Major retailers have several ongoing initiatives to ease customers away from the familiar (sometimes hackneyed and pedestrian) grape varieties.
For instance, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have “Found, “Discovery and “Loved & Found” ranges.
And the wines featured often represent great value precisely because they are unfamiliar.
But, being realistic too, the initiatives also steer customers away from the most price sensitive parts of the wine aisles where competition is at its most intense.
However, assembling any such range takes months of “trial and improvement” and we wine enthusiasts should applaud the effort involved – and, where justified, the results achieved.
Morrisons now have a group of wines that follow this broad thrust – their limited-edition Block Series.
Rather than simply seeking the unfamiliar, this range pinpoints wines that are especially adroit at authentically reflecting the terroir, winemaking skills and quality of their home regions.
It is a collection of eight premium bottles with base prices of £12 upwards but, to offer affordability too, there are discounts of up to 50% for Loyalty Card holders.
Discounts only last until next week though.
I have sampled five of the range and, being honest, every one is a wine I would be happy to recommend.
They are categorised here as bronze, silver and gold winners and all of them would be smart buys.
The range also includes godello, an Aussie garnacha and mencia blend, American pinot noir and, coming soon, Georgian saperavi – and I have yet to try any of these
Each wine has a unique number and, although only available while stocks last, the number will not be re-used.
Enough background, though. Let’s look at these “smart buys” in detail.
The images and hyperlinks provided should help you to find them in crowded displays.
Bronze Medal Winners
2024 Best Block Series 004 Neiderrostereich Zweigelt: (listed at £13, but £8.50 in Scotland and £9 elsewhere until 15 July with a Morrisons Loyalty card – and 12.5% abv):
To chime with the demands of summer, number 4 in the series turns to the fruity, medium bodied red wines from Austria’s early ripening zweigelt grape.
The variety’s wines are a delightfully approachable – and ideal as an introduction for new wine drinkers.
It is well suited to the Austrian climate and works well at times when robustness is not needed.
Inky black with slightly rustic aromas, this one brings us soft raspberry, blackberry and plum flavours.
Accompanying components include sharp acidity (but little tannin) and traces of chocolate and liquorice within its light – but lively – body.
2024 Best Block Series 003 Rioja Blanco (listed at £15 but £9 in Scotland and £10 elsewhere until 15 July with a Morrisons Loyalty card – and 12.5%):
If I was drawing up a list of wines for a series such as this, the sometimes variable white Rioja would not be a top choice.
Clearly, however, the buyers here know better than I do because this a good example combining as it does several varieties (including malvasia and chardonnay) with viura from mature vines.
Incidentally, chardonnay was only permitted in white Rioja blends about 15 years ago.
Discreetly oaky but with appreciable depth, this delivers smooth pear, greengage and peach flavours supported by gentle lemon acidity and suggestions of vanilla, crème fraîche and pink grapefruit.
Silver Medal Winner.
2024 Best Block Series 006 Paarl Chenin Blanc: (listed at £15 but £9 in Scotland and £10 elsewhere until 15 July with a Morrisons Loyalty card – and 13%):
As a recent post here put a spotlight on chenin blanc, MidWeekers will not be surprised to see a South African example of the variety pop up in this review.
This one is from Paarl, where climate and geology tend to make its versions of chenin richer and more honeyed than those from elsewhere.
They usually seem more rounded than examples from Swartland and less oak influenced than those from Stellenbosch.
White gold in colour with honey fragrances, this one features soft red apple, marmalade and passionfruit flavours.
That is what edges it up into the “Silver” category but then so does its rich camomile and marzipan texture that is given zip by lively lime acidity.
Onto Gold then.
2024 Block Series 002 Dillons Point Sauvignon Blanc (listed at £14 but £8.50 in Scotland and £9 elsewhere until 15 July with a Morrisons Loyalty card – and 13%):
The world loves the acidic zing, crispness, aromatics and “primary colour” flavours of entry point NZ sauvignon – and rightly so.
Push further up the price ladder though, and changes do occur – with the emergence of savoury backdrops, a broader range of flavours and heightened intensity.
Those extra layers start manifesting themselves as soon as you pour the first glass of this sophisticated sauvignon, taking you almost into a different world.
It opens with herbal aromas and closes with beautiful length, but in between, you are exposed to concentrated gooseberry, ripe melon and apricot flavours.
It keeps on giving, courtesy of its energetic grapefruit acidity and appealing maritime influences that, nevertheless, include just a whisper of sweetness.
Finally, though.
2022 Best Block Series 001 Margaret River Shiraz (listed at £20 but £9 in Scotland and £10 elsewhere until 15 July with a Morrisons Loyalty card – and 13.5%):
So much shiraz is about these days that we almost take for granted what it will taste like.
Nothing inherently wrong with that, but a glassful of this tells you exactly why you fell in love with Australian shiraz in the first place.
This is from Margaret River in Western Australia where the influences of the ocean seem to be reflected in its wines.
The results contrast sharply with, say, the full, bold and robust shiraz of South Australia’s Barossa Valley.
While there is no shortage of power here, there is a subtlety too that confirms this really is £20 wine.
Dark and dense, it is centred on smooth but smoky blackcurrant, damson and bramble flavours.
Those aspects are partnered by acidic freshness, soft tannin and a vigorous backdrop of clove, milk chocolate and vanilla.
My next post (on Monday) contains terrific recommendations of Top Tips for you in the weekly feature of the same name.
41 responses
Hi Brian
I’m glad you’ve highlighted these, I think they are pretty decent, even if they are a few rungs up the price ladder.
I, too, have tasted all these and as you say I also have no hesitation in recommending all of them.
Sauvignon Blanc can be a little run-of-the-mill with some everyday offerings, but this Block 002 Sovee is on a different level and these days £14 for a good wine is acceptable, although it is a little more than I would spend normally.
That White Rioja is pretty good as well, especially with the addition of Chardonnay in the mix, and the oak is not too intrusive.
Our Morrisons store had a special aisle dedicated to these, but they are for a limited time, so be quick
Thanks Brian, what a good initiative from Morrisons, I will be there armed with my loyalty card in short order to secure your recommendations. Godello happens to be a favourite Spanish white – Tesco used to stock a nice one and then stopped – and American Pinot Noir is usually outside my price range, so I will likely try those too!
Those look brilliant Brian, I fancy trying them all while discounted. But note their website in England says the offer runs only until 13/7, not 15/7, and that the pricing is 30% off if you buy 3, not the pricing you’ve quoted.
That’s frustrating Michael. I checked prices with the PR arm of Morrisons at 5pm yesterday so struggle to understand variations. Let’s hope that the smoke clears soon.
Brian,
Unbelievably there is a 25% discount in England on the Block Wines offer.
I have tried and concur with your tasting notes and look forward to hearing more on the range.
I’ve just bought the Zweigelt, the white Rioja and the Sauvignon Blanc. On the bill the Total initially is £42 then minus £22.40 (reflecting the discounted prices Brian states above for England), and then a FURTHER 30% discount for buying 3 bottles. Final cost = £19.60 all in. Great value
PS Most of them are listed as out of stock, at least at Morrisons Skipton!
Something for the weekend Sir …
Have always enjoyed the relationship between wine and the specific geographic location from whence it originates. In this respect France most especially. The name on the label is the first point of evocation even as it sits on a shelf in a local supermarket, to stir memories of encounters over decades of bottles tried in situ. Memories are most definitely made of this!
So to a very favourite place of mine oft spoken about by me and others here at MWW from an area of France much appreciated by generations of Brits that is the central Loire area from Anjou through to Touraine where three different rivers determine local topography, La Loire itself as well as the Vienne and the Cher.
Recent discussion on this blog have included Vouvray, a small town of somewhat limited visual appeal and character to the east of Tours where Chenin Blanc rules, put in the shadow by its near neighbour Chenenceau with its spectacular Renaissance châteaux and gallery straddling the Cher as it does. This is the big visual attraction of that part of the Loire Vallée locale, those châteaux from Chambord to Villandry, Azay-le-Ridau to Ussé and all else in-between including Anger and Saumur, the latter recently mentioned in despatches with a sample of their local offering of Cabernet Franc that the Co-op currently have for a £tenner that Brian mentioned last week.
So come Sunday morning I can think of no better way to pass an hour or two but to join ITV4 for the start of stage 9 of the Tour de France, heading to Châteauroux as it leaves one of the greatest looking locations of the Loire that is Chinon. Here is no Renaissance château but a castle-like forteresse from the 11th century atop the cliff overlooking the perfectly preserved town streets sitting on the the River Vienne several miles east of the point where that water meets La Loire close to Montsoreau, itself a few miles east of Saumur.
Chinon has for me is always easily enjoyable just being in the town, but most especially staying on the old camping municipal site, now private, for a few francs a night with its view across the wide Vienne to the belvedere that overlooks the river the castle above. Warm summer’s evenings and noisy, August, electric thunderstorms all contributed. Spectacular is a word much overused, but lived-amongst the whole effect is one never forgotten.
We in our old-age can no longer travel any more but Sunday morning we can be TV voyeurs live at home with maybe the towns most famous export, Cabernet Franc in a bottle. The Morrisons titular offering is pretty decent, slightly chilled, and can be had when in picking up a Block Series offering. It looks as though they will leave Chinon centre south across the elegant bridge over the Vienne river and head out of town along the D749, Av. Saint-Lazare … et on y va …
Hi Eddie,
I have a bottle of Chinon Domaine de la Noblaie ’23 from the Wine Society ready for that very purpose on Sunday. Santé.
Think I peaked too soon then, David. We drank a Chinon Cabernet Franc Pierre & Bertrand Couly 2023 yesterday evening. I’d like to say it was in commiseration for Wales’ 4-1 defeat to France in the Women’s Euro although I didn’t find out the result until this morning.!
Hi David
I’ve gone for the ’23 Bouchardiere from TWS. I’ve had the Noblaie before and the Society’s own Chinon. It’s interesting to read the reviews on these Cabernet Francs from wherever around that neck of the woods. Lots of mixed feelings about what we get from these domains. I also called at a Co-op that stocked the Saumur and took a bottle of that.
I tend to think they are ”fans’ wines” who are happy to be flexible about certain idiosyncratic elements with this stuff. Often hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend them to others at times. They need chilling and often need food too when young and cheaper. Probably offer more when both older and consequently more expensive. Santé.
Thanks for today’s reviews on a good selection of the new Block range at Morrisons Brian. Have to admit that I rarely visit the local Morrisons as other options are nearer home. However, inspired by your descriptions I’ve immediately downloaded the app, signed up for the More loyalty card, and will be over there before the day is out.
I fancy trying the SA Chenin Blanc, the white Rioja, and the Austrian Zweigelt. The latter has become a real favourite as I prefer and tend to drink light reds over rosés in the summer. There’s a good taste-off to be had this weekend then between Best Block Series 004 Zweigelt and my current favourite Lentsch Zweigelt from Waitrose, currently £9 instead of £10 until 29th July.
Thanks Brian & Dave for feedback on the Single Block Wines.
I drank the Zweigelt edition earlier this week and thought it a really excellent example. Last year I attended an Austrian Wine Masterclass, which featured a range of Zweigelt wines, and was surprised to find they varied from Beaujolais Nouveau, through slightly spicier Cru Beaujolais, to almost “mini Côte-Rôtie” in styles. Kieth – perhaps you could report back on your taste-off!
Incidentally, I re-visited the Felixstowe store, and, again, none of these wines are available there.
I spoke to the store manager, and apparently each Morrisons store is classified as either a “beer” or “wine” store. And Felixstowe is the former, so doesn’t stock these wines. He was very helpful, and knew that the wines were very well regarded, and I was the 3rd person to ask after them. So he was going to raise the issue, and see if they could be stocked.
Couldn’t wait until the weekend for comparing the various Zweigelts having gone to Morrisons (see above) and then picking up a discounted Zweigelt at Aldi en route. Opened 3 bottles for tasting and will now probably be drinking Zweigelt all weekend!
In the end I assembled the following – 1) Block Series 004 Zweigelt 2024 from Morrisons, 2) Lentsch Zweigelt 2022 from Waitrose, and a last minute addition of 3) Aldi’s Austrian Zweigelt Red Wine (reduced this week from £8.99 > £7.99).
As you noted Richard the styles can be quite varied. The Lentsch was garnet red rather than ruby and much lighter than the other two. Dry with savoury notes it’s probably the best for chilling and serving in summer. In contrast, the Aldi wine was delightful in terms of being juicy, quaffable and easy drinking and could certainly be a good alternative to a Beaujolais. But I think my personal preference on the evidence of this comparison might shift to the new Morrisons Block Series Zweigelt. Brian was spot on when noting the sharp acidity and flavours of raspberry and blackberry, to which I would add cranberry too. It definitely opened up over time and has a longer finish than the other 2 wines.
Thanks, Keith, for that great review of your tasting. I sense that the two younger options reinforced the idea that this variety is at its best when not very old but today’s high temperatures could have been a factor here.
Thanks Keith, great comparison – and testimony to the benefit of side by side tasting, as espoused by Brian and other regular contributors. Although haven’t personally done a Zweigelt side by side, looking through my cellar tracker notes, I think the Block Series example is the “best” I have bought and drunk, I agree it has a longer finish. So a serious but friendly red VG value at its full price – AND only 12.5% ABV. I haven’t tried the Waitrose offering, and will try to get the Aldi version, although my local store has a limited range, so frustratingly often can’t get recommended wines. The recent Lidl Austrian rose, which I suspect was Zweigelt heavy, I found a lovely summer wine, and am also an enthusiast for the Wine Society’s Austrian Red.
I always remember John Thorogood, of Lay & Wheeler, saying a mark of a good wine was when you go to pour another glass and realised the bottle was empty! For me, as I buy at a slightly greater rate than I drink, I would add another indicator – when I go and buy another bottle of the same wine. For the Block Series Zweigelt I wanted to go and buy more, but the current work on the Orwell Bridge means journeys to the west of Ipswich are a totally nightmare!
Today in Wrexham Morrisons, I managed to get the last bottle of Block 002 Sauvignon Blanc, at the price and discount listed by Brian.The other Block prices were also as stated above.
Block 001, unsurprisingly ,was sold out and none in the back.
All was not lost, as I picked up the Palo Cortado sherry with a £1 off and the intriguing Baker Street White Blend with £2 off,both recent recs from Brian.
I am a sucker for anything to do with Sherlock Holmes.He had a discerning palate for French Burgundy in particular.
What was the name of his favourite wine merchant?
Good to see Morrisons going for something a bit different.
Oh ! and Richard, Fiona Beckett likes the Block 004 Zweigelt.So you are in very good company.
Well the wine merchant was Mr Yamberry who would furnish Sherlock with Montrachet,particularly when celebrating solving cases such as “The Veiled Lodger”.
Mycroft, his clever brother,IQ 199, was not an imbiber.
Dr Watson had his ubiquitous brandy flask called “Dr.Watson’s Universal Specific” and was used thus: “ With the use of ammonia and brandy ,I was pleased he opened his eyes”.The case of “ The Greek Interpreter”.
I have heard that the 004 Zweigelt benefits from a thorough good chilling and given time to open up, which chimes with Keith’s observations.
Presumably the white burgundy was for use when the cocaine ran out.
Can’t help but think that this Block stuff at Morrisons is yet another try as a marketing ploy for sales to those who will, and are happy to pay substantially more for a wine bought for mid week usage as proposed to them. Looks like imaging to me.
That’s ok … we spend our money as we choose. But it doesn’t include me. I can’t envisage paying £15 for a white from this range that can possible be TWICE as good in ANY WAY as Aldi’s Costiere de Nimes currently at £7.99 so I won’t go there. It reminds me too of the several bottles of the M&S whatever range I tried but as is my mantra if I’m not interested in repeat buys it didn’t work for me in the first place no matter some stuff was OK. Such is subjectivity.
Being objective about wine purchasing I thought MWW was more about this careful consideration more than diving-in feet first, but folks seems to have excitedly gone off-piste too often with proposals that are not in fact as decent as we might imagine. No probs as I say, people spend their hard earned as they please.
Anyway, Aldi have have quality bottles we can more easily afford if exploration is really your thing …………..Bowler & Brolly Pinot Noir Rosé is reduced to £5.99. Wow!! Aspirational ENGLISH wine for close to nowt below even entry level cost. Extraordinary. Their white Bacchus down to that price too. What is going on?? English wine no longer aspirational but for the masses. Who would think it.
And a rather decent Soave Superior reduced at £3.99 with a delightful Conegliano Prosecco for a silly £4.99. Who needs Morrisons Block unless we have money to burn. .
To close it seems the much discussed Mucho Mas Tinto has a new incarnation with a gold version now on the shelves at £11. Loved by some … my wife … decried by others … no names-no pack drill, even I need to understand how a concocted red could up its price and presumably quality by another £4 to make it THAT special. We shall see. My true love shall be treated on her forthcoming birthday.
Hi Eddie,
I appreciate where you are coming from on your assessment of the new block series and, indeed I can’t see myself buying regularly from this range at full price but I cannot agree with your implication ( “I thought MWW was more about…….”) that this is not an important part of this site’s function. Highlighting temporary bargains is a feature I find very useful and indeed have just got home from Morrisons – carrying six bottles on the bus in my backpack! I bought the Margaret River Shiraz, Douro Godelho, Oregon Pinot Noir, Rioja Blanco, Zweigelt and SA Chenin Blanc. I haven’t tasted any yet but an initial price of £95 was reduced after discounts to £45.75. At an average bottle price of £7.62 is that not a brilliant success for MWW – even if it’s not going to be repeated?
Well David,good to see MWW is also improving your fitness and stamina.
Three of your selection did not appear on the Wrexham Morrisons shelves; I will be back on Monday to see if I can secure these quality bargains.
PS I will be using my 10 year old Ford Fiesta hatchback!
Not sure David E that you understood my ”I thought MMW was more about” etc especially when I have probably more than anyone on MWW promoted the discounting culture as a way of affordability and trying out bottles we otherwise would be unlikely to try. You may have missed my contributions in the past over several years in this respect. No matter ….
Please enjoy what you bought. I won’t be joining you even for the considerable reduction you got on your 6 bottle purchase. I went to Aldi and spent an average of £6 a bottle on my 6 for the weekend and at the price these bottles usually cost I can go back and have them again for the same money. Unless there is a deal going on at Morrisons in future for your 6 you’ll be back up £15 a bottle if you want to repeat that selection. As I said ” people spend their hard earned as they please.” and if that stretches to 15 quid a bottle I’m pleased if anyone can do that regularly with perhaps their enjoyable discoveries.
My usual main angle here at MWW is affordability. That’s a personal issue of course based on disposable income and what we are prepared to stretch to for our wine enjoyment. I won’t go around telling folks they need to spend at least £15 to be drinking well. there’s a lot of leeway between £6 and £15 to have something very nice from most of the usual outlets.
This morning I took delivery of the Chinon Le Logis de la Bouchardiere by the Sourdais and a Chateau Rahoul Graves 2017 from TWS. A little over 20 quid covered it. Thankfully it didn’t involve any bus fares or a backpack, delivered to my door for ”free” … though we know that isn’t quite the truth when charges are figured-in to all purchases somewhere along the way. £11.95 is as far as I can stretch once in a while . The claret was less than £9. Even that price to some is unaffordable. We makes our choices.
Anyway, you enjoy your purchases and I’ll enjoy mine.
To paraphrase the words to 007 by Auric Goldfinger in the film of that name, “I’ve been expecting you Mr. Walker”.
You are a doughty fighter for those unable or unwilling to go beyond single figures for a bottle of wine. They love you for it, and so do I.
I would take issue with two points you make, though.
First, if I buy a car that is twice the price of Paul’s Ford Fiesta hatchback, I do not expect it to go twice as fast! What I do expect is for it to have more of the features that are important to me, or better versions of them. Cash, for sure, goes up in a straight, objective, line; value is more nuanced.
Secondly, I would resist any implication that MidWeek Wines is straying from its core values (“I thought MWW was more about this careful consideration more than diving-in feet first”).
Its subscribers comprise a broad church and the two weekly posts try to reflect that. Monday is all about straight recommendations offering keen prices, sound wine and good value.
There are many people, though, who want to dig deeper and learn more about a subject that has been surrounded by an elitist aura for too long. Thursday’s posts also have them in mind.
The latest one introduces two wines in particular that I think reveal what can await if you spend a little more (the shiraz and the sauvignon) but are discounted to £10 or less. That, surely, is perfect for folk on a journey into the world of wine – and towards the confidence that engenders – but are anxious to do so without risking too much money yet with guidance on what to look for.
I hesitate now to post this response but I’ve been crafting it on and off between jobs all afternoon. So here goes …..
Edde, I always admire your consistency and discipline in setting yourself a budget for spending on wine and your regular contributions explaining how an enticing discount on X allows you to try a bottle of more expensive Y are always well considerd. Framing your strategy in the context of what we understand to be Brian’s mission for MWW (recommending reliable, quality wines at reasonable prices) leads you regularly to draw attention to some remarkable bargains, not least the recommendations for the Aldi wines above. But I respectfully suggest your immediate dismissal and refusal to contemplate Morrisons latest Block Series initiative here seems rather odd.
I am no fan of the myriad ways in which retailers manipulate wine prices through so-called discounts, loyalty cards, multibuy offers etc but that is the current state of things so I always look forward to Brian’s picks and MWW responses for suggesting keenly priced bottles. And open-minded exploration really IS my thing. Therefore, having realised that I rather like Zweigelt, and knowing the going rate for this wine at Aldi and Waitrose, I was keen to compare the new release at Morrisons. Like you Eddie, I’m not interested in repeat purchases if I don’t like them but I DO like to know which is my favourite high street Zweigelt under £10 in summer 2025.
Without tasting it surely you have no way of knowing whether the Block Series SA Chenin Blanc is twice as good, ten times as good, or even not-as-good as Aldi’s well-rated Costières de Nimes (is this a like for like comparison?) but buying a bottle while it’s discounted to £10 (and potentially the same price as your Aldi wine if part of a multibuy offer), you might have the pleasure of finding out. Who knows? But that’s the pleasure of exploring wine.
Anyway, Brian’s feature on the Block Series inspired me to buy 3 of them and for a final bill of £19.60 (see earlier post) that averages just £6.53 a bottle. That’s more like Aldi prices!!
I have just bought 6 bottles from the block collection in Cribbs Causeway store near Bristol. Their current promotion is a further 25% off 6 bottles. A right result.
Good to hear from you Andy. Sounds like a great deal. I hope they match up to expectations.
Hello Brian. Newbie question.
Looking at the product information on the Morrisons site for the Margaret River Shiraz it says under “Manufacturer” that it is bottled by Kingsland Drinks Ltd. Kingsland offers a number of services including contract bottling. I’ve often wondered what this means as I’ve seen UK bottlers on other wines as well.
Does it mean that the wine is shipped to the UK in bulk form and actually bottled here?
If so, what is your opinion on that?
Yes the importers confirm this is shipped in bulk and bottled in the UK. I have spelled out my thoughts on the pros and cons in a separate email to you Michael. Do keep joining in the Comments section though … Best … Brian
Now how lucky am I?
My wife is visiting her sister in Anglesey for a few days and today popped into the local Holyhead Morrisons.The good people of Ynys Mon seem oblivious to the quality and huge discounts on the Block Series and perhaps need to subscribe to MWW-all Block wines present and correct, except for the Sauvignon.
Kerching!
Or as Terry-Thomas would say through his gapped teeth “Good show!”
Points noted by Brian and Keith.
Do I agree? Maybe in part. But then Brian you are the messenger and this is all about marketing and pricing laid entirely at the door of, in this case Morrisons. You bring us the details and then ….
A look online at their website I see, very simply, the Block 001 Margaret River Shiraz at £20 and then 009 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir also £20. For the life of me I know no way I could ever afford such a price and certainly would never pay these prices at a high street supermarket. So if I am dismissive without trying the wine then so be it … and it will always remain so.
As far as as money-off deals are concerned then as I’ve always suggested only ever buy such in quantity and stock up on the more expensive bottles when they ARE discounted. At other times … at 20 quid a pop FULL RETAIL … I respectfully suggest they be left on the shelf no matter there is a craving to have them**, ever again, unless discounted, and in the case of same, only if Morrisons maintain availability that they say is not guaranteed. Some confusing marketing exercise going on here!!
And then as with all these retail outlets today we need their app. Morrisons and everybody else is desperate for us to have them. They want to know who we are and how we spend our money and it’s not unreasonable to believe they will give us treats and discounts in the sweetie shop to entice us in. But there’s no such thing as a free meal.
Turn up at the checkout without one and be prepared for disappointment. I’ve been there in the past unsuspectingly. But I have no trouble with retailing apps even when they are used to manipulate our shopping habits. We are all grown-ups and understand well what is going on here with the algorithms.
Last but not least is what is in the bottle and how satisfying it is, for the price and whether in making comparisons … like for like … or totally different provenance .. all that stuff, we are back to what I said to David E … ”please enjoy what you bought” especially given the effort he put in to access the wine. We choose what we want … you in your small corner … and me in mine.
Not sure if there is a 007 Block bottle?? As Goldfinger also said when asked if he expected him to TALK…. No! … I expect you to die Mr Bond … gulp!!! …. when did it come to this … ?
On y va …
** too much of a stretch to suggest Morrisons are deliberately trying to get people addicted but it is true when we have had something of real quality we can be eager to go back and do it again and not return to the bottom shelf ever again! Ha!
Hi Eddie,
You do need a Morrisons More card to access many of the wine offers.However you can obtain a physical More card without signing up for an online account or downloading their app.
Brian just to confirm that the Shiraz is top drawer especially at £7.50 a bottle. Thank you for this recommendation and many others that you mention.
Thank you Andy. I thought it shone brightly even in this weather which is usually bad news for wine with that abv.
Hi Brian & all,
Having absorbed your helpful & positive discounted Block comments dashed to Bridlington Morrisons today 14/7/25, ‘more card’ to hand, for some last of the double dips I hoped. Fully stocked display so made an 8 bottle choice (2 of Shiraz, Zweigelt, Chenin & SB) plus some minor grocery items tilled up prior.
Greeted successfully with full more card plus 25% for over 6 bottles discount plus plus a bonus using the £2.50 voucher from the grocery purchase – so we triple dipped !
Happy to confirm the Chenin is as said excellent and the white drinker says we’re off back again in the morning.
Regards all 🍷
Glad white drinker approves, but I fancy that the red equivalent will relish the Shiraz
Hi Brian and all
I’m loving the Zveigelt which is a new find for me. I don’t think I’ve bought any Austrian wine in about 100 years. I’ll be rushing back with my More card to get more in.
I don’t think anybody else has mentioned the Garnacha wine yet but it tasted flabby in a direct comparison. Maybe there’snot enough acidit. I drink lots of Spanish Garnacha so had hopes for it. The Austrian wine was so much more fresher, interesting and it is low ABV, which is a good thing when you are sampling different bottles.
Yet to try the Shiraz and the Douro, which I also stocked up on. Fingers crossed.
Keep on tasting and posting!
Thank you Kay for your thoughts and particularly for joining the Comments section – do keep those impressions coming, they are very welcome. As for your specific points, I have two thoughts. First summer temperatures in Australia can mean that garnacha (grenache) there is lower in acidity and so can be the usually relatively acidic mencia, when compared to European versions. Secondly, comparisons with the high acidity Zweigelt does set the acidity bar quite high. Not having tried the garnacha blend (yet), however, I may be talking out of my hat (again)!
Brian just to let everybody know that as of lunchtime tthe Yate store at Morrisons in Bristol the Block wines were still reduced plus an extra 25% off for 6 bottles which I believe goes on until this Sunday and I found the godejho a very pleasant drop of white
The Godelho is very tasty, especially as my local store had mislabelled it at £8! An extra 25% reduction made it an absolute bargain.
We are hust drinking the Garnacha/ Mencia blend and it is also going down a treat.
Morrisons are inconsistent with their offers and the online information is often incorrect so you need to be as fortunate as I in having one locally to monitor prices and offers. On the other hand Waitrose is a distant rumour in this part of the world but, as others have pointed out, a mixture of a nearby Aldi and TWS keeps us happy.
Thanks for the report. Alf., on those two Black wines that I have yet to get to. If, as you seem to imply, access to Waitrose is an issue locally, then Waitrose Cellar has proved very reliable for me.