OCTOBER 2014 - THREE SPECIAL SPANISH WINES

If you are just back from the Spanish Costas and want to bring back those happy memories of dinner on the terrace washed down with some great Spanish wine, then pop along to Aldi, Morrisons or Asda and top up with some quality wines at affordable prices by Sunday.

Viñas Vengo Verdejo, Rueda Spain 2013 - Aldi  £4.79

An excellent white wine from the Rueda region of Spain. Rueda is located in north western Spain, in the Castilla y León region. The Duero River flows through Rueda’s vineyards on its way through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. 

This golden wine is beautifully lemony with a definite honey nose. The Verdejo grape gives a floral taste followed by hints of tropical fruit. there is a fresh balance acid feeling in the mouth ending in a lovely finish. It has qualities which you wouldn't expect from a wine under a fiver.

Viñas Vengo Verdejo is definitely a winner from the Adventurer series of wines from Aldi. Impress your friends with this beautiful wine worth double the price. What's not to like at £4.79.

Viña Sol, Spain 2013 – Morrisons £4.99

Cast your mind back to that hot Spanish holiday and drinking an interesting Spanish white wine on one of the Costas. Well it was probably Viña Sol from Torres one of the country’s biggest reputable winemakers. Made from the Parellada grape, it is fresh and fruity on the nose, with a smooth, crisp palate, with plenty of apples and pineapple fruit. A touch of acidity makes it a refreshingly crisp wine. Viña Sol is suitable for drinking anytime - pre or post siesta! Superb with rice, fish and shellfish. This is on sale at lots of outlets and normally sells anywhere between £6.49 and £7.99. As James Martin says on Saturday Kitchen, ‘A bit of a bargain at £4.99’

Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001 - Spain - ASDA £17.95 - Now £14.97

Thinking of pushing the boat out or buying your best friend a fantastic bottle of wine. I spotted the Decanter Magazine top red of 2013 Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001 in ASDA at the reduced price of £14.79. It's a brilliant wine with a garnet colour,  with a mahogany rim and complex aromas of plums and raspberries combined with hints of cedar, vanilla and spice. It has beautiful fruit and a sophisticated complex flavour, velvety smooth with light tannins, a background of vanilla oak and a brilliant finish.

This Rioja's complexity and harmony results from the prolonged ageing in both barrel and bottle, with 26 months spent in a combination of French and American oak and at least 3 years in bottle. Scoring 97 out of 100 you just can't go wrong with this stunning Rioja.

SEPTEMBER 2014 - Smashing Bargain Whites

Signal Post Chardonnay, South Eastern - Australia 2013 – COOP £4.99

A brilliant medal winning wine which normally sells at around £8.00.  The tiny addition of 4% viognier to this great chardonnay makes all of the difference.  This is a ripe, fruity Chardonnay produced from grapes grown in the hot, sunny vineyards of South Eastern Australia. It has notes of fresh peaches balanced by a crisp refreshing finish. Fabulous to drink on its own but has the elegance to enjoy with sole Veronique, haddock mornay or chicken chasseur. You will love this Aussie wine and simply must take advantage of this rock bottom deal while it lasts.

The Exquisite Collection Gavi - Italy 2013 - Aldi £5.49

According to Aldi the Exquisite Collection of wines provides premium wines at far from premium prices. Renowned as one of Italy's best white wines Gavi is produced from Cortese grapes grown around the town of Gavi in the outstanding Piedmont wine region in northern Italy. This is a refreshing and aromatic wine with flavours of tangy lemon, weighty fruit and a hint of nuttiness. You’ll feel comfortable with Gavi if you’re a pinot grigio fan but it’s slightly rounder, smoother and more sophisticated. Best served chilled with salad, antipasti, creamy pasta sauces or risotto. Apart from the wine, the bottle and label look elegant and should impress your friends. Just don't tell them the price.

P. de Marcilly Mâcon-Villages - France 2011 -  Lidl, £7.49

Thinking of going up market for a classic white burgundy, then nip into the new posh wine section at Lidl. Made from the chardonnay grape, by P. de Marcilly Frères, who are recognised as a quality winemakers and négociants,. It is well balanced, fresh but with a subtle creamy texture and flavours of ripe white peach fruit. There's a touch of complexity with notes of pears and a hint of spice. This wine is a stylish white Burgundy sold at a very good price.

Try it with langoustines, grilled sea bass or succulent roast pork.

AUGUST 2014 - CATCH THE LAST OF ASDA'S QUALITY BARGAINS

There's still time left  to catch some great wine bargains for a fiver down at your local ASDA store. If you are quick Hardy's Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2013 and Wolf Blass Red Label Chardonnay Semillon 2013 are still available. Why not grab a bottle or too of red at this low price.

 Wolf Blass Red Label Shiraz Cabernet 2011 - Australia - £5.00

Fancy a medium bodied, smooth red that's ready to drink. Don't walk past this wonderfully drinkable deep red wine which boasts an appealing bouquet of red berry fruits, plums, peppery spice and mint. Easy drinking on its own or good with a sirloin or a simple burger this Aussie smasher is brilliant at £5.

AUGUST 2014 - AMAZING AUGUST AT ASDA

If you are still in the holiday mood and fancy some fantastic wine bargains nip down to ASDA over the weekend for some brilliant wines at around a fiver. The wines listed below are genuine bargains and not cheap wines at half price. Some of the offers are only available for the next few days and others for a week or too. So dig out your wine carriers,  and roll back to your nearest store. There's also the intel on the top red of 2013.

 Hardy's Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2013 - Australia – ASDA £5.00

Interested in an old fashioned Aussie Chard then Hardy’s Nottage Hill is a great choice. It is full bodied, dry with loads of rich tropical fruit and melon flavours. There are subtle oak characters which give it a well rounded elegant finish. If you still appreciate tropical flavoured white wine then you canny whack it at £5.00 per bottle. If you have patience you can store this wine in a cool place for a couple of years and the wine will improve and develop complexity. Down £3.00 on the normal Asda price.

Wolf Blass Red Label Chardonnay Semillon 2013 - Australia –ASDA £5.00

Emanating from an established quality winemaker this is an excellent Aussie white. A blend of classic Australian white varietals Chardonnay and Semillon. Clean citrus aromas are balanced with a flavoursome, creamy palate of peaches, complemented by slight grassy notes and finishing with lingering crispness. This wine should be well chilled and drunk either on its own or with a succulent chicken breast.

Cono Sur Bicicleta Viogner 2013 - Chile - ASDA £5.00

A Chilean stunner at a genuinely discounted price. More elegant than chardonnay Viogner is a classic white Rhone grape which has travelled well to Chile. Beautiful fruit, with floral notes and a rich flavour. There is a touch of citrus to give balance and a good finish make this wine worth double the price.

Espartero Rioja Reserva 2009 – Spain – ASDA £5.00

Where are you going to find a reserva Rioja for just £5.00? If you like the Reserva style of Riojas, then you'll like this. This is a lovely ruby coloured wine aged in oak casks for at least 12 months.  It may not be the most complex, and it doesn't have a particularly long finish, but it's smooth as silk and full of ripe with vanilla and spice, and a hint of leather. It is medium bodied with light tannins. Ideal with lamb or pork or simply to drink on its own. Fantastic value.

 Viña Mayu Sangiovese, Elqui Valley - 2012 - Chile - ASDA £5.50

This wine is regularly recommended by me, and for good reason. Recognised as a fantastic wine by Decanter Magazine, and awarded medals over the past 2 years, this wine is a cracker. The Sangiovese grapes are hand-picked in small bins. The wine is partially aged in French and American oak barrels which gives it a lovely vanilla overtone. It has  black cherry aromas, gentle spicy flavours with a hint of dried chocolate. The full bodied red wine is velvety smooth with a mouth-filling finish.

Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001 - Spain - ASDA £17.95

Thinking of pushing the boat out or buying your best friend a fantastic bottle of wine. I spotted the Decanter Magazine top red of 2013 Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001 in ASDA this week. It's a brilliant wine with a vibrant garnet colour,  beautiful fruit and a sophisticated complex flavour. Intense aromas of spices, new wood and leather. Velvety smooth with light tannins, a background of vanilla oak and a brilliant finish. Scoring 97 out of 100 you just can't go wrong with this stunning Rioja. Highly recommended.

MAY 2014 - Best Rioja of The Year

Just enjoyed the well heralded Decanter top red of 2013 Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001. It's a fantastic wine with a vibrant garnet colour,  beautiful fruit and a sophisticated complex flavour. Intense aromas of spices, new wood and leather. Velvety smooth with light tannins, a background of vanilla oak and a brilliant finish.

This subtle wine definitely benefits from careful decanting a couple of hours before sharing with your best friends over good food. It goes particularly well with lamb or lighter meats.

If you want to impress nip into Asda at £12.98 and Sainsbury's at £18.00. I spotted some in Makro at £15.95 including vat. Scoring 97 out of 100 you just can't go wrong with this stunning Rioja. Highly recommended for sharing and dining.

MAY 2014 WINE BLOG – May Day

Holiday Weekend Reds & Whites

There's a bit of heat in the air, the sun is shining and the May day holiday is imminent. Fancy something special for the weekend then look below for some fab wines in the £5 to £15 range. Don't forget to email this to your phone as a reminder when shopping.

Reds

On the wine front, you really can't go past Rioja for flavour and value. Remember to decant the wines below as they may be carrying a sediment.

 Morrison's have Lagunilla Gran Reserva 2006 on special just now for £8.99. Make sure it has a black label and not a blue label which is the reserva. 2006 was a good to very good year in Rioja.

A Rioja from Tesco's finest range is Viña Mara Reserva Rioja 2008 at around £8.50. This is a gold medal winning wine which rich and complex and you have to look at the back label to see the word Tesco.

If you want to impress go for the Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001. Sold by Asda at £12.98 and Sainsburys at £17.99. This was declared by Decanter magazine as its top red wine of 2013, so it can't be bad. This is a subtle and sophisticated wine which is just brilliant. As an alternative Faustino V is good but avoid the Faustino VII.

Travelling to the new world and a veering little off piste try a Carmenère from Argentina or Chile (2012 or older) Asda have Cono Sur and Majestic have Errazuriz Carmenère which are both quality Chilean brands and won't disappoint at around £8. You could also try Chilean Sangiovese by Mayu at Asda, which is a really good, smooth red and not too expensive at only £5.50.

You can really go left field at Aldi where their medal winning Toro Loco (Crazy Bull) Reserva 2010 from Spain is only £4.99. The Reserva has a black label and is predominantly made from the Tempranillo grape, but more importantly 6 months ago Olly Smith selected this wine as his red wine of the week.

Whites

If you are looking to impress on white, try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or a Viogner from Australia or Chile (Viogner sits somewhere between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and has a lovely floral character).

Tesco have Wairau Cove Sauvignon Blanc 2012 on special again at around a fiver. I really like this branded wine which has a beautiful zesty flavour and goes perfectly with smoked salmon. They also have a lovely sauvignon blanc from Chile which is younger but has much more fruit, Tesco Finest Tapiwey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2013 at £5.99. Cono Sur have an excellent Viogner in their Bicicleta range for around £7.50 at both Morrisons and Asda.

On the other hand if you are looking for an excellent citrusy chardonnay from down under nip down to Asda for the Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2012 from Adelaide Hills. Recently identified by Decanter magazine, as an excellent wine from one of the best  Oz major brands, you just can't go wrong with this peach of a wine.

Whichever wine you choose this weekend and into the month of May enjoy and drink sensibly (of course).

MARCH 2014 WINE BLOG – Bargains at Under a Fiver

Its been a while since my last blog and it was hinted that I had gone into hibernation to recover from the 90 days of continuous West of Scotland rain. Well the lighter days and the improving weather  have cajoled me into searching out a few bargains for my friends and followers.  I have found four crackers which are unbelievably priced at under a fiver. Wine experts and connoisseurs proclaim that there is nothing worth drinking at under a tenner – well this selection has blown them out of the wine lake. Two of the reds and one white are own label but are IWSC Silver medal winners

Toro Loco Tempranillo Superior , Spain  - 2012 Aldi  - £3.69

Toro Loco means Crazy Bull. Yes a Crazy Bull of a wine at the crazy price of £3.69. I came across this wine when I was accosted by friends in Aldi who insisted that I try this wine. I couldn’t believe the price nor the quality. Made from Spain’s most popular grape Tempranillo, grown near Valencia. Tasting like a full bodied Rioja, Toro Loca has cherry fruits infused with pepper and cedar wood. It is smooth and dry with a good finish. It benefits from decanting or opening an hour or so before drinking. Enjoy this red with tapas, at your summer barbecue or simply mid week with mince and tatties or steak pie. You would be crazy to overlook this bargain basement wine.

ASDA Wine Selection Chilean Chardonnay, Chile - 2013 - £4.50

Here’s another Silver Medal winning wine from the Asda Wine Selection range. This Chilean Chard is from the 2013 vintage and although young, it is velvety smooth & fruity and bursting with creamy, pineapple and tropical fruit flavours followed by a touch of oak and a decent finish. This is a white to really savour with fish or pasta or simply drink on its own when well chilled. As James Martin says repeatedly on Saturday Kitchen, , “ A bit of a bargain”.

Asda The Wine Selection, Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek, South Australia - 2012 - £4.98

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 £4.98

Wolf Blass Winemakers Selection Chardonnay, Australia – Morrisons - £4.69

A golden coloured young chardonnay with good fruit and acidity. A beautiful fruity noses is followed by flavours of melon, peach and tropical fruit. There’s a nice touch of fresh acidity which leads to an enjoyable citrus finish. This wine should be well chilled and drunk either on its own or with a succulent chicken breast. Sold be Morrisons at a rock bottom price for chardonnay this is an Aussie Beaut. The one downside is that it is imported in bulk and bottled in the UK.