Over 11,000 miles lie between the homelands of the two wines being recommended today.
Despite that massive gulf, however, three important qualities unite them.
- Both are comfortably above the standard one would normally expect from entry point wines.
- They also represent excellent value for money, and,
- Finally, they both reflect my adaptation of the musical metaphor “Many a good tune is played on a (more mature) fiddle.”.
I hope that you share my enthusiasm.
Adopting my traditional format, an image and, in the case where it is possible, a hyperlink accompanies the assessments of the wines.
Starting with the one nearest our home
2021 Burdizzo Chianti Riserva (£7.07 at Asda and 12.5% abv)
As promised a week or two back, here is another stand out example of those 2021 Chianti Riservas that continue to impress.
Gentle spring rain and perfect summer ripening conditions created some brilliant wines that year – and this is another great value example.
It is dark and smooth with background hints of cocoa, balsamic and anise.
At its foundation, though, you will find intense plum, tomato and cherry flavours neatly backed by good acidity and balanced tannins.
And then to a far flung location.
2023 Freemans Bay Sauvignon Blanc (£6.29 at Aldi and also 12.5%
Often two-year-old New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc would be reaching for its pension book.
This one, however, is still delivering the goods and is a joy to drink – if you can track some down.
It offers attractive texture and ample acidity that both build splendidly on its opening herbal aromas.
The primary flavours on display include ripe melon, gooseberry and cooked apple components but you may also detect traces of grapefruit and lemongrass.
The next post (on Thursday) turns the telescope round to switch from a focus on retailers to consideration of selected growers.
5 responses
The chianti has been on offer at my local Asda recently for £3.94. Needless to say I stocked up.
Good call Mitch and thank you for sharing it Let’s hope that the same offer is available in other stores.
(1) I drank the 2021 Burdizzo Chianti about a year ago, a recommendation from Paul, I think. Thought it was GV at £8.25 – interesting the see the price reduction for the 2022 vintage! I’m tempted to get the Waitrose No 1 Chianti, currently on offer, and see how they compare?
(2) Today, Sainsburys have just launched today a new 25% off 6 or more wines (£6 and above) – until 24th August.
(3) Last week I posted a comment about a couple of on-offer and well reviewed Rosés. Bought them both and tasted them side by side.
I thought the Lidl 2024 Monalie Provence Rosé, on offer at £6.99, down from £9.99 until 27th August, was a super value food friendly wine. Note that this is not part of the current Wine Tour, so in my store was somewhat hidden in the normal shelves.
I tried it alongside the 2024 Atlantique Rosé, at £8 from Sainsburys. I got it on a Nectar card offer for £7, but now could be only £6 if buying 6 or more. This AOC Bordeaux wine from the Entre deux Mers is intended to offer a good value alternative to more expensive Provence Rosés.
The wines had a very similar light salmon pink colour, were 12.5% and 12% ABV respectively and low residual sugar, so dry and fresh. Both had a red fruit style, with a touch of citrus (grapefruit) in the Monalie, and perhaps a touch of “leafiness” in the Atlantique – but perhaps I was anticipating this from Cab Franc? The texture and length of flavour were both good, making them versatile food wines. We had them with a crab starter and then a fillet of pork, which were successful matches. So overall both were really great value and versatile Rosés.
For those, like me, interested in the blend mix …
Atlantique – (73% Cab Franc, 13% Merlot, 11% Malbec & 3% Cab Sauvignon).
Monalie – (53% Grenache, 28% Cinsault, 17% Syrah, 2% Mourvèdre)
(4) Yesterday I also enjoyed, the TtD Discovery Series No 47, a 2023 Marselan from Jean Claude Mas. On the 25% offer would be just over £7 for a smooth, crowd pleasing and brambly wine with a bit of grip – just the job for a BBQ!
Thank you Richard. Some useful pointers here. Hope you’ve bought your Waitrose No.1 Piccini Chianti Classico Riserva by now because the 25% discount is “until 19/08” i.e. today!
I’ve been inspired by a number of press articles this year encouraging wine drinkers not to give up on red wine during the summer months but to explore lighter varieties instead based on Gamay, Zweigelt, Frappato etc. The latter two in particular, from Austria and Sicily respectively, are really to my taste as I have previously noted in my contributions to MWW. As luck would have it I dropped into the Aldi last week and found the Specially Selected Austrian Zweigelt reduced to £6.99 – outstanding VFM at this price. But looking despairingly at the vast array of rosés on the shelves my interest was piqued by the Aldi Unearthed Sparkling Frappato (£8.49). Already rating the grape it seemed worth a punt. Salmon pink, with decent bubbles, and refreshing strawberry / raspberry flavours it was surprisingly dry in comparison to many supermarket rosés. A very decent aperitif wine that I subsequently noted has a Bronze award from the IWC.
The other interesting wine I’ve tried this week is a new addition at Waitrose – Fior d’Arancio Colli Euganei Secco Moscato Giallo that I bought for an introductory price of £9 instead of £10. I only picked it up because I recognised the Euganean Hills, a distinctive patch of high ground south of Padua on an otherwise flat plain where I remember stopping for lunch on one of our trips in Italy. The clue is in the title Fior d”Arancio (orange blossom), a fresh dry aromatic wine, again perfect as an aperitif but also to accompany asparagus risotto.
At my wife’s recent 70 th birthday BBQ,guess who was the supplier and in charge of the wines?
There was a large family crowd ranging from three months to 93 years.
I was driving ,so sparkling water.
Only one was drinking red wine.Sign of the times?
The younger element were drinking mainly beer and some cider.
The rest were drinking white wine and rosé.
The Lidl Vermentino Toscana Sassi de Mare £7.99 went down well and was declared “ a good all rounder”.
The Rosé drinkers got stuck into the Asda Wine Atlas Île de Beauté Rosé £6.97.Two of whom added ice cubes- heaven forbid!
When I got home with leftover beef burgers , sausage and steak, I rewarded myself with M&S Yarri- Karri Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River 2022 14% abv which is a standout from Western Australia’s celebrated vineyards.
“With a deep red hue, it showcases aromas of ripe blackcurrants, blueberries and dark plums, complemented by Mediterranean herbs and toasty oak.”Accurate blurb.
It was a great pairing with the BBQ meats.Do these people realise what they are missing?