A couple of wines in close to classic formats for you to try today.
Better still, both currently enjoy significant price reductions to add great value to their palate stimulating joys.
They will allow you to see out August with a little extra sophistication and enhance Bank Holiday drinking, if today is one such holiday where you are.
Starting with a white
2024 Gable Lodge Stellenrust Chardonnay (Currently £8.50 – down from £10 – at M&S and 13% abv):
Here is a well-made South African chardonnay with discernible White Burgundy influences but at a modest price point.
It has a pale gold appearance and its gentle oak aromas lead enticingly into a neatly textured palate.
Smooth apple, ripe melon and peach flavours are given verve by energetic lemon acidity to create an excellent overall balance.
The finish involves skilfully integrated vanilla and crème brulee elements that provide complexity without overwhelming the fruit.
NB:- Commercial links mean that this wine is also in Ocado at the same price, in places where that retailer operates.
Now for its red companion.
2022 Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo (£6.59 – down from £9.25 until 2 September – with a Morrisons Loyalty Card and also 13%):
This youthful red offers exceptional value given its current 28% discount.
Relatively unusually for Rioja, it seems to be a single-variety offering.
Medium bodied, its foundation is complemented by enticing spicy aromas that draw you into the glass.
On the palate, smooth loganberry and cherry flavours mingle with distinctive rosemary hints to create an appealing fruit-herb combination.
That base is supported by firm tannins and good acidity, while subtle touches of clove, cocoa and cedar add depth to the finish.
NB:- The retailer’s website will only show the discounted price if you are logged in with a More Card account.
Drop by again on Thursday when we go behind just drinking wines to discover why some of them taste as they do.
3 responses
Picking up on Brian’s theme,here is my suggestion:
Domaine Bousquet Finca Lalande The Land Cabernet Franc, Uco Valley, Argentina 2024 14.5% abv
£12 Waitrose 25% off six bottles until 26th August
Just after my 73rd birthday and the Bank holiday signalling the all too soon end of summer and chillable reds.Perhaps just one to savour?
Domaine Bousquet – a fusion of French know how and Argentinian terroir-is one of the biggest and best organic producers in Argentina and has proved particularly adept with cabernet franc, which seems to thrive at high altitude -1200m, notably in the Uco Valley ,Mendoza.
Unapologetically full bodied,but still fresh and zingy, super-succulent and thankfully unoaked, with its cut grass,roasted red peppers,tomato, rocket ,plum and smashed black cherries blast.
Previous vintages recommended by Tim Atkins 91 points and David Williams in the Observer.Appealing , memorable and unlikely to disappoint.
However tide and time wait for no man,rather like accelerating birthdays ,and the offer ends in a couple of days.At £9 ,this wine is VGV.
I’ve tried the Gable Lodge and it is very good
My go to Supermarket Chardonnay is the excellent ‘Taste the Difference’ Chilean Chardonnay £9 from Sainsbury’s, if there’s a better sub £10 bottle out there, I like to know.
Despite having some interesting wines from the Wine Soc being delivered tomorrow, I couldn’t resist a little raid on Waitrose yesterday to pick up some of their already well regarded Blueprint wines on offer, including the much mentioned Romanian Pinot Noir which is to be included in my ‘last of the summer wine’ picnic basket today.