Wine reviews
This one always reminds me of Frazzles crisps, in a good way. Smoky with a bit of crunch from its lovely red fruits, it’s from New Zealand’s Marlborough region, specifically the Southern Valleys. It’s been aged in French oak barrels (that’s where the smoky bit comes from) for nine months and is soft as cashmere …
Currently on offer (it’s normally £13.99), it’s an absolute shoo-in if you want something that tastes like champagne but is more like prosecco in price. It’s made by the traditional method (meaning the second bubble-inducing fermentation happens in the bottle rather than in a tank, like prosecco) and is made from one of the three …
The is one of the reds in the HN Wine Concierge September Edit case and it really is the most perfect September red. There’s something of the bramble fruit about it but with a whiff of summer pudding too. Nebbiolo is the same grape behind the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco and this is a …
Lovely crisp Sauvignon from South Western Australia, this is an eye-opener. And a cheek-sucker. And a mouth waterer. Even though it has that unmistakeable Sauvignon DNA, it’s also refreshingly different to those from New Zealand or France with a herbal edge to its lime fruit flavours. An absolute steal at the price. Just add the …
Love this super smooth Portuguese red made from some of the grapes usually used to make that other great wine from the Douro, Port. It’s full of juicy bramble fruit flavours, a bit like Malbec with the volume turned up. Another one currently on offer so get in there quick if you want to get …
Normally £13.99, this is on offer at the moment and I’d take two bottles of this over a £20 bottle of champagne, tbh. Made from two of the three classic champagne grapes (Pinot Noir & Chardonnay) along with some Chenin Blanc, it’s more fruity than Prosecco, less serious than Champagne. And relatively cheap as chips. …
This is two bottles of enormously loveable Malbec in a pouch (I know, I’m sorry it’s called that too). But pouch aside, it’s easy to carry, stays fresh for 6 weeks once opened (not that we’ve ever opened a wine and not finished within the week in this house) and has an impressively reduced carbon …
I absolutely love this wine. Not just because it’s in a portable, recyclable, quick-to-chill can that won’t spill on the dance floor (the struggle is real, people). But because the wine inside is seriously good value, full of fresh, bright red fruits. And it’s organic. Respect.
Love the name of this brand, named after an American 1920s term for a boozy drink. You can’t get Prosecco in a can (not allowed by Italian law) but this sparkling Italian white is made from the same grape – Glera – and has the same light, lemony, bubbly feel to it. Chill it down …
This brilliant value redcurrant fruit-scented rosé is from the Luberon in southeast France and comes in a summer-holiday-friendly magnum bottle. The fact that the label channels Duran Duran’s Rio video only works in its favour as far as I’m concerned (I was a huge fan. Oh don’t look at me like that). Perfect for a …
The reds from here tend the hog the spotlight but the white wines from the Rhone are usually a great (value) mash up of local grapes, in this case Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Clairette. All peaches and white flowers, it’s a properly unpretentious, happy wine. Gorgeous with grilled/barbecued chicken.
God, apologies for the photo but there isn’t one online yet so this is my recently-polished-off-and-slightly-squished can (had to retrieve it from the recycling bin for the shot). Anyway, this is a brilliant, juicy southern french red. And it’s organic. AND IT’S IN A CAN. That’s this year’s camping/picnic wine sorted.
A fruity take on the Sauvignon Blanc grape thanks to a generous dose of Languedoc sunshine, where the wine’s made. There’s passion fruit, flowers and a big squeeze of lemon in there, along with refreshing crispness to balance it all out. Really smart wine for the money, you could take to friends’ for dinner and …
Read more “Abbott’s & Delaunay Fruits Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc”
The ‘elephant’ in question here is oak. Because in recent years oaky wines have fallen slightly out of fashion. But the producers behind this wine think that, actually, an unashamedly oaky red is something lots of us love. And we’re quite happy to buck the trend. Made from grapes grown in the Langhorne region in …
Another little gem from the Co-op’s Irresistible range, this crisp white Italian is made from the Cortese grape and comes from the Piedmont region in northern Italy. All green apples and almonds, it’s one of those typically brilliant Italian whites that goes so well with lighter summer foods – salads, grilled chicken, fish. Or simply …
Normally finding the words ‘suitable for vegans’ on a wine label requires a magnifying glass, the text is so small. But in this case it’s splashed across the front label so you really can’t miss it. What makes a wine vegan-friendly is that no animal-based products are used during the winemaking process (they’re sometimes used …
At last! A brilliant Provence rosé in a wine bag! This is M&S’s gorgeous Cuvée Rosée already available in a normal 75cl bottle and in a train-friendly 25cl bottle. And thanks to the success of their other camping/festival/picnic-friendly wine bags, they’ve given this one its very own bag too. I tasted it yesterday at the …
There’s something reassuringly chunky about Portuguese reds and this one’s got buckets of warm black fruits, smooth spice from ageing in oak barrels and a bit of lovely earthiness to it. Made from a blend of grapes including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca, the same ones used to make Port in this particular …
Gorgeous pale rosé made by the Perrin family (the same lot that make Brad & Angelina’s wine Miraval), this is all white peach and light red fruits, just as it should be. The label doesn’t tell you much; happily the wine does the talking. Normally £11.99 but it’s on offer at the moment so a …
This wine’s modelled on old-school Bordeaux clairet. In other words a lightish red that used to be made and shipped to the UK where it was known as claret. That name’s now used as an umbrella term for red wines of the region but the original style is more like this one, a really dark rosé. Made …
Katie Jones is quite a woman. After years of working on the marketing side of the wine industry, ten years ago she moved to France and bought a small vineyard that no-one else wanted. Her patience (and hours of back-breaking work) has paid off and she now produces a range of brilliant wines that really …
Much as I love a steely white, sometimes I want something with a bit more meat on its bones to get my teeth – and tastebuds – into. This ripe, juicy Chardonnay is one of those, made from grapes grown in the beautifully-named Casablanca Valley region in Chile. Think tropical fruits with a trace of …
The wine range at Spar has had a recent refresh with the help of Master of Wine and fellow ex-supermarket buyer Philippa Carr. And she’s found some real gems, including this southern Rhone red from the Costières de Nimes region. It’s a bit like Chateauneuf du Pape-Lite with its earthy bramble fruit flavours and kick …
If you need a good, inexpensive summery-type go-with-anything red, here’s one from Portugal that fits the bill perfectly. Juicy, jammy and at the moment, an absolute bargain (it’s normally £7.99). Made from a cocktail of local grapes, it honestly tastes sunny. Try it with anything that you’ve cooked on the barbecue.
The one’s bone dry (it’s got less than 1g/l of residual sugar) and as rosé wines go, it’s actually got a bit more meat on its bones. A blend of classic Provence grapes including Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault, this was one of the many brilliant wines tasted at this week’s Spring Press Tasting for Morrisons. …
We’ve had this one before but it’s currently on offer (normally £11.59) and it’s too good to miss. Such a good style of Sauvignon Blanc, not too grassy but still with that unmistakeable Sauvignon zing with peach and passion fruit in there, too. And the 4th May is World Sauvignon Day, apparently. As if we …
Brilliant value Rioja from Co-op’s Irresistible range (terrible name, I know. But go with it). The wine is made for the Co-op by a great family-owned producer, Muriel. And it’s just what you want from a Rioja with a bit of age (the name Crianza on the front means the wine has been aged in …
This hit the table at Book Club earlier this week and went down a storm. It’s full of classic Malbec flavours – juicy black fruits – but with a real creaminess to it. Super smooth, in fact. I tasted a lot of Malbec at the big wine competition last week and they come in all …
I know it’s what’s on the inside that counts but honestly the bottle this comes in is just divine, embossed around the bottom with herbs and flowers. As for the contents, it’s a very simple pale rosé, all light citrus and peach perfectly done. This is the new vintage so even though the Aldi website …
I was asked the other day for a recommendation for an inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc that wasn’t from New Zealand (she loved NZ SB, just fancied a change). I suggested trying ones from Bordeaux, Loire and Chile for starters. And now I’m adding this one from South Africa to the list, made by a couple of …
The Exhibition range from The Wine Society is full of reasonably priced gems like this one. This is made from the Carmenere grape grown in a cool spot in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. It’s made by the Undurraga family (a big name in Chilean winemaking) but under their new project, Koyle. Big, bold and juicy with …
A magnum of Prosecco with a smart-looking label for half the price of a single bottle of champagne? Yes please. It’s simple, like drinking lemon sherbet, but when you’ve got a garden full of kids trampling all over the daffodils trying to find eggs that haven’t melted in the sun/been rained on then it’s exactly …
Ridiculously good value red from France, this is a beast in a bottle. Think Gruffalo, but without the poisonous warts. Rather it’s big and a bit hairy and rough around the edges. But its properly hearty and tastes like something twice the price. Made in part from the Tannat grape, it definitely needs food to …
This one’s already popped up on the IG feed this week (alongside a bowl of chickpea puffs. Way nicer than they sound, I promise you). The Marsanne grape is behind some of the white wines from the northern Rhone but in this case, we’re a little further south. Sunshine = ripe, fruity flavours. Specifically, a …
Most of my friends like wine. But unlike me, most of them don’t want to talk about it all the time. But when this bottle hit the table recently, it was a conversation stopper for all the right reasons. Fragrant, full of just-squashed blueberry fruits, silky-soft and ridiculously moreish, there was a fight for top …
This is the aged gin I was going on about, new from Elephant Gin. (Just so you know, 15% of profits go to elephant conservation. I love that). Anyway this is, rather fittingly, a big beast. Ageing the gin in oak adds weight and flavour, especially spice and vanilla. I tried it over ice, as …
Currently with £3 off the normal price*, this is a beautifully made, oak aged red wine that tastes far smarter than its £8 price tag. Made from the grippy Carmenere grape grown in Chile’s Colchagua region, its rough edges have been smoothed out after spending eight months ageing in barrels. Think Bordeaux, but warmer. (*Get …
The price of champagne has really crept up over the last few years, the average price per bottle now well over £20. And that’s for the normal stuff. So to find this one, from a great (but small) vintage and made from grapes grown in the best quality vineyards (the words Grand Cru on the …
Lidl bill this as their hangover-free Prosecco. Sadly, drink enough and it will give you a hangover because, well, alcohol. But it is made from organically grown grapes so the vineyards are chemical-free – a good thing. Plus the levels of added sulphur in organic wines are generally lower than your average wine so if …
This is the first Japanese gin I’ve tried – and I loved it. Roku means six and this is made from a blend of botanicals including six typically Japanese ones. The packaging is beautiful, with an embossed bottle and a touchy-feely label printed on Japanese washi paper. Tasted in a line up of gins recently …
A bit like Prosecco, but from a neighbouring region in Italy and made from a different grape (the fabulously-named Pignoletto). It’s drier in style but with that same charming pear and citrus deal going on. Talking of deals, it’s normally a couple of quid more expensive so is an absolute steal at the moment.
From the Limoux region in southern France, Blanquette de Limoux claims to be France’s oldest sparkling wine. It’s made in the traditional method, getting its fizz via a second fermentation in the bottle (just like champagne). Made from local grape Mauzac, along with some Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, this one’s all apples and pears. And …
New from the brilliant Argentinian co-operative winery La Riojana, this is an organic Malbec. And it’s just right: full of dark bramble fruits, lots of spice and a fair bit of grip. It’s Fairtrade too – basically, most of the village is connected with the winery and its wines in some way and Fairtrade projects …
When the buyer from Berry’s visited this particular (massively off-the-beaten-track) winery in South Africa last year she tasted a sample from a tank of wine destined to disappear into another (bigger) blend. But happily, she thought it so good she snaffled the lot on the spot for this exclusive blend. Think waxy lemons and grapefruits …
It’s alpine, but from France’s Savoie region rather than Switzerland. (If you want to buy swiss wines, try alpine wines.co.uk). Anyway, it has that same crisp, clean, lightly-floral-with-a-whiff-of-pear thing going on just as some of the lovely Swiss white wines have. Relatively low in alcohol too at just 11.5%. A couple of glasses of this …
Rich, round, juicy red from California’s Monterey County, there’s absolutely nothing odd about this. Apart from the price, because it tastes more expensive than it is. Always good. It’s a beefy blend of two red grapes with enough alcohol to floor a small army so make sure you sip this one slowly. And sitting down, …
This is organic, biodynamic (fighting the urge to add ‘hydromatic’ in a Danny Zuko voice). Even the winery is made out of hemp bricks, so committed to sustainable winemaking is the producer. The result is a bit of a beast, with fully loaded black fruits, lots of alcohol and grab-your-teeth tannins. But the flavour is …
Love, love, love this sparkling Pinot Noir from the brilliantly-named, family-run Bird in Hand winery in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills region. It’s stuffed with gorgeous soft red fruit flavours – strawberries, cherries – and with a gentle fizz that feels more expensive than it is. Sleek design, sleek wine. Definitely worth two in the fridge, …
Love this gorgeous bright white, fresh as a daisy and full of lemony loveliness. It’s made by one of the biggest and best producers in the Gascony region and for well under £6 is seriously good value for money. Made from a blend of local grapes including Colombard and Ugni Blanc, it’s got more going …
Currently on offer (it’s normally £9.50), this is just the kind of red required to make these cold, dark winter nights feel not quite so long. Or dark. From southern France, it’s from a small area within Minervois, known for its sweet, juicy reds with soft tannins (the teeth-coating stuff you get in a stewed …
Available from the 1st February as part of Aldi’s next Wine Festival, this is a limited edition punky-looking wine made by one of Australia’s best known winemaking families, De Bortoli. The fruit is from South East Australia but their inspiration is Spain, blending the Tempranillo grape (the one behind the wines of Rioja) with Australia’s …
If you’re wanting to give whisky a(nother) try this one’s a great place to start. It’s a super smooth blend of three different Speyside single malt whiskies (Speyside is known for its fruity styles). The first time I tried this it was in a whisky and ginger ale (one of my all-time favourite pre-dinner drinks). …
I was given a bottle of this as a present last year and it’s turned out to be one of the most useful bottles in the stash. Verjus, meaning ‘green juice’ is basically a fancy cordial but, brilliantly, it’s made from unripened Riesling grapes and infused with herbs and flowers from the Saar region in …
Not as famous as nearby Corbieres and Fitou, the wines of Pezenas in the Languedoc are slowly making a name for the region. Think big: the reds are typically fairly robust with lots of dense, dark fruit flavours. This one’s a blend of three local grapes and is aged in oak barrels, giving it a …
I first tasted this last year when it was stocked in Tesco. I can’t find it on the shelves there anymore but you can buy it direct from the brewer, Innis & Gunn. As 0% lagers go, this is brilliant. It’s brewed but not fermented, meaning you get the lovely hoppy flavours you expect rather …
This is not a subtle wine, but then I don’t always want subtle. Sometimes I want lots of flavour wrapped in alcohol with a cherry on top. In this case, black cherry with a sprinkling of spice to boot. From one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, the Barossa Valley, this is a bit of a beast. …
Made from Chardonnay grapes grown in France, this smells and tastes a lot more wine-like than most low or no alcohol wines. It certainly looks like the real thing with it’s champagne-like packaging and punchy price point. Fruity, with peach and pear flavours, it’s medium dry rather than dry (sugar is often added to make …
OK, so this is fermented grape juice rather than proper wine but taste-wise, it’s a pretty good alternative if you’re don’t want the buzz of alcohol. It’s blended with green tea, adding a bit of tannin and taste. Fresh, fruity, gently sparkling and beautifully packaged, it’s one of the best 0% grown up soft options …
Expensive, I know. But there’s not much of it about. And it’s Christmas. It goes brilliantly with turkey and tastes of ripe apricots. Worth splashing out on if you want a really special bottle of white on the table on Christmas Day. Made from a blend of Rhone grapes including Grenache Blanc, with some Clairette, …
Fresh off the vine, this is from the 2017 vintage. Made in New Zealand’s Marlborough Valley, it’s Sauvignon Blanc grape in high definition – and a real crowd pleaser. It works brilliantly with smoked salmon thanks to its zingy citrus flavours. Like a squeeze of lemon on the salmon, but in wine form.
One of the smartest own label champagnes on the shelves at the moment – and definitely one of the best value. This stood out in a recent tasting (the one I did on the telly with Phil & Holly. Just in case, you know, I hadn’t mentioned it). Anyway, it’s a toasty little thing with …
When it comes to finding a red wine to match with all the flavours of Christmas Lunch/Dinner, it’s not just about the turkey. It’s all the trimmings too – pigs in blankets, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and whatever else is on your plate. This wine takes them all in its stride, an …
This one’s a bit of a mouthful, in a good way. It’s from the Baden region in Germany and made from the Pinot Noir grape (Spätburgunder is the German name for Pinot Noir). It’s on the lighter side but still with plenty to get stuck into – bright and juicy with just-squashed raspberry fruit flavours. …
Made in the same way as champagne, in that it gets its bubbles from a second fermentation in the bottle. So you get that trademark champagne-like toastiness in the bottle, which you just don’t get in prosecco. Crémant is the name given to most French traditional method sparkling wines made outside of the Champagne region. …
This was one of the wines in the line up at last Friday’s Trouble Lounge event in Bath and it absolutely lived up to its name. Bright, light and full of gorgeous lemony fruit with a whiff of nectarine, it’s one to try if you like Sauvignon Blanc but want something a little less herby, …
Beaujolais Nouveau, the first French wine from the new vintage to hit our shelves, used to be a bit of an event back in the 70s & 80s. Then it got naff; quality and sales dwindled to almost nothing. But it’s definitely back – and with a whole new attitude. This one’s really well made, …
Terret Blanc (which autocorrect desperately wants to change to Ferret) is an old local grape variety grown in the Languedoc in southern France. But here, instead of it being used in a blend, it gets the stage to itself. And goodness, it sings. Light and bright, it’s got the citrus of Sauvignon but with a …
Talking of presents, this is a great one for teachers. Widely available (Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose and lots more), it’s usually around £8 a bottle but is on offer in Asda at the moment. And it’s such a winter-friendly, warm red with juicy bramble fruits and cushion-soft tannins. Amazing value for money, this one’s a …
Brilliant, peachy white made from the Chardonnay grape grown in the Limoux region in Southern France, this is perfect for Halloween on two counts. Firstly, it’s delicious (most important thing). And secondly the label is kinda scary, so it’s spot on for Halloween. Apparently the guy on the front was a companion of Bacchus, the …
A proper warming, rich red, this one. Made from the Shiraz grape, it’s from the lesser-known Frankland region in Western Australia. Smooth, rich and warming, so just right for this time of year. Some if it has been aged in French oak barrels adding a bit of weight, spice and all round deliciousness to the …
Love this rich, raisiny red from South Australia’s Padthaway region. It’s big (and at 14%, it needs food – or at least, a sofa) but not too burly. Rather, it’s got gorgeous chocolate-y flavours and soft, juicy tannins (the teeth-coating stuff that you get in red wine). Merlot sometimes gets a bit overlooked, especially as …
Ridiculously good value Sauvignon Blanc from the Western Cape, this has got all the bouncy citrus fruit you want (expect) from the super-fresh Sauvignon Blanc grape. But there’s another layer of flavour too, a kind of peachy hit. Some of the wine was aged in French oak barrels, giving it a bit more welly. Lovely, …
The southern Italian region of Puglia is stuffed with brilliantly named grapes you don’t hear much about. This generous, juicy red is made from the Nero di Troia grape, one that’s usually blended in with other grapes. But here, it’s flying solo. Brilliantly so. All berry and spice, it manages to be fresh and firm …
Now, if you prefer your whites on the light, floral side then move along. This is not for you. However, if you love something a bit more ripe and round in your glass from time to time, you’ll love it. All peaches and cream, it’s made from the Chardonnay grape grown in New Zealand’s North …
This is a big wine, as Syrah should be, but not so big that it floors you. Rich and oaky, it’s full of juicy black fruits, spice and a touch of liquorice (in sweet form, I can’t stand liquorice. But in wine, when done well, I can cope). Made by one of Chile’s biggest producers …
If you’re looking for something a bit like Sauvignon Blanc but less shouty on the nose and with a more weight and welly on the palate, this is it. Usually, the GV on our shelves comes from Austria but this one’s from Hungary and half the price of most Gruners. Think peach, spice and flowers. …
This doesn’t usually happen. Two Pinot Grigio wines in a row (I recommended another one from Tesco just last week). But the thing about PG is, no matter how sniffy buffs might be about it being boring, I love love love its simplicity. If this was a shirt, it wouldn’t have ruffles. Or spots. Or …
This is like a magic potion. Made by fourth generation farmers in Herefordshire, they ferment their blackcurrants using champagne yeasts before adding vodka to create this brilliant blackcurrant liqueur. Add a dash to a glass of prosecco or white wine, or make a British Bramble by adding it to a glass already filled with crushed …
New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc grape might hog the spotlight but waiting in the wings is Syrah. This one’s from the Hawkes Bay region in the North Island, where the soils and coastal climate produce Syrah in this sort of smoky, spicy style rather than big black fruit bombs from hotter regions. Love this wine; especially …
Rioja comes in all shapes and sizes, from old skool leathery ones to juicy, bright fruity ones. It all depends on the who, how and where. This one is definitely a modern take with polished, juicy black cherry fruit flavours and a generous dash of vanilla thanks to time spent lolling about in oak barrels. …
As grapes go, Pinot Grigio is perhaps one of the more easy going styles. Simple, sometimes even a little meh. But find a good one and it’s a joy. Light, lemony and bright, this is the kind of wine you want to greet you at the end of the day with nothing but a bowl …
This is normally £7.99 but it’s on offer at the moment, making it a steal at the price. Juicy, bramble-fruit loaded red with a whiff of bonfire about it from the under-the-radar Yecla region tucked down in the southeast corner of Spain. It’s a blend of Syrah (aka Shiraz) and the Monastrell grape, bringing a …
Just one of the loveliest new Italian whites to cross my palate in recent weeks. From the Campania region in southern Italy (Naples is nearby), this is a sunny white with ripe, easy-going citrus fruits along with a touch of honeysuckle. The grape is called Greco and you won’t find it really anywhere else. If …
This is the Spanish rosé from our Camp Bestival wine tasting a few weeks ago and it went down beautifully. Pale but perky, fruity but subtle, it’s everything you want from a serious (but not so serious it’s scary) rosé. Joyful to drink, it’s light enough to sip on its own but with enough fruit and …
This is the white wine we had at our Camp Bestival wine tasting a couple of weeks ago. The reason it’s called ‘On the QT’ is because it’s made by a famous producer; they just don’t put their name to it (it’s sold as a parcel to Waitrose). It divided opinion and I’m pretty sure …
A New World wine with the Old World as inspiration (so often the case). The island of Waiheke, just off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island is a gem of a wine region thanks to cooling sea breezes, great soils and a host of other factors in its favour when it comes to ripening …
If you want something more like Champagne rather than Prosecco taste-wise but more like Prosecco rather than Champagne price-wise, Crémant is a great way to go. Basically, it’s the name given to sparkling wine made in the same way as Champagne (as in it’s fermented for a second bubble-inducing time in the bottle) but from …
They say all good things come in small packages. Not so, because this brilliant rose bag in box holds 5 litres. That, my friends, is a lot of bottles of wine. More than six, in fact. And for the price, that works out at £6/bottle. Warning: this is not a pale rose. Rather it’s Italian …
Most pink wines in boxes are not like this one: namely, pale, crisp and dry. Sourced from vineyards across the Mediterranean, it’s not quite the same as drinking a pale Provence rose from the bottle (not directly. You know what I mean) but it comes pretty close, taste-wise. The packaging is way better than normal …
Gorgeous example of how well Pinot Noir can travel given the right conditions. Its spiritual homeland might be Burgundy but this one’s from the other side of the world. The cool climate of the Yarra Valley in South Australia suits it down to the ground, bringing out all the lovely raspberry and cherry fruit Pinot Noir’s capable of …
Cava is often written off as the cheap alternative to champagne/more serious alternative to prosecco but there’s more to it than that. Made in Spain in the same way that Champagne’s made (meaning it’s bottle fermented), this one’s ripe and fruity but with that same toasty champagne character. Made from a blend of classic Cava grapes including …
If you like your wine to taste peachy with lemon peel and a touch of honey – all for £6 – then here. You. Go. Currently on offer (it’s normally £8/bottle), it’s a Fairtrade wine made in South Africa’s so-hip-it-hurts Swartland region. The chenin blanc grape loves it here, evidently. And there’s no oak so all you get …
I tasted this for the first time just a few weeks ago when doing a round up of ‘smart’ drinks in a tin for a piece for the paper and this, my friends, is a game changer. The base gin is brilliant, the tonic delicious. It’s reassuringly juniper-y in style with lots of flavour and …
So this is basically like a brilliant, brilliant dream. Gin and wine in a bottle. Well, not quite. But almost. The producers batch distill their gin, then steep it for two months with Shiraz grapes from their neighbours in Australia’s Yarra Valley. The result is pinky purple in colour and tastes a bit like sloe gin-lite. …
My rose intake has gone through the roof since the sun came out and honestly, I’m sure it tastes better in the sun. This one is at the perky rather than pale end of the scale, with lovely fresh strawberry fruit aromas and red fruit flavours. We’re more used to drinking Malbec in red form …
This one’s got a nice chunky offer on it at the moment (it’s normally £9.99) so worth stocking up on a few bottles if you love your reds with a side order of grrrr. From the Rhone region, Cairanne is one of just twenty villages in the Cotes du Rhone allowed to use their village …
Love this white, with all its fresh pear and almond flavours. Made from the Cortese grape, it’s one of those wines that you don’t even have to think about. Just whack it in the glass, get a salty snack to hand and sit down for the next twenty minutes with a book/make a phone call …
I know they say size doesn’t matter but when it comes to a bottle of Prosecco, I beg to differ. This is a magnum (equivalent to two bottles) and it’s currently on offer (it’s normally it’s £19). This is just how I like my prosecco: fresh and frothy with soft bubbles and lots of pear …
I mean, look at that bottle! So lovely. The colour of the wine is candy floss pink rather than Provence pale and has a much bigger burst of fruit to go with it. And the wine has been left on its lees (yeasts after fermentation) for a while adding oomph and flavour, so it’s really food-friendly too …
As is often the case with Portuguese reds, this is a cocktail of grapes usually found in port. But here, the grapes are left to do their thing as a red wine rather than being fortified with grape spirit as port is. Made by a brilliant producer, Quinta do Crasto, it’s intense (in a good way) …
Another gorgeous Italian white made from a random grape variety, this time it’s Verdeca along with a dash of Sauvignon Blanc and Malvasia. This is such a lovely style, fresh and crisp with subtle lemon flavours and a tiny touch of spice. From the heel of Italy, in Puglia, it was one of the highlights …
Arneis is the name of the grape, meaning ‘rascal’ in Italian. Gives you a clue as to what winemakers think of this little beast: difficult to grow but ultimately loveable. It’s quite subtle with lemon and pear flavours. Really fresh too, with a kind of floral hit. And there isn’t that much of it about, either. …
Lighter styles of red like this one completely come into their own once the weather gets warmer. Made from the juicy-fruited Gamay grape, this is soft, supple and fresh with raspberry and blackberry fruit flavours. And the tannins (the stuff that clings to your teeth in red wine) are there but not so much that …
This will be going up in price to £9.49 before long but for now, because it’s new to the range, it’s on offer at an introductory price. Making it really, really good value: tons of bright, juicy berry fruits with spice and oomph (technical term, that). Fantastic stuff from the Rhone – and it’s organic, …
Viognier makes wines with lots of flavour, usually along peachy lines, but they can sometimes lack zip. Not this one. Made by Chile’s leading organic wine producer Emiliana, this one balances both buckets of flavour and lots of freshness. With gorgeous tropical fruit flavours along with a whiff of floral, it’s got summer in its …
Much as I love champagne, I do love a good cremant (basically, sparkling wine from France made in the same way as champagne, but not from the Champagne region). Not just because it’s usually half the price but because it’s refreshingly different. This one’s like lemon meringue pie, with soft citrus fruits and with a …
Read more “Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Cremant de Loire”
Such a clever idea, this: get a tip top winemaker to snap up small-ish parcels of wine for you and sell them under an exclusive label. Made from the Barbera grape usually found in Italian vineyards but here, it’s put down roots in Australia’s Victoria region. Loves it, too: with gorgeous black cherry fruits, spice and …
Normally over £20 a bottle but it’s on offer at the moment so definitely worth a try if you like your reds on the rich side. Made from a blend of five different grapes, it’s got so much going on – bramble fruits, violets, spice – but still manages to be as soft and luxurious …
When it comes to matching wine and chocolate, the best matches depend on the type of chocolate – milk, dark, white, salted caramel, I could go on – but this particular sweet wine takes most of them in its stride. Now, Madeira is not the most fashionable thing but that’s good news because a) it’s amazing …
Last Sunday, I cooked a shoulder of lamb for lunch. It was a Nigella recipe and she told me to add a generous amount of rose to the roasting pan. It was delicious. The wine I mean, not the lamb (although that wasn’t half bad if I may say so myself). Fresh and bright with …
Read more “Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Barrihuelo Rioja Rosado”
Ridiculously good value Italian red, this is what’s called for when you’re stuck to the sofa and about to face plant a pizza. It’s made from the Sangiovese grape (the one behind the wines of Chianti) and is so simply done, full of juicy, soft cherry and raspberry fruit flavours. Wine duty has just gone up …
This is from Piedmont, the smartest wine region in Italy (think Barolo). But Asti is often relegated to the bottom shelf in shops over here, written off as cheap, sweet and, if we’re honest, a bit naff. But the good ones are gorgeous: light (this one’s only 7%), frothy and floral with gentle sweetness. Sip …
I love coffee. In fact, I’m pretty much fuelled by it (until it’s wine time, obviously). But coffee liqueur? The only time I drink that is in an Espresso Martini. So when I saw a bottle of Conker’s Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur on the Insta feed of my local wine shop, the brilliant Solent Cellar, …
A lot of white Burgundy comes with a hefty price tag; not this one. It’s normally £10 but it’s currently on offer until next month so definitely worth trying if you like your whites crisp, dry and lemony. There’s a touch of honeysuckle about it too. Made from the Chardonnay grape (as is almost all …
Made by a brilliant winemaker called Eva Keresztury in a tucked away corner of Hungary, this is a savvy little white loaded with lovely lemony flavours. She’s taken Pinot Grigio, added some Chenin Blanc and then taken a local grape variety, Kiralyeanyka, to give it extra freshness. Just add snacks (handful of Cheerios definitely counts).
Honestly, Spain is putting out some of the best value wines on the planet right now. I mean, Rioja! For less than a fiver! OK, it’s a simple take on the style but there’s plenty of fresh red fruits and no rough edges. A glass of this after tea/bath/bed and there’ll be no rough edges …
Gorgeous Merlot made from parcels of grapes grown across four different vineyard areas in the Languedoc, this has got everything you want in a good Southern French red. Masses of blackcurrant fruit? Check. Plenty of spice, a herbal edge and lovely smooth tannins (the chewy sensation)? Check, check, check. Soft enough to sip without food but …
It’s Fairtrade Fortnight until the 12th March and this one’s currently on offer at £6 (it’s normally £7). Bright, sunny wine with lots of ripe peach going on, it’s a banker if you like your wines on the juicy side. Made from the multi-tasking Chenin Blanc grape (you can get it in dry, sweet or sparkling …
Gotta love the Languedoc. It’s stuffed with great value wines with – thanks to abundant sun – buckets of ripe fruit flavours. There’s also something refreshingly unstuffy about them. This one’s made from a blend of local grapes including Vermentino, Marsanne and Grenache, generously loaded with waxy lemon and peach flavours. A bright, happy wine that’s …
Read more “Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Languedoc White”
Merlot can sometimes be a bit meh. You know, nice enough but often lacking the oomph of Cabernet or the elegance of Pinot Noir. But what it does do, easily, is provide plenty of juicy plummy fruit, sometimes with a bit of spice (like this one). From the Western Cape in South Africa, specifically from the brilliantly named …
Not easy to find fresh, crisp, fruity rose champagne at this price. I mean, it’s not cheap but for champagne it’s about as cheap as a good rose gets. Compared with some of the more expensive stuff it’s not nearly as delicate but you still get the thrill of bubbles and berries and toast. Pretty to …
Pink vodka! Made with rhubarb! So clever. The people at Chase make their three-times distilled vodka, then macerate it with rhubarb before distilling a fourth time. (In theory the more times it’s distilled, the purer the flavours in the resulting spirit). This one is decidedly look-at-me in colour and smells of rhubarb and custard. Seriously, the …
Made exclusively for M&S by a producer called Oudinot, it’s a blend of the two red grapes allowed in Champagne, namely Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. And it’s gorgeous: fresh and crisp with a gentle whiff of toast about it. The light pink colour comes from the grape skins being left with the juice for …
Love this organic Carmenere from Chile, with its juicy bramble fruit flavours and smoky, spicy kick. From organic wine specialist Vintage Roots, a great online wine retailer stuffed with gems. The thing about buying organic is you know that nothing synthetic (weedkiller, that kind of thing) has been used in the vineyards on the grapes. …
I’m not saying that you have to drink pink for Valentine’s Day but if ever there was a time for pink fizz, this is as good as any. Especially when it’s on offer as it is at the moment (it’s usually about £10, available in Sainsbury’s and Morrisons too). There’s a touch of sweetness here, …
To get a wine this well made, and aged for so long, for a tenner? Honestly, it’s a steal. Made from the Tempranillo grape by respected producer Baron de Ley, it’s smoky, oaky and smooth with mellow dark cherry fruit flavours. Put a leg of lamb in the oven, covered in foil, and slow cook …
Made by the Catena family, one of the best producers in Argentina, this is everything you could wish for in an Argentinian Malbec. Big, bold and rich with warm plum and spice, it has to be eaten with a juicy steak by law. OK, made that last bit up but seriously, it’s the best match.
Not a shy wine, it’s like lychees and rose petals in a glass. Brilliantly expressive, this fancy French white from Alsace is desperate to be put with something equally exotic flavour-wise. Anything Chinese in flavour is a classic match but I love it with something coconut-y, like Thai red curry.
From Western Australia, this is a brace-yourself kind of wine. Full of racy lime and grapefruit flavours, it’ll shake up the taste buds and make the mouth water, ready for food. Those bright citrus flavours are best matched with similar clean, fresh dishes like simple grilled fish or big, herby salads. Roasted vegetables are brilliant …
This is so much better than your average Prosecco. Made from vineyards in the Valdobbiadene region, the fruit is fresh and bright, with gorgeous pear and white peach flavours. All this really needs is a plate of nibbles, ideally antipasti – cured meats, little chunks of parmesan or pecorino, tiny green olives, breadsticks. Delicious.
Basically, fruit salad in a glass. With added alcohol, obviously. Made from the clever Chenin Blanc grape, this is it in dry form (it does a nice line in sweet and sparkling, too). The winery behind this one is in Stellenbosch but the grapes are sourced from across the Western Cape region. Bright and bold …
Usually £12.49 but it’s currently on offer. From Argentina’s most southerly wine region, it’s a slight surprise you can grow grapes here at all. The landscape is desert-like but thanks to plenty of water from the nearby Andes, stuff can grow. Long hot days and cool nights mean the grapes have long ripening times which …
Made in China. Yes, really! Sent to me by Sainsbury’s to try ahead of Chinese New Year, it’s quite an eye-opener. For starters, it’s surprisingly drinkable (believe me, I’ve tried a few Chinese wines over the years that were anything but). Not only that, it’s really rather good. I mean, if you don’t like your …
This is one of those wines that doesn’t require much thought. Or food. Rather, it’s the wine equivalent of chilled background noise. Light, fresh and lemony with a bit of a floral twist to it, it’s a fridge door banker. The name Martisor refers to an ancient Romanian tradition celebrating the beginning of Spring. I’ll …
A properly good white with a label doesn’t scream organic. It doesn’t try to look earthy, or earnest. In fact, it looks rather normcore. But the wine inside is lovely: fresh, crisp and lemony with a herby twist. Made by a great, big Chilean producer, this is fantastic value. Add a handful of salty snacks for true happiness.
A gorgeous organic red made by a producer in Beaujolais, this is juicy, jolly and fresh as a daisy. Made from the Gamay grape, it’s from the hugely successful 2015 vintage. It does have a pleasingly rustic feel to it, kind of earthy and honest. But without being too farmyard, if you know what I …
OK, so this is a beast of a wine. I mean full on faceplanting-a-bramble-bush fruity but it’s got layers of other flavours too. Smoky oak, sweet spice and mocha among them. Made by a top notch producer in the McLaren Vale, winemaker Chester Osborn saves the best Shiraz from his vineyards for this blend. The wine …
This is made by a chap who took the grape seriously when most around him were using it to make cheap and not-always-cheerful whites in South Africa. And it’s seriously good. Aged in oak barrels, adding brioche and vanilla flavours to the natural honeysuckle character of the grape. It’s rich but not OTT, with plenty of flavour and …
A Negroni is one of my very favourite aperitifs and is a simple enough drink to make – gin, red vermouth and Campari in equal measure. But that does mean having enough of all three in your cupboard at any one time to make one. This ready-to-go one from Campari means you can simply twist and …
If ever there was a time to supersize, it’s now. This is a magnum of champagne for under £30, I repeat UNDER £30. Granted that’s still a lot of cash to splash but for your money you get an awful lot of value, champagne-wise. The thing about magnums is that the champagnes inside them age …
God. ‘Ello. This is really lovely: a citrus-scented, perky white from a little pocket of vineyards in Monterrei, in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. Usually it’s the Albarino grape that steals the lime-flavoured light here but this is made from the Godello grape and is just brilliant. One of the limited edition wine parcels …
Gorgeous, warm red made from the Shiraz grape (mostly) grown across different regions in South Australia including Langhorne Creek and the Barossa Valley. This can only be described as a cuddle in a glass; at 14%, it does require hearty food and/or a sofa but it’s super soft and luxurious. Tastes like just-squashed blackcurrants with a dusting …
Cold weather has me reaching for the Malbec more than usual and this one’s a gem. From one of my favourite producers, the Zuccardi family, this is made from grapes grown in the southern Uco Valley region south of Argentina’s wine capital, Mendoza. Vineyards lie in the foothills of the Andes so altitude is a …
You have to be a member of The Wine Society to buy wine from them but life membership is just £40 so it’s pretty much the safest wine investment you can make nowadays. This is a gorgeous spicy white from Austria, with lots of white peach flavours. Fresh, crisp and with more flesh on its bones …
Piedmont in northern Italy is famous for its food and wine, specifically Barolo and truffles. Compared with the enormous flavours of Barolo, the other famous red wine from the region – Barbera – can look slight in comparison. But I love them for their sheer juiciness and drinkability. This one’s full of spice and cherry flavours; gently …
Chardonnay comes in all shapes and sizes depending on where it’s grown and who makes it. This one’s from a high altitude vineyard area not far from Sydney that sounds not unlike a pop band I used to know in the 90s that sang about getting knocked down (they got back up again). Anyhoo, this …
Late to the party as ever, last week was Sherry Week. I’m carrying on the party with this gem from the seaside town of Sanlúcar. Known for its trademark salty style, Manzanilla is one of the most effective pre-prandial drinks, kicking the palate into action. If you want to know more about sherry, wine writer Fiona Beckett …
A little bit rustic with lots of bramble flavours, this is a great option if you want a cheap-ish, cheerful food-friendly red. It’s made from the Montepulciano grape and grown in the hilly Abruzzo region in central Italy on the east coast. As if by magic, it goes brilliantly with anything tomato-y, especially pizza or …
A friend asked me what she should have a glass of whilst watching the GBBO final. Something white with oomph, she said. I suggested this, a gorgeously buttery Chardonnay from California’s Napa Valley. Now, this is not a subtle wine. It’s got bags of flavour, just as it should do – ripe peaches and a …
A deliciously spicy mix of two grapes that share a first name, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, made by a whizz of a producer in the Languedoc region in southern France. It’s rich, thick with bramble fruit flavours and soft tannins (that teeth-coating quality that red wines have). Worked a treat with a bowl of …
I know I go on about how brilliantly drinkable simple Italian whites can be, but this wine shows Spain can do that too. Made from the widely planted Airen grape, done simply it can be crisp and fresh. But when the grapes come from old bush vines planted at vineyards at altitude, like the ones used to …
Another Pinot from New Zealand but this time Noir rather than Gris. Made by one of the country’s best known producers, this is one to reach for when you’re in the mood for a medium-bodied rather than full on black fruit loaded beast. Ripe with juicy cherry and raspberry fruits, it goes brilliantly with fish pie. Oh, …
Technically a white wine but when you pour it into the glass, you’ll see it’s actually very light pink. That’s because the skin of the grape has got a bit of colour to it so the juice, when left in contact with the skins once the grapes have been crushed, takes on a pinkish hue. And as …
I love this idea. First, the wine is aged in traditional wine barrels. So far, so normal. But then, the wine is put into used Scotch whisky barrels for a bit longer. Hence double barrel. Clever, eh? In this case, it’s good quality Shiraz sourced from vineyards across Australia. It’s a big bear hug of …
The Vermentino grape is an underrated gem; a bit like Sauvignon Blanc minus the nose-full of fresh cut grass and often with more weighty lemon and grapefruit flavours. But essentially, a crisp white with really interesting flavours that’s well worth putting in your glass. This one’s from Sardinia, which produces around half of the world’s Vermentino. …
If you can’t wait ’til Thursday to get your claret on (c’mon, I’m trying to make Bordeaux sound cool. I realise it might not be working) then try this one made by a very dependable producer, Yvon Mau. It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, as most of the reds from this region …
It’s a bit too early for picking sloes here in the New Forest (although I hear from my neighbour-slash-sloe-guru Maggie that it’s looking like a good year for them in Yorkshire. Apparently, it’s not looking so good for us down south but I’ll report back in due course). In the meantime, lucky me, Elephant Gin sent …
If you’ve reached peak Prosecco (don’t laugh; apparently it’s happening to some people) then it’s time to go and revisit that old Spanish faithful, Cava. Made from a blend of indigenous grapes, it’s somewhat more fruity and biscuity than Prosecco thanks to heaps of Spanish sun and a different winemaking process (Cava is bottle-fermented compared with Prosecco, …
This comes from the relatively cool (compared with most other Australian wine producing areas, anyway) region of Frankland River in Western Australia. So you get all the typically blackcurrant-like fruit you want from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape but in a nicely understated way. There’s a small kick of spice too. Lovely wine for the price. And …
Malbec has become Argentina’s most famous vinous export even though its original roots are in France. But turns out it travels rather well, here showing what it can do in South African soil. Rather more gutsy than some of the juicier Argentinian ones, this is all black cherry fruits, spice, grip and grrr. It’s a …
This was sent to me by a relatively new online wine retailer called the Organic Wine Club. Unsurprisingly, they specialise in organic wines but they also do biodynamic (think super-organic) and sulphur free wines. Now, sulphur is often blamed for wine hangovers but the levels in wine are actually pretty low compared with lots of …
A bag in box wine that looks like a camper van! Called Camper Vin! I know! And what’s really good about it is the wine inside is really rather lovely. Made from the Chenin Blanc grape grown in South Africa’s Swartland region, it’s fresh, lemony and bright. This is a one-off parcel, only available in …
The Andalucian region in southern Spain is more famous for its sherry than its wine. Actually, it’s more famous for its holidaymakers but after that, definitely sherry. But this particular wine producer is determined to put the region on the map for wine lovers. It’s hot down here but the vineyards are tucked into the foothills …
Made by a great Chilean producer for Sainsbury’s, this is a crisp-as-clean-sheets Sauvignon Blanc from the cool Casablanca Valley. It’s not too pungent (the ones that are really, really grassy are not my thing) but has got lots of fresh gooseberry aromas and gorgeous citrusy flavours. Put it with salmon fishcakes. Or equally, feet up with …
Love this wine on so many counts. It’s made from one of my favourite grape varieties, Pinot Noir, for a start. It comes from an off-the-beaten-track region, the Auvergne in central France which counts (just) as part of the Greater Loire region. And it’s such a great take on this grape, with light-ish red berry fruits …
Bargain price for a typically rustic red from the southern Puglia region, down in the heel of Italy’s boot. It’s made from the Primitivo grape and there’s a boot-full of flavour in there, with black cherry, plums and spice. Brilliant with anything meaty, especially if it’s been done on the barbecue.
One of the loveliest white wines I’ve had this summer. Made from organically grown grapes including Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc from a family estate in the hills of Provence, it’s ripe and round with gorgeous sunny apricot and peach fruit flavours. Had this with spatchcock chicken done on the barbecue. Properly good.
A very gorgeous Pinot Noir from New Zealand’s cooler-than-your-average Awatere Valley in the Marlborough region, this went down a storm at the Camp Bestival Secret Mummies Wine Club. It’s light but serious, fruity but savoury. Definitely one for those who don’t like their reds on the heavy side, but it’s got enough weight to it …
It’s not Champagne, but it’s made in the same way (the bubbles are made in the bottle thanks to a second fermentation) and it’s also from France. But because it’s made in Southern France and from a different blend of grapes (in this case, Chardonnay, Maury and Chenin Blanc), it tastes similar but different. There’s …
This is a great take on Grenache, or Garnacha as it’s called in Spain. Bright, juicy and bold with big bramble fruit flavours, it’s from the Moncayo region in Aragon, in northern Spain. The vines have got a bit of age on them and thanks to a bit of height too – the vineyards are over …
An absolute peach of a white and a bargain at that, from the Bergerac region in Southwest France. It’s a classic Gallic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes, creating a grapefruit and grassy glassful. Simply done but cleverly so, this is light, crisp and refreshing. Just as it should be. Great on its own …
This is a very jolly mash up of red grapes from vineyards not far from Lisbon. There are big hitters in there, including indigenous Portuguese grapes Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz (another name for Tempranillo), along with Castelao and the better known Syrah grape. Juicy and bright, this is a great summer red: not too heavy …
There is so much to love about South African wines at the moment. Quality continues to get better and better thanks to a bunch of inspired winemakers determined to make brilliant wines. This one’s made by a relative newcomer in the Paarl region, from old vine Chenin Blanc grapes. It’s gorgeously ripe, round and full of …
The grapes in the this blend are brilliantly off the wall and utterly typical of southwest France. The main grape in here is called Gros Manseng. Other invitees to the party include Petit Corbu, Arrufiac and Petit Manseng. Not even spellcheck can cope with those. Together, they make a gorgeous, grapefruit-scented gem of a dry …
Sometimes, the simplest wines are right under our nose, IYKWIM. Australian Shiraz is consistently good but in the hands of a really good producer like De Bortoli, the relatively inexpensive stuff can really shine. This is stuffed full of smooth, juicy black plum fruits with a touch of mint. A fair whack of alcohol too, …
From a little-known tucked away corner in the Southern French Languedoc region called Cabrieres, this is a typical blend of southern French red grapes. It’s got an honest, earthy character to it, with warm black fruit flavours and a kick of pepper. It really is a treasure trove down here in the south, with lots of …
I love this wine’s story. William Chase grew potatoes. Once, when his potatoes were rejected by a supermarket for being ‘not being pretty enough’, he decided to make them into crisps. And so the Tyrrell’s crisps brand was born. Then he decided to make vodka from his potatoes and, eventually, gin too. Now he’s making …
This is a wine that just gets better with age. Like all of us *group hug*. Anyway, the Semillon grape does have a habit of changing depending on where it’s grown and here, in South Australia’s Clare Valley, it takes on a gorgeous tropical fruit character. Think limes, apricots and grassy, lemony loveliness. Meatier than …
Garnacha is one of Spain’s main grapes but what makes it really special in this case is that it comes from really old vines. Some of them are almost 100 years old and the vineyards, in the Aragon region of Calatayud, are high at over 1000 metres (I’m giving you figures, just in case your dad asks you). …
I tasted my way through almost 100 wines at a recent M&S press tasting. So. Many. Highlights. This one’s made from old vine Carinena (also known as Carignan) grown in a region of the same name in Aragon, northeast Spain. Now, Carignan can be a tough old wine sometimes but this one’s gorgeously plump and …
I love a good Vermentino. It’s a bit like Sauvignon Blanc in that it’s got a fresh, lemony thing going on. But it’s not as in your face as look-at-me Sauvignons and usually has a whiff of orange about it too. Most of all, I love it for its freshness and simplicity. This one’s a …
As a partner to the white, Australian winemaker Andrew Nielsen has sourced this juicy, raspberry and black cherry flavoured red and put it in a wine bag. Or a bagnum, as he calls them (it holds 1.5l, the same as two normal bottles of wine). Made from the Gamay grape, it’s from vineyards in the …
We talked about this wine last year. It was the one my sister and I took to Camp Bestival and probably the reason we slightly overshot the runway on the first night. Anyway, it’s back, with a new vintage. And I love it. Pale but not too delicate, with gorgeous redcurrant fruit flavours and a whiff of …
Wine! In a bag! Or a Bagnum, as it’s known, given that it holds a magnum’s worth of wine (1.5l, equivalent to two bottles). And it’s not just drinkable wine. It’s really drinkable wine, sourced by an Australian winemaker called Andrew Nielsen who happens to like finding good stuff in Burgundy to put in wine bags. …
There’s definitely more rose wine creeping into the fridge now that the weather’s warmed up (temporarily, anyway). And as much as I love a pink from Provence, there are lots of other places to find pale and interesting wines. Producers in the Loire Valley’s Sancerre region make theirs from the Pinot Noir grape – and this …
I needed a dash of sherry for a recipe and once opened, it seem daft not to have a small glass as an aperitif. So glad I did, it was heavenly. Refreshing, dry, nutty, complicated and simple all at the same time. Amontillado starts life as a Fino or Manzanilla sherry but is generally richer, fuller and …
Ridiculously good value red from southern France, this is a clever blend of Merlot (for juicy fruit), Cabernet Sauvignon (for more black fruits and backbone) and Syrah (yet more fruits and a kick of spice). The result is a juicy, bright, black cherry and plum-flavoured gem that looks like it should come from Bordeaux but …
This one’s from Touraine in northern France’s Loire Valley and has got that classic Sauvignon Blanc citrus twist but rather more delicately done than many a cheap-ish Marlborough Sauvignon. Terroir refers to the specific place where a vine is grown; a combination of soil, aspect, climate. This wine’s made from grapes selected from six different …
It sounds French but it’s from South Africa, named after the French settlers who turned up in the Western Cape in the 17th century. Made from a blend of three grapes, including the lesser spotted Tannat grape (the one behind the enormous red wines of Madiran in France), along with Grenache and Mourvedre. This one’s …
Currently on offer until the 10th May (it’s normally £9.79), this is definitely worth popping into the basket/trolley. The new vintage is pleasingly pale and – most importantly – full of bright, fresh redcurrant fruit flavours. When buying rose, it’s usually worth going for the youngest wine you can find on the shelves. So, if you’ve …
I’m thinking pink for this weekend to kick off Sunday lunch, quite one of my favourites times of the Bank Holiday weekend, always. Came across this one at a recent Aldi press tasting and it stood out for all the right reasons, not least for its brilliant value. It’s fresh and crisp, with gentle strawberry …
A snappy Italian white in the fridge door on permanent standby means you can pour out a small/large glass for any visitors (depending on how long you want them to stay). This is way better than your average Italian; memorable without being showy. Just the right balance of bright, pear and lemon fruit, it’s made from …
I picked this up last week whilst racing round Waitrose and it was definitely the label that made me do so. Happily, what’s inside is dreamy at the price (it’s normally £9.79). Namely, juicy, bright Pinot Noir from Australia’s Yarra Valley. It’s medium bodied, with softish tannins (the grippy coat-the-teeth stuff) and plenty of flavour. …
Much as I love a good Chianti, here’s another side of Tuscany and it’s all white. Made from a blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and a dash of Chardonnay for good measure, this is such a joyous wine. Lemons, almonds and nectarine flavours all do their thing, along with a kind of herby character. Pre-food friendly …
Super smart Rioja that’s been left to age a while in oak barrels and then for a bit longer in the bottle. Smooth and mellow, with gorgeous black cherry fruits, this has got a couple of quid off the normal price at the moment. Great value at its normal price of £8 but really great value …
I took this wine with me to a tasting I did at the Ideal Home Show a couple of weeks ago and it went down a storm. Made by a great producer called Huia, it’s quite full on: a blend of the lychee-like Gewürztraminer, with some dangerously drinkable Pinot Gris and a dash of racy …
This is simply Darling. Literally – the region it comes from in South Africa is called Darling. Love that. But what’s even better is what’s inside; a ripe, juicy Shiraz not short on black fruit flavours along with a touch of something herbal-like. Put it with something meaty, like Shepherd’s Pie.
On offer at £9.95 until Sunday 3rd April and if you buy six bottles, the price per bottle goes down to £7.45 – an insanely cheap price for a bottle of champagne. I had to scour a few stores to find some, mind. Bubbly, lemony and bright, this is a simple take on champagne but …
I love that Portuguese wines are usually made from grapes with names I can barely pronounce. They are so original, with an amazing sense of place. The reds are often big. bold and heady, thanks to a ton of sun ripening these indigenous grapes to the max. This one, normally a couple of quid more but currently on …
If you’re spooked by Riesling, don’t be. This isn’t scary at all. Made in Australia’s Clare Valley, it’s just off-dry with a loads of lime and grapefruit flavours. Crisp, clean and bright, it’s like a spring clean for the taste buds. Add some fishcakes and a big green salad to see the wine in technicolour.
Subscribe to Blog Updates
Get my weekly blog posts direct to your inbox.
You have Successfully Subscribed!