Not a Euro-related post but, instead, a couple of wines from the premium discounters for you to relish today.
Coincidentally, both hail from the Iberian peninsula.
I hope each one has your taste buds doing a victory celebration – I fancy, too, that your wallet will be joining them.
Once again, a picture and, where available, a hyperlink is included to make it easier to track down the wine in question.
First a Rosé
2024 Mezquiriz Navarra Rosado (£6.99 in Lidl while stocks last and 12.5% abv):
Unlike the Spanish rosé I featured the other week, this option is unusually dark for the style – but that should not be the “warning light” it often is!
This does have a sweet edge but it is a subtle one – and one that serves principally to balance the wine’s crisp citrus acidity.
That combination neatly underpins the wine’s bright strawberry and red currant flavours and the attractive finish to which they all contribute.
This is an item in Lidl’s current Wine Tour, where several presentable rosés reside, but – as with most wine on promotion – stocks are limited.
Then a red from over the border
2022 Mimo Moutinho Dao (£6.49 at Aldi and 13%):
The food-friendly red wines of Portugal’s Dao region offer excellent value for money thanks, in part, to the advantages its granite soils bestow upon growing conditions there.
This example is full and substantial with a dark appearance and violet-like aromas to greet the nose.
Loganberry flavours dominate the palate but bramble and cranberry elements add complexity and tart raspberry acidity keeps everything fresh.
Firm tannins provide backbone while baking spice, chocolate and mineral touches add richness and warmth.
Join me again on Thursday when I suggest some useful pointers to look out for on wine labels.
6 responses
No need to go to Morrisons today,the wife has covered that one.Off to Lidl to purchase Brian’s Rosé and another of his recommendations, the Eje Monastrell for when it gets cooler.
I know summer has just started but my wine of summer 2025 has to be Brian’s Ramon Bilbao Rosado from the Co-op.Interested to know what MWW readers think their choice is?
I will also put in the basket Vermentino Toscana Sassi del Mare 2023 12.5% £6.99.A trusted wine friend tells me it is a stunner.Who doesn’t like a label with naughty birds on it?
Lastly I know MWW readers value my unwanted travel advice;but if in Portugal this summer ,put on a believable Welsh accent,say you are from Wrexham.Mention futebol and get ready to be treated as if you were Ronaldo’s parents!
My son works for a big US company (from England) and when he speaks to colleagues in the US and talks about his love of football, once they’ve clarified the difference between soccer and football, they always seem surprised that he doesn’t support Wrex-HAM. They have never heard of Charlton Athletic who we do support – a team with a far better historical pedigree and also promoted to the Championship with Wrexham this season.
Now back to the wine.
“The Valley” can apply to both Charlton and Wales
Back to my interest in ‘le Tour’ I’ve just been sent this link from a friend – Majestic’s ‘Pour de France’. There seem to be free tastings all around the country so you may want to book a space in your local branch!
https://ometria.email/acc19f3f2ae5ef4b/archive/me/2358/e9835b1562b6465e877c0881dcc08d35?om_campaign=omme_c59e4a3b-a2d_6627_24813&om_profile=3008-baa354-00064289&om_send=e9835b1562b6465e877c0881dcc08d35&utm_campaign=20250713_t5&utm_content=20250713_t5&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ometria
I’m due a visit to Lidl to pick up another Dubai chocolate so will also look for the rosado. I often prefer the richer flavour of a darker rosé wine now, since first being introduced to Tavel.
There’s interesting Brian …
I went for the rosado Navarra at Lidl and they had two different crates of the stuff. A ‘23 and your ‘24. I took one of the latter on the basis of younger and possibly fresher. Would be interesting to hear what if anything might be different one from the other.
Being the Francophile I am I always take advantage of the Lidl French Week offering of Escargot de Bourgogne . Not everybodies idea of gastronomic pleasure even my grown-up grandson still describes them as “disgusting” . The price is not generous here now . Once £1.99 they are now £2.99 and are half the size of the similar item sold in France. No matter the detractors the size and the cost it comes under the guilty pleasure category I suppose but with a correct wine that could be a red, white or rose and some decent bread to mop up the garlic butter it is an addiction for my sins.
Spanish rosado meets French gastronomy then, for tea time tonight! Salut …