Today’s post focuses on two big selling grape varieties. Popular versions come in attractive, competently made styles at affordable prices -yet something is often missing.
That missing element isn’t solely about price. Complexity certainly turns up more often at higher price points, but it isn’t reserved for them.
So, this post looks at the issue in more detail.
Sauvignon blanc is a major success story, and rightly so – its character strikes a real chord with drinkers. Dominant aromas, arresting acidity and a dash of tropical fruit make it instantly recognisable.
However, acidic freshness seems to work best when it comes from slow, gently paced ripening. That keeps the zing drinkers love but wraps it in a softer, rounder framework.
Winemakers call this slow ripening a “long hang time”, and it is usually down to a vineyard’s climate. Today’s white shows exactly that balance of softness and freshness.
Its red partner follows a similar path.
Wine drinkers grew tired of under-ripe, tannin-heavy reds with vegetal, graphite edges, and turned instead to riper, fruit-driven styles. Ripeness -sometimes bordering on jamminess -became the priority, even the deciding factor.
Balance has often been the casualty of that shift. This shiraz brings back some of the savoury notes that current trends often leave behind.
It’s a small step towards the muti-layered character that makes good wine so satisfying.
Both wines sit at modest prices yet still offer some of the excitement too many everyday bottles lack.
As usual pictures are provided with, where possible, a hyperlink to make your purchase easier.
Starting with the sauvignon
Which wine should I buy? 2025 Irresistible Sauvignon Blanc
Why should I buy it? Fog from the Pacific Ocean is common in Chile’s coastal vineyards and restricts their hours of direct sunlight. This slows the ripening process and – as already discussed – consequently carefully maintains the acidity levels on which sauvignon blanc thrives.
What does it taste like? Grassy on the nose, soft and mellow on the palate with gooseberry, apricot and grapefruit flavours, balanced by bright lime acidity that leaves a lingering citrus finish.
Where, how much and what abv? £7.75 – down from £8.75 until 4 August – at the Co-op; 12.5% abv
Crossing to Australia
Which wine should I buy? 2023 Deluxe Barossa Valley Shiraz
Why should I buy it? South Australia’s Barossa Valley is brilliant at rich and powerfully fruity shiraz but counterbalancing savouriness can add an extra (welcome) dimension. This version provides that – which is rare at the £8-£9 price point where ripeness alone so often rules the roost.
What does it taste like? Full-bodied and dark, with layers of cherry, blackcurrant and bramble fruit, softened by gentle tannins and balanced acidity but finishing with warm hints of vanilla, cinnamon and mocha.
Where, how much and what abv? £8.29 at Lidl; 13.5% abv.
Join me again next Monday when I run the rule over a Chilean pinot noir and a Sicilian white.
90 responses
More like that please.
Apologies my friend I missed your prompt and very welcome response yesterday. You certainly started a trend and I am grateful to you for joining in.
More like this please
Thanks, Martin -especially for being so quick off the mark to respond.
More Like This
Thanks David for another early bird reply and for taking the trouble to get in touch.
Well I am definitely in the longer introduction camp, so “more like this please”.
It allows for more context ,interesting information and storytelling.
Agree that too many SB’s are one dimensional hard edged hits with no finesse and many reds are far too jammy and sweet bombs.
I do think the pendulum is swinging back to balance and your recommendations are a welcome gentle nudge back to that desirable outcome.
I agree- the explanations add interest.
Thanks Graham – and, as ever, Paul – those impressions and reasons are exactly the ones I am keen to capture
Hi Brian,
I can second the longer introduction! Much appreciated.
Many thanks, Simon, a consensus is beginning to build!
Very much the 2nd. The Shiraz was very well discounted, 33%off when buying 3 deluxe wines, last Christmas and if I remember was much praised.
Keep up the good work Brian.
Thanks, Mike., for the vote and the kind words. Several components of that De Luxe range impress and the “third off” multi-buy mechanic makes them terrific value.
Hi Brian, I love your longer version.
How about adding the scoring points to each review, as you often do with the Lidl’s wine tours?
Thanks for all the informative reports each Monday. .
Really appreciate your endorsement for the longer versions, Tony. I am a little wary of specific scores as they can provoke discussions about relative scores rather than the wine to which they relate. However, I can see that it is helpful to be able to distinguish between the “real class” and the “bare pass” and will think about how to do that. The Lidl scores are usually Richard Bamfield’s – the MW who works with the company – and who publishes his assessment on their website and beyond.
Definitely enjoying the longer intro👍
The longer version wasn’t much longer, but rather like the wines described, lingers longer, delivering more to the brain, not just the taste buds and the wallet.
Now, will my nearest Coop ( in a west Cornwall village) stock it…..?
Indeed, the ‘will my branch stock it’ question/fear seems to apply to the Co op more than other supermarkets. I tend to disregard recommendations for its wines for that reason.
As I said to Nigel, I understand the frustration that the organisation’s semi-autonomous network can cause through patchy availability. It is such a pity as the Co-op buying team is a very capable one and some of the Irresistible range are superstars.
That was an angle I had not considered so thanks for pinpointing it. Good luck with the hunt that, I accept, the Co-op’s regional structure does make difficult.
The longer intro is most informative, it gets my vote. Thank you!
Thanks for the vote, Karen. I really do appreciate how much time and trouble you guys have taken to steer me in the right direction. The best subscribers in the world!
Yes, .I opt most definitely for the longer informative introduction.
Thank you Janet I appreciate your getting in touch and adding to the chorus of “more of the same please”.
The longer intro is better. Thanks
Can’t promise War and Peace, Nick, but do welcome the “direction of travel” you are recommending.
More like this. Not a fan of Chillean Sauv Blancs but I’ll certainly pick up the red from Lidl.
Thanks Alun. I hope that red works for you.
I’m firmly in the “More like this” camp, too. I always appreciate the pointers to good value wines, but the wider education in viticulture is a genuine bonus.
More like this please
I am grateful for your thoughts, John. There certainly seems a lot of support for turning up the volume on background material.
That’s good to hear. I am really surprised by how often that “education” point comes up in these responses. Thank you for letting me know how you feel.
In the thrust for brevity in this world of low attention spans, I had underestimated the “wider education” point you make – so am really grateful for that reminder.
More like this
Thanks, Ken. I do appreciate your getting in touch.
Yes to more. Let’s linger longer. It’s all excellent.
Thanks, Kay. I do love a lingerer.
The intro was a useful and worthwhile effort, in my opinion.
Glad it worked and will try to do something similar for other posts. Thanks for letting me know your thoughts Graham.
More like this please.
Thanks, John and I will try to oblige.
More like this please. Thanks (I think 🤔 – don’t want it to become too popular!) for highlighting the Lidl Barossa Shiraz; it is, along with the Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, our regular “quaffing “ wine.
Sorry if I have let the cat out of the bag Nichola but it is a nice example. Thanks, in any event, for responding to my request for a favour
More like this please, good to read, enlightening, pointers for other wines to try
I am grateful for your thoughts, David and will try to work your suggestions about “other wines to try”. Thanks again.
Morning, Brian.
More like this please.
Good to hear from you again Rob and hope all goes well. Thanks for replying to my call for an input.
Thanks Brian,
I’m in the ‘more like this’ camp too.
Folk have been really helpful in responding to this Bob., and I am grateful for your (and their) thoughts.
Definitely MORE LIKE THIS
I enjoy reading about your recommendations
And then trying them ! 🍷🍷
Thanks Brian
Appreciate your kind words, Aileen and for the upper case stressing of the point. Do keep trying the recommendations.
Thanks Brian, definitely more like this please as I feel a wee bit more knowledgeable after reading them.
It is a pleasure to share a bit of insight where I can and I am glad that seems to work for you. Thanks for replying.
Totally agree with all the above, an interesting explanation.
Would it be possible to add a 1 – 5 for dryness to the white’s description, or do you fnd that varies too much , person to person?
Tim … Taste is always a difficult thing to calibrate for exactly the reason you state about individual subjectivity. Also our sense of sweetness does seem to change with (dare I say it) age. I will, however, try to cover the point in any of the explanations that you have kindly commended.
Morning. Like everyone else, I enjoyed the intro so I’m definitely in the ‘more like this, please’ camp. Co-op and Lidl, here I come.
Regards
PV
I think you will enjoy them both, Paul and certainly hope so. Thanks very much for responding to my request for feedback.
More like this please.
The context is helpful.
Thanks, Kelvyn, I am certainly getting the message that the “Why should I buy this” segment is currently inadequate. Knowing that is a real help.
More like this please. Useful context, which we can always scroll past if in such a rush!
Thanks, Iain. I think I will try to adapt the current layout as a summary for those in a hurry for exactly the reason you suggest.
Yes longer explanation is great. However I would appreciate a 1 to 10 on dry to sweet as I know what I like but sometimes find the description of what a wine tastes like a bit baffling. Not all of us receiving your weekly communications have the knowledge that some have. Just a thought!
Thanks for joining in the discussion, Richard. As I said in my reply to Tim., calibration is a bit tricky but I will certainly to try make sweetness a bit clearer (and less baffling) in any descriptions
Hi Brian,
Readers might be interested in my forthcoming article ” Let’s talk about Sweetness” coming out as Newsletter 69 on 22nd August in midweekwinesguild.substack.com
It’s not just about residual sugar,there is also perceived sweetness which is just as important. Hopefully I will reduce bafflement and encourage understanding!
As you will have seen sweetness does concern several subscribers so your piece on the sister site is timely indeed.
More like this please
Thanks Richard, Really heartening to get so much feedback and for such a clear consensus to emerge.
Thank you for this clear explanation of such an important topic Brian. It’s why an interest in wine is such as fascinating journey of discovery. There’s a tendency to overlook agricultural choices, climate science etc when we only focus on what it looks and tastes like in the glass. The indications are we’re going to hear a lot more about this in future. I’m pretty sure it also explains my preference for Loire Valley SB over the in-your-face flavours of NZ product.
(Already replied in favour of ‘More like this’ to original email)
If there is one email I really enjoy reading it’s Mid Week Wines – so more of the longer introduction please!
Certainly seems massive support for revised introduction Richard and it is good to know the site still hits the spot for one of our longest serving subscribers – ten years now!
Hi Brian,
Always good to read more from the Guild’s Founding Father!
Thanks Richard and this dad is very proud of what his “family” have done with the Guild.
I’ve a third point of view.
More maybe but maybe a little briefer, and after the recommendations as additional detail.
I’d really like you to go back to mentioning where the wine is supplied from at the top, not the bottom of the piece. There’s no way to buy from some of your suppliers so I look there first & don’t read further if I can’t get it, no need to get jealous!
Is it just me or does the search on your page hiccup? I’m often standing in front of the wines in a store searching for the store for your reviews & getting nowhere. That’s very frustrating.
Thanks for such a full reply Ann. I will certainly think about re-positioning the supplier. Your concerns about the search facility are a worry and will try to delve deeper into it. Do keep in touch with your thoughts.
More like this please…..
Good to hear from you, Phil., and many thanks for keeping in touch.
Definitely more please.
A pretty loud chorus for this Graeme and I am grateful to you for adding your voice to it – especially the “definitely” bit.
More like this please
Thanks so much for adding your thoughts and well done on the clever name you use.
“More like this please”…… Good morning like everyone says your knowledge and experience adds so much more to the very helpful weekly reviews, so I’m pleased you have asked for comments from your followers.
Regards
Good to hear from you Tony and am grateful for your kind words. I hope that the world is being good to you.
More please Brian.
The reason I started following you was because you added useful information about WHY the wines tasted as they did. The supermarket marketing departments seem to exist to stop us finding out the who where why how of a wines origin. You help us so much to understand how it comes to taste like it does, rather than bombard us with adjectives and metaphores which are usually subjective.
So YES, more please
Thank you Edwin and nice to hear from you again. I am very grateful for your kind words – although I cannot deny that I probably do than more than my fair share of “adjective bombardment”
Yes, more like this please. Still trying to learn and discover new wines – your wise comments about context are a well- delivered sermon.
Good to hear from you Tim and always welcome commendations from the pulpit! I usually have plenty of comments but whether they are wise or not is a bit more subjective.
As Miss Kay W says above, let’s linger longer…lomg enough for me to pour a glass before reading your notes!
Thanks Michele and, as I said before, I do so love a lingerer and, in your case, an alliterative one. All I can say is … Lingerers Love Lively Libations.
Hi Brian,
Nice to start Monday mornings with your excellent reviews, keep up the good work.
Thanks for getting in touch Steve., and – even more so -for your kind words of encouragement.