OCTOBER & NOVEMBER WINE BLOG – MEDAL WINNING WINES
This month brings award winning
wines from both the old and new worlds. Chosen from 14000 wines submitted to the
2013 Decanter International Wine competition this selection of reds and whites
were all medal winners. Not only medal winners but available from a shop near
you at very economic prices. Of the supermarkets Asda and Tesco came out tops
in medal winning, which they won on both price and quality. Not surprisingly of
their ‘finest selection’ ranges beat wines of many times their price. The list
below are just some of the corkers that emerged.
This gold medal winner was declared the best chardonnay in the world (under £15). It is a stunner with lovely tropical fruits and an enjoyable nutty finish. The tropical peach and apricot flavours are balanced with a touch of citrus. There is super complexity which releases lots of flavours and taste sensations with each mouthful. Concha Y Toro is one of the top growers which is available throughout the UK in both specialist and high Street stores. A definite winner which is available from both Tesco and Morrisons at £9.99 and £11.99
Waipara Hills Sauvignon
Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand - 2012
Fancy another top quality Sauvignon Blanc but
this choice is from the south island of New Zealand, then choose Waipara Hills.
This newcomer is a beautiful wine which has a distinctive bouquet of citrus fruits and gooseberries. It
has a dry, flinty edge of grapefruit, topped with subtle lychee and peach
flavours. Definitely a seriously dry white which won’t disappoint. Available at
Sainsbury, Tesco and Tesco Online at around £10.00, it can regularly be found
discounted.
Tagus Creek
Shiraz-Trincadeira, Alentejano, Portugal - 2012
Recommending a
Portuguese wine is a first for the Glasgow Gourmand. Voted the best regional
red wine from Portugal, Tagus Creek Shiraz-Trincadeira is a smash hit.
Holidaying Portugal for many years has shown that Alentejo is a much improved wine
growing area producing excellent wines in a modern style. It contrast with many
heavier reds from Dao and other traditional areas Tagus Creek is an outstanding
blend of Shiraz and local grape Trincadeira. Although young, this wine has a
fruity nose and flavours of raspberries, blueberries and a definite touch of
chocolate. A little fresh on the palate this is definitely one from left field
which is worth a try at around £6.00 Available at Tesco & Asda(recently in
Asda at £4.50) you can’t afford to miss this.
Asda The Wine
Selection, Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek, South Australia - 2012
As mentioned before this Cabernet
Sauvignon is from Asda’s Wine Selection range and is a beautiful wine for the
price. If you are worried about serving own label, you can pour this into a
decanter and tell your friends it is a Silver Medal winner at three times the
price. It is a full bodied red from Langhorne Creek, one of the up and coming
wine growing areas in South Australia. This
red wine has a beautifully fruity nose with a complex flavour of eucalyptus and
deep cassis. You can savour a lovely soft feel in the mouth with just a touch
of tannin. Definitely a wine for all occasions, priced at only £7.00 and often
on special at Asda.
Tesco Finest Viña Mara Rioja Reserva, Spain - 2008
Rioja has been featuring
regularly in my blog and this is a medal winner which has previously escaped my
notice. One of the ‘Tesco Finest’ range this 5 years old Rioja Reserva is a
typical red from Spain’s most prestigious area. It has been made by top Spanish
producer, Baron De Ley and well aged in oak barrels. It has spice, cherry and
strawberry flavours and is very well rounded with good vanilla overtones. It is
made in a soft, light style and is an exceptional example of a 2008 Rioja.
Selling in Tesco at £9.99 you will often see it on offer at £7.99, which cant
be bad for this quality of wine.
