October 2016 Wine Blog - Bottles of decent chardonnay for £6.00 or less
The price of a decent bottle of chardonnay jumping £10.00 or above it’s
hard to find a quality wine in the £6 to £8 mark unless it is on offer. There
is no point looking at those beautiful, dry and fruity, but expensive
chardonnays, from Burgundy unless you want to treat yourself. Best to look for
well-known branded new world wines which are on offer.
You can buy a variety of styles which suit a simple chilled glass or a
wine which will go with food. Gone are the days of the big fat, oaked, tropical
fruit driven wines from Oz. Most chardonnays emanating from Australia and Chile
are much better balanced with a touch more acidity which helps wine to match
with food. Lighter and drier styles which usually come from France are now
emerging from New Zealand and England.
I have picked a few wines which are readily available and are great
value for money. Cheers
Viña Maipo Vitral Chardonnay Reserva, Chile 2015 – Morrisons - £6.00
The
‘Vitral’ Reserva Chardonnay is a relatively new product and is already a medal
winner. The chardonnay grape must, has been fermented and aged in both French
oak barrels and in stainless steel tanks. It has a golden yellow colour with
aromas of tropical fruits, especially pineapples and light toasted oak. Elegant
and rounded, this wine has a creamy butter texture along with a balanced crispy
acidity. Beautifully complex in the mouth with long finish. Good with fish,
chicken or on its own. I have also tried the sister prizewinning Shiraz and it
is fab. Both wines have been discounted from £8.99 to £6 at Morrisons. Also
available at Ocado for £8.99
Morrisons Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, Australia 2015 – Morrisons - £4.98
Morrisons
Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is one of the Specially Selected range. It won a
bronze medal at this year’s International Wine Challenge so it can’t be bad. One
of the first areas of Southern Australia to be settled, the Adelaide Hills have
a distinctly European flavour. One sip of this well-oaked, citrusy flavourful
wine, could bring you a taste of the good life, according to Morrisons. Worth
testing this out at under a fiver.
Asda Extra Special Chardonnay 2014, France – Asda - £5.00
If you
like a lighter drier chardonnay then this wine could provide the answer. Some
chardonnay styles have changed from big, butch and oaky to fresh and delicate
wines. Here is a New Wave Chardonnay from France which has won awards for its lighter style. Floral, lemony and light fruity flavours
provide a wine which is ideal with food. This has a dry and lightly acidic
style which is well balance with the citrusy fruit. For £5.00 this good value
for a quality French chardonnay.
Hardy's Nottage Hill Chardonnay, Australia 2015 – Asda & Sainsbury - £6.00
A full bodied, dry chardonnay which provides rich tropical fruit and
melon flavours with lots of vanilla oak characters. The 2015 has more of a
medium style than recent years and is quite heavily oaked. Well rounded with a
touch of acidity and a short finish. Normally a great bargain when on offer.
Also available at Iceland for £6.00
