Sainsbury’s, Zero Alcohol, Rose, Germany
Sainsbury’s supermarket in the UK sell a lot of wine and theres usually something for everyone, incl thise refraining from alcohol. Their Rosé zero alcohol wine is rather good. There’s no real aroma, if anything it’s a bit artificial on the nose, but the taste is good, it tastes like wine. Off dry with red berries and a hint of cream soda it’s very pleasant. Whether you call it wine is another question but I’m happy to drink it.
McGuigan, Zero %, Sauvignon Blanc, Australia
Non alcoholic wine is big business and this McGuigan, Zero %, Sauvignon Blanc from Australia is available in a supermarket for £5 a bottle. It has a sweet note to it and a spritzer note. The smell is a bit like eggs and flavour is like an off citrus, yes off. Is not terrible but not great. Its like a first generation VW made skoda car. I’m sure it will get better in years to come, just not in 2025.
Topuku, Sauvignon Blanc, 2023, Marlborough, New Zealand
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has had a hard time in recent years with sub standard wine coming to the market. Thus one from Topuku from the Marlborough region is rather good, very good. Yes it’s a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, dry, gooseberry but with green apple, grass and nettle coming through. At £12 a bottle it’s well worth buying.
Yalumba, Galway vintage, Shiraz, 2022, Barossa Valley, Australia
The Barossa valley in Australia is known as a fantastic wine region and produces superior red wine. This dry red has strong tannins with depth and flavours of plum, blackcurrant, oak and hints of chocolate. It’s a good wine but nothing to make it stand out. At £15 a bottle I would like more subtle flavours and texture. Think of it as a Ford Focus car.
Sainsbury’s, Taste the difference, Blanc de Blanc, Chardonnay, Non Alcohol, Sparkling wine
Is wine really wine if there’s no alcohol? Well at 0.5% this does have alcohol, just. It’s really rather good, excellent I would say. Off dry, clean, crisp with peach notes and a soft creamy undertone it’s not a wine that screams 30kcal a glass. Could this be the next big sparkling wine? At £3.75 a bottle it’s well worth trying. Gold star from me.
Aldi, Occasional, Malbec, 2023, Mendoza, Argentina
At £4 a bottle you have to be realistic on the wine in the bottle is going to be like. Unfortunately even at £4 a bottle it’s not one I can give too many compliments on. Dry with harsh tannins and vinegar notes it’s best to open and let it breath, give it 24 hours and it does soften a bit but pay a bit more, is my advice.
Morrison’s does excellent port. Thus LBV port got a silver decanter medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2018. Rich and elegant its a wonderful cheap port that’s worth getting in by the case.
Morrison’s LBV port 2013
Aldi, Castellore, Organic, Extra dry, Prosecco, Italy
Could Castellore, Organic Prosecco be thd one to buy, by the case? Yep it is. Yes it’s still Prosecco and from Aldi but it’s very impressive. Dry, clean, plenty of fiz with soft pear flavours and a hint of green apple. At under £5 a bottle, on offer, I wish I had bought more than 2 bottles. It’s like getting a Mazda mx5 for half price, excellent at double the price but awesome at under £5.
Domaine Muré, Clos Saint Landelin, Grand Cru, Vorbourg, Pinot Gris, 2016, Alsace, France
At over £40 a bottle this is not a cheap bottle of cheap but it is amazing, so subtle and elegant that Domaine Muré clearly know their stuff. A medium body wine with long length and flavours of citrus, pineapple and hints of grapefruit and apricot it wants you to savour every drop. Its not an every day wine for most people but I would recommend trying it on a special occasion.
Domaines Schlumberger, Spiegel, Pinot Gris, Grand Cru, 2021, Alsace, France
Domaines Schlumberger are well known for excellent wines and this Spiegel, Pinot Gris, Grand Cru is very good, very good indeed. Dry with apricot and plum with blossom and honey, its texture is weighty with a creaminess that makes you just want another glass. At under £20 a bottle its very good value too.