As I have said before, perhaps we need to retaliate against today’s upward spiral of wine prices and concurrent plunge in texture and overall quality.
Because their unfamiliarity keeps their prices down, there is a world of little known grape varieties out there that can offer a way to do that.
For sure, some are monotonous and insipid enough to justify remaining “little known”.
However, I will hold your hand here and try to steer you towards ones that I think do add something a bit special.
Last week, it was marzemino and, today, I move onto a rosé.
Before we go there, though, let’s take a look at a good example of a Spanish white that fights multiple challenges yet provides an engaging taste profile.
As is normal here, pictures and hyperlinks are provided where possible to guide you straight to the right wine on shelf or web page.
Style from unpromising conditions.
2024 Finest Organic Rueda Verdejo (£7.75 at Tesco and 11% abv ):
Here, verdejo from Castilla y León demonstrates the grape’s, often unrecognised, potential – and which, to me, shines most brightly when the wine is still energetically young.
This example opens with intriguing aromas that blend understated sweetness with hints of tobacco leaf.
On the palate, it delivers textured apple and melon flavours balanced by bright grapefruit acidity.
Savoury fennel undertones add complexity to this distinctive white wine that does so well despite the challenging growing conditions of its hot, dry, homeland.
And now the unfamiliar grape variety.
2024 Loved & Found Moschofilero Rosé (£9 at Waitrose and 12.5%):
As wine prices climb while texture and quality appears to decline it is, as I say, time for MidWeekers to focus on well-crafted bottles from lesser-known grape varieties.
This pale Greek rosé amply demonstrates the benefits of doing so, with a wine that represents exceptional value and character.
With delicate floral aromas and restrained ripeness, it features soft and lingering flavours of melon, raspberry, and orange.
Bright mandarin acidity provides freshness, while a gentle peach skin texture and playful sherbet twist complete this tasty offering from a variety that deserves to be much better known.
After today’s focus on the wine aisles, Thursday’s post moves from trollies to bicycles – with a lot of help from MidWeeker David.
8 responses
Portugal is another country to look to for value and quality.I have been enjoying the Wine Society (TWS) Lutra Vinho Tinto Tejo, a blend of indigenous Portuguese grape varieties touriga nacional, castelão, and Trincadeira to give a supple everyday drinking red that I think was about £8.50.Now sold out, so the advice is snap up recommended TWS wines under a tenner- they won’t be around for long.By the way ,Lutra is “Otter” in Portuguese.
Surprisingly, Austria is also having its moment in the sun, with three strong examples in Aldi and I suggest checking out TWS Familie Mantler Gemischter Satz 2024 11.5% abv £8.75. An honest field blend style white wine of mainly Grüner Veltliner,Müller-Thurgau and Muskateller, which has become my new go-to fridge magnet.
Lastly following up on new subscriber Tom Gilbey, it is worth checking out his you tube clip on tasting 19 Crimes wines.It is a real hoot.Warning- it is a little sweary.
Morning Brian and a happy late May Bank Holiday to you and all Mid Week Winers …
Yes indeed .. striking back against prices for our wine choices. Would we had so much similar opportunity re OFGEM domestic fuel price-capping!
Forgive me if this could be seen a spoiler of sorts regarding what is coming up this week at Lidl with their new, June, Wine Tour (featured already in May 29th edition of Lidl Weekly), because no doubt Brian you’ll be coming through with opinions on some of these bottles in due course. Some old favourites are getting a repeat run (Séguret Côtes du Rhône Villages) and a couple of discounts are worth speaking about, asap. We shouldn’t want them to run out before getting the chance to have them!
Just to say that I really appreciate when Lidl will do an Italian (or indeed French) focus week with so much authentic produce beckoning just a couple of miles down the road. Saves me a 3000 mile car round-trip.
Extremely agreeable for me is the Austrian rosé Müller/Löss & Schotter discounted to £6.49 that I’ve had been buying already for a few weeks. And there’s an Italian red, Calapirata Aglianico at £6.99 that looks not only well-priced but interesting and in scoring 92/100 sounds like it’s worth a punt.
Unfortunately the ”one for me” is the most expensive at £9.99. But it’s hard not to want to find some space today and wax lyrical with a heads-up on this bottle of Italian from Lago di Garda, Laguna Ca’ del Lago Veneto 2023, surely the classiest of all whites from that locale, close to Verona that’s one of my most favourite cities anywhere. Speak of evocation and that south east corner of Lake Garda gets maximum points every time and speaks volumes to me at least.
I just drank the Asda Laguna offering this weekend that comes in at the hefty £11.42 but on a 25% off deal gets close to £8, if we were to be in Asda for a stock-up, adding one of these to trolley would be top of my list. Should the money matter. That’s between you and your god … your partner … or accountant .. all the same thing to me when considering pleasure, but with fiscal notes attaching.
Back into the garden now for an hour before the most welcome rain falls … at last.
I’m a great fan of Verdejo as a cheap and cheerful refreshing white wine and most UK outlets now offer one (or more) around the £8 mark – e.g. Four Lines Verdejo in the distinctive blue bottle in Sainsburys, Waitrose Blueprint Verdejo etc. Often referred to as the Spanish alternative to Sauv Blanc I have noticed that many bottles are a blend a little Sauv Blanc to the majority Verdejo (e.g. Tierra Sagrada Organic Blanco in Waitrose). But what I haven’t figured out yet is whether there are any premium Rueda Verdejos that are a distinctive cut above the ‘cheap and cheerful’ masses. Any recommendations?
Although it may be getting a little older now, I enjoyed Clea Verdejo 2023 from WoodWinters at around £12.
Love the weekly reviews and have “shared” you with others who are now enjoying them too. My partner is keen on Orange wine; Waitrose never has it in, Ditton Sainsburys and our local Laithwaitespalmed us off with a really grim version which was just a cheap (for them!) £12 bottle, it wemt down the sink! Any suggestions from the group for an affordable bottle greatly appreciated.
Can recommend these two orange wines – the Chilean is keenly-priced and widely available: https://medium.com/@tomsk71/the-cwb-orange-wine-off-86de17d66201
Thanks Alun for your kind words – and for spreading the gospel! Orange wine is still somewhat niche and “indies” may still be the best bet – although they do vary appreciably. For an entry point versions try Gros Manseng Vin Orange in Asda around £7-£8 or Cramele Recas Orange Wine (£11 at http://www.clickndrink.co.uk). Alternatively, Jean Claude Mas has Cote Mas Vin Orange (£10) in Waitrose (which blends rosé with orange wine) and Aldi has had something similar for roughly the same money. Do remember though that styles and quality can differ considerably.
Hi Brian, pleasing to see that one can still get good inexpensive wines, and thanks for unearthing a couple more!
Over the past week I had my own little experiment to find some inexpensive wines that had some character and gave us pleasure – for us, the following met these criteria …
NV Ribolla Gialla Spumante, Aldi £6.99.
2024 The Wine Atlas Cinsault, Asda £6.50.
2024 Italian Rosato, M&S £6.50
2023 Deluxe Pinot Gris, Gisborne, Lidl £7.99
2024 Deluxe Chenin Blanc, Swartland, £4.99 on offer, reduced from £6.99
The Pinot Gris I would describe as very slightly off-dry. We had this with (Lidl’s) Mussels in Thai Green Curry Sauce. And it was just perfect! The Wine Atlas is my style of red, light, lean and sappy fruit.
Paul, yes, I saw the Tom Gilby YouTube video – he has the rare knack of being irreverent, amusing and knowledgeable! Worth checking out Tim Atkins’, MW, November 2024 interview with him on his Cork Talk podcast.
Also worth a look at “How Long Does Wine Last after You Open? | We Will Find Out !” YouTube video. Here, Peter Koff, MW, has a very interesting view that opened bottles of wines don’t deteriorate as much as is generally thought!