, somewhat surprisingly given the quality of the reds, the Wine of the Evening was the Nosiola from Italy.