The latest Lidl Wine Cellar selection launches this morning and features a wider range of countries than in previous collections (remember the first one – the so-called “claret offensive” – was all about France).
Once again, the overall quality is sound (more than half the list is comfortably above average) and the value is exceptional – with a number of impressive wines at £7 or less.
As ever, these wines are available while stocks last – and the most popular ones usually sell out very quickly.
Click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded shelf.
It’s not all sweetness with furmint
We tend to associate furmint grapes with Hungary’s masterpiece sweet wines but the variety’s high acidity and extensive flavour range allow it to make attractive dry wines too.
Consider, for example, the clean-as-a-whistle and smooth 2015 Tokaji Furmint Chateau Dereszla (£5.99) with textured apple and pear centred fruit to supplement – and enhance – its background freshness.
Logic defying quality
Chardonnay really should not prosper this far north but, with help from the geology in Chablis and the south western orientation of its prime sites, the area yields up some beautifully crisp, subtle and especially delicate wines; remember, too, only 40 vineyards there have premier cru status.
That legendary delicacy comes through well in the lemon centred 2014 Chablis Premier Cru Philippe de Bois d’Arnault (£13.99) where sharp acidity integrates neatly with gentle savoury influences and an attractive tropical fruit edge.
Sticking with the Premier League
As in Chablis, premier cru in the Champagne region is the second level down (below grand cru but significantly ahead of the majority).
Only 44 villages in Champagne (out of over 300) have premier cru status and the classification provides a pretty good indicator of quality and an even better one of likely prices.
Some of that quality is readily apparent in the soft, great value Champagne Premier Cru Brut Bissinger (£15.99) with its firm lemon dominated acidity skilfully balanced by toasty, biscuit elements.
A Rhone blend with a difference
France’s Southern Rhone is adroit at blending grenache and mouvedre (usually with syrah in the mix too) but this South African red uses the dark and rugged tannat instead – to excellent effect.
With surprisingly soft tannins given its constituents, 2014 Grenache Mouvedre Tannat La Meridionale (£5.49) brings us bright black cherry fruit bolstered by energetic raspberry acidity and topped off with a helping or two of clove.
But claret is not totally ignored
The only claret on display this time is a tasty version from a merlot dominated estate on the St Emilion side of the river that likes to delay picking until the fruit is fully mature.
Unsurprising, therefore, to find a ripe, sweeter edge beneath the blackberry and cherry fruit of 2012 Chateau Jean de Gue Lalande-de-Pomerol (£14.99) which is supplemented by laudable freshness and suggestions of cinnamon, but only limited tannin.
A tale of two cabernets
If lovers of Bordeaux reds are missing their cabernet sauvignon, help is at hand because this collection contains two excellent – yet inexpensive – Australian versions.
Coonawarra, south of Adelaide, contains a 30 square kilometre stretch of “terra rossa” that has been producing top level cabernet sauvignon for more than 30 years.
Now, over a thousand miles west, the maritime based climate of Western Australia’s Margaret River is also giving the world excellent versions. Get a bottle of each and spot the differences.
Typically bold blackcurrant fruit jumps out of 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra (£6.49) along with equally classic mint components, touches of cinnamon, lively acidity and only very gentle tannins.
Mint is also evident in the smooth and lively 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River (£6.49) but here the fruit is more muted and takes on flavours of blackberry and blueberry rather than cassis.
There is also a savoury edge and the whole package is rounded out with vanilla and other spices.
