Oyster Bay, Merlot, 2022, Hawks Bay, New Zealand
A big producer, Oyster Bay is a supermarket staple in their wine aisle. They produce decent wine at a fair price and this Merlot is no exception. A dry red wine with decent red fruit flavours. A little one dimensional in its characteristic delivery but at under £10 a bottle what do you expect.
Famille Arnaud, Quart du Roi, 2021, Rhone, France
Made in the Rhone style, this Dry red wine from Famille Arnaud is a good quality red made to be just drunk. Sarah, Grenache and bit of Mourvedre and Counoise make up a classic blend with good length, grippy tannins and decent black and red fruit flavours. Its got a bronze at the Decanter World Wine awards 2024 which is a fair mark. Drink with a lump of red meat or tomato pasta.
Watarra Ridge, Merlot, South East Australia, Australia
This reminds me of when Australian Merlot was cheap and cheerful, well this is cheap but not really cheerful. The aromas seem volatile, body is thin, some flavours of redcurrant but not a pleasant experience. At £5 a bottle it’s cheap, but avoid.
Laurenz V, Charming Grüner Veltliner, 2021, Austria
This “Charming Grüner Veltlinez” from Laurenz V is like wrapping yourself in a fresh, cool duvet on a winters night. Soft and round this dry white wine makes you feel that its not only good to love Austrian wine but that you should be drinking it each week and that its actual a health drink because it make you feel so relaxed. Fresh with lemon and lime and a silky undertone this is probably best drunk on its own so you can feel the character on each component. Its not a serious gold medal winner but the Silver medalist that you should be trying because its easier to love. At under £20 a bottle its not bad value.
Another well made Canadian Pinot Noir. Yep the winery may have a slightly “unusual” name but they can make good Pinot Noir. Red current, strawberry and notes of vanilla, leather with a slight earthiness in the background. Well integrated, soft tannins make this a solid dry red wine to be sipped, rather than just guzzled.
The major upside is the price at about CAD20 a bottle. At that price its worth getting in by the case. Its like getting a top spec BMW and only being charged for the basic model.
Hejinzun Winery, Helan Horg Classic 20, China
Chinese wine is general quite good, well, drinkable. This red from the Hejinzun Winery is a dry red wine that is fruity and soft. Its not memorable but its OK. Thats the best I can say. Red and fruity.
Aldi, Clos de Mendoza, Malbec, Rose, Argentina
Is this Rose Malbec from Aldi a great wine? Nope, sorry but is not good. A hint of strawberries is what the wife got, more than me. It has a flat, metallic aftertaste which put me off the rest of the glass. At £4.99 on offer it’s way overpriced.
Ferreira, SF Trompete Corte Bordalês, Bordeaux blend, Brazil
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot this is a classic Bordeaux blend made 1600m above sea level, so even in Brazil you can get a climate that allows grapes to grow to make decent wine. Its decent wine, not amazing but its got decent length, reasonable red and black fruit flavours. Its just a little nondescript.
I much prefer Crémant’s to Champagne for their easier and fresher drinking style and this Crémant D’alsace from Aldi is a rather good example. Dry, fresh with notes of strawberry and raspberry. Its £10 at Aldi which makes this an easy choice. A step up from the usual Prosecco.
Simpsons, Rabbit Hole, Pinot Noir, 2020, UK
English Pinot Noir has in the past been a little lack luster, but this one from Simpsons is rather good. Red fruit flavours with soft well integrated tannins, notes of tobacco and leather with a slight earthiness and oak make this a classy Pinot Noir. At £25 a bottle its fairly priced too for english Pinot Noir. It’s like an old fashion Rolls Royce.