I did like this dry, smooth red italian wine. 90% Sangiovese with a bit of Merlot and Canaiolo. Its a juicy wine with plenty of black cherry that has long length and while not as complex as many Chianti Classico’s its very easy drinking and at £16 a bottle its very good value and one to try.
Makaraka, Pinot Noir, 2022 Marlborough, New Zealand
Purchased from Aldi for the reduced price of £5 I was not holding out much hope that this Pinot Noir from Makaraka would be any good. I was right too. Its a red wine and thats the best I can really say. Some red fruit flavours and sourness make this wine a no from me. It needs much more flavour and depth with a better overall structure, its flabby with no direction. Sorry Aldi but its not a good wine.
Asquith Gardens, Sparkling Wine, UK
At £16 a bottle from Asda this english sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier made in the Champagne method and delivers a Champagne taste. Bronze medal at Decanter in 2024 and Silver at the IWC its a quality wine. Dry with toasty notes and flavours of Citrus, red apple and a little floral hint its a good english sparkling at a very good price. Can another supermarket beat this?
Sainsburys, Taste the Difference, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, Coonawarra, Australia
Sainsburys like all supermarkets has some great wines under their own labels and this Cabernet Sauvignon under their Taste the Difference range is rather good. Its not gold medal winning but its a solid dry red wine. Plenty of red and black fruit, hints of tobacco and spice sitting the back ground. Its like a well spec’d Ford Fiesta car, not your first choice but worth a try for a meal or two. At £7.50 a bottle its great value.
London Cru, Chardonnay, 2020, California, USA
Made in the USA, Santa Barbara this is a clean, crisp and flavour full Chardonnay which is absolutely cracking. At £30 a bottle it should be but excellent. The wine has great length and the citrus is soft with a buttery under tone that is a great example of Chardonnay at its best. Pair with fish, zesty salad or just on its own, Stonking.
Fritz, 1635 Cuvee, 2019, Hungary
This Bordeaux blend of Cab Sav, Cab Franc and Merlot is half decent. Dry, bold with robust tannins there are flavours of dark red and black fruits, tobacco, chocolate and oak that are all easily picked upon. The subtle flavours are missing, its a big red and one for food to accompany it.
Attila Pince, Birtokbor, 2015, Eger, Hungary
Hungarian red wine can be very good and pretty cheap and this red from Attila Pince is good. A blend of Syrah, Cab France, Merlot and Pinot Noir its dry, pretty bold with good red fruit flavours. Its a bit bland and is just better with red meat or tomato based pasta than on its own. A party wine.
Tesco, Finest, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Western Cape, South Africa
Super markets sell some great wine and for Tesco in the UK this can be via their Finest range. Its nice and round on the flavours, without the over powering Gooseberry that can be in the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s. Dry with a bit more citrus but in a lighter way. Its not quite French but its easy drinking and won’t offend anyone. At under £10 its reasonable value but it doesn’t shout Finest to me.
Mazza Vineyard, Cabernet Franc, 2020, Lake Erie, USA
This dry red wine from the Lake Erie region, USA is pretty good. Good length and depth of red and black fruits with a note of spice. Its USD20 a bottle which is good value and is what I call a first party wine, opened first with friends and just enjoy.
Gérald Besse, Les Serpentines, 2021, Syrah, Martigny, Switzerland
The swiss can make some really good wine and this dry red syrah from Gérald Besse from the Martigny area of Switzerland shows it. Good length and full of red fruit flavours. With a little bit of smoke, leather and slight earthy note just poking through it’s very enjoyable red to watch a sunset with.
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