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.
CoOp, Cava, Brut, NV, Spain
Cava is so under eated in the uk. It’s a great alternative to cheaper Champagnes and thus one from the CoOp is a great example. Clean, crisp and dry with fresh apple and pears flavours that last a long time. It’s a very solid silver medal Cava to me and at £6 a bottle fantastic value.
Maison Roche de Bellene, Vieilles Vignes, Volnay, Burgundy, France
Good French Pinot Noir is very hard to beat and this one from Maison Roche de Bellene in the Volnay region is excellent. Dry, soft with excellent balance and flavours of cherry and raspberry with notes of oak and slight hints of earthiness. At £40 bottle its rather pricey but worth a try. Its like buying a second hand Rolls Royce, on my wish list 😉
Graham Beck, Brut, Western Cape, South Africa
I do like sparkling wine and this one from Graham Beck is not bad. Its a little sharp and blunt for my liking. Citrus flavours with a bit of creaminess. The problem is the lack of finesse and at £15 a bottle its over priced. Its like paying VW Golf price for a Ford KA. Best to pay £10 and go for Bouvet Sparkling.
Domaine des Brosses, Alain Girard et Fils, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Loire, France
Ah, french sauvignon Blanc is far more subtle than the usual New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. While this is not the greatest wine to come out of France it is a well made, on the drier side with flavours of citrus and softness that makes you happy to have another glass. At over £15 a bottle its a bit pricey but rather nice.
Waitrose, Prosecco, Italy
Its a Procecco under the Waitrose supermarket brand in the UK is the best description I can gave. Its very nice, flavour is pear, its light in a good way and not overly sweet. Its one of the better Prosecco’s I’ve tasted and at £8 worth trading up to from the £5-6 bottles you see in many supermarkets. Its like the new wave of Chinese electric cars coming to the UK, much better than many European cars especially at the cheaper end.
Noble Ridge, Reserve Meritage, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada
The Okanagan Valley in Canada produces some stunning wines and this dry red blend Reserve Meritage, 2012 from Noble Ridge is no exception.
At 13 years old the tannins are well integrated and soft. Flavours of plum, blackberry with a light smokiness and tobacco and oak notes in the back ground make this a rather good wine, esp at 13 years old. Its like buying a second hand VW and thinking, well everything is still working, excellent. At about CAD35 its good value too.
Alvento, Cabernet Franc, Icewine, 2021, Ontario, Canada
I have never had a bad bottle of ice wine, whether from Canada or else where and Alvento from Ontario in Canada has kept that run going. This is a great example of an ice wine. Its slightly on the lighter side which has the benefit of the flavours being shown off rather than the sugar seducing you. notes of strawberry and spice come through beautifully and the balance of flavours and structure make this a delight to sample. And sample you should, savour this wine rather than just neck it. At CAD80 a half bottle its a bit pricey but thats ice wine in general.