What a time to be alive! Saint Veran at £8 a bottle – and if you buy any 6 wines in Tesco, it comes down to £6 a bottle! BUY! This is great wine for the money and coupled with the Trivento Chardonnay deal (Tesco), Santa Julia Chardonnay deal (Waitrose) and a great deal on…
Santa Julia Chardonnay
Trivento may be the global market leader in Argentinian wines but they have real competition in the £8-£10 bracket, especially from this Chardonnay. Santa Julia is from the Zuccardi brand. We first tasted Zuccardi in Argentina last year and immediately loved their Chardonnays. Waitrose have a ‘buy any 3 bottles get 25% off’ deal and…
Trivento Chardonnay
Trivento is the global market leader in Argentinian wines. We visited the winery in November 2016 and tried their entire range (pictures below). The UK offerings are mostly retailed in Tesco and no longer include the Parra Alta Chardonnay (£5.50) price-point, which is a shame as this was excellent value. Tesco still sell the Parra…
Zalze Chenin Blanc
This wine is widely available and at a range of price-points so it is worth shopping around for. It’s good Chenin Blanc, although I would prefer it if it were fairly traded. Tasting notes: Crisp, dry, note of melon. Region of Origin – Coastal Region Wine Colour – White Price – £4 Where do I…
La Umbra Chardonnay
I was contacted by the police this week to inform me that a gang of Romanian criminals in West London had insured 6 cars using my details. They had even stolen my card details to pay for one of the policies. One of the cars had triggered a speed camera – a car which I…
Plaza Centro Prosecco
I first tried prosecco about 20 years ago at a blind tasting of sparkling wines, which included vintage champagne, cava, prosecco and cremant de Loire. We had to identify them correctly and there was a prize to be won. I didn’t win – but I enjoyed myself! Back then prosecco was niche; for cheap fizz…
Chapel Down – Flint Dry
I’ve tasted my way through the Chapel Down range twice. I’ve visited the vineyard and several others in Kent and genuinely believe that English wine can be excellent. Hush Heath produce delicious fizz. Denbies, whilst a beautiful vineyard, are not my favourites… Chapel Down are the best, in my opinion and this blend – available…
Gavi – Terre da Vino
I’ve been to Piemonte (Piedmont) a few times and first tried Gavi di Gavi 20 years ago (in a restaurant in London). I love Gavi and the Cortese grape and I’m pleased and surprised that a supermarket like Sainsburys can offer 4 different bottles ranging from £7.50 to £15.50. Clearly I’m not the only fan…
Santa Julia Malbec.
Malbec is everywhere, and here is yet another – however this one bares the name of Zuccardi (albeit discretely); excellent producers of Argentinian wines. Their wines are produced responsibly, organically and fairly – which is important in what is essentially a developing world economy. Tasting notes: Notes of cherry, plum and spice. Excellent velvety mouth-feel. Full…
Grande Reserve Bergerac, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Britain retains a love for single variety wines; there is real wine-making skill in creating a blend which is more than the sum of its’ parts. This one works well… Tasting notes: an interesting, harmonious blend of Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon; dry with citrus and floral notes. Good wine, fairly priced. Region of Origin –…
Macon-Villages, Cave de Lugny, Co-Op
Had to grab a bottle in a hurry, to go with our planned chip supper; Chablis seems a bit excessive for battered haddock – although I like the juxtaposition… An alternative to the more expensive white burgundies, which goes well with fish – even the battered type – is this good chardonnay from Co-Op. They…
Picpoul de Pinet, Oramarine
A flinty alternative to Muscadet, Gruner-Veltliner or Pouilly Fume, Picpoul used to be cheap, and unusual to find outside France until a few years ago when it cropped up more frequently, particularly on gastro-pub wine lists. Prices rose as it became more popular. My most read article, with a few hundred views, is Sainsbury’s Baron…
A Time for Wine 