A couple of wines on promotion, today, for you to relish.
Adding a slightly ironic twist, both are superficially “out of place”.
One is French wine from a variety more usually associated with South America.
The other is the reverse – a Chilean white from a variety normally considered a Rhône option.
However mixed up the geography is, both wines are tasty and pretty good value.
Enjoy them both.
As is normal here, pictures and hyperlinks are provided where possible to guide you straight to the right wine on shelf or web page.
First, then, the Malbec

2021 La Patrie Cahors Malbec (£7 – instead of £7.50 with a Nectar card until 4 February – at Sainsbury’s and 12% abv):
Having featured a South American malbec last week, I am highlighting a European example this time – after all malbecs originated in France, not Argentina.
This “homeland” example is softened, I fancy, by small proportion of merlot and that sort of blending is not uncommon in Cahors given how robust its local versions can be.
Opulent with a fragrance of soft fruit, this one contains full bodied damson, bramble and blackcurrant flavours.
Those are coupled here with firm tannin, lively acidity and supporting traces of allspice and mint.
Next the Rhône white far from home
2024 Wildstone Reserva Roussanne (£7.99 – instead of £8.99 until 11 February – at Waitrose and 13.5% abv):

Roussanne is now produced well beyond its Rhône Valley stomping ground, as this example from Chile’s Colchagua Valley demonstrates.
Back in France, its richness, aromas and savoury backdrop means it is often blended with other white wine varieties.
This, though, is 100% roussanne and underlines its legendary stylish elegance with a greengage, grapefruit and orange flavour range.
Complementary components include sharp apricot acidity with saline and fennel influences providing that sought-after savouriness.
After today’s focus on my view of what to buy, Thursday considers making some of those selections yourselves via Tastings.
10 responses
Hi Brian
I do enjoy a Cahors, for me I enjoy the more intense style (and it seems to get more intense as it goes up in price), the savoriness, and almost meaty flavour, also a little heavier on the tannins. I remember Sainsbury’s used to do a lovely Cahors Malbec called ‘Les Bouysses’ which was superb, not sure they still sell it now.
There is nothing wrong with the more fruitier, velvety Argentinian style though, and there are many good ones out there.
It is interesting that growers from Cahors and their equivalents from Argentina meet to learn from each other about malbec. That way, both region’s outputs improve but each retain their distinctiveness.
I remember when I was young in the 1970s buying Cahors directly from the vineyards, that you could practically stand a spooon upright in.
I loved it but you can’t find anything like that now, not even at the vineyard..
No, too much market resistance I fear. Excessive density and too much tannin both seem to be no-no’s these days.
Very much enjoying Damp January.
The Wildstone Roussanne is another Brian belter.
Looking forward tonight to an innovative Wine Society tasting event in Chester where we are going to try 30 different grape variety wines and then have a jolly time blind tasting to try to identify which country they come from.e.g.France or Argentina etc.Spitting is optional.
£30 for two and half hours of education ,quality wines,conversation and entertainment.
Where else would most of us get a chance to do this?
Followed by a nice meal with three other family members.
So it’s going to be Try, Damp and Convivial January for me- so, so much better than Dry.
That sounds fun, Paul, although hard work!
Last week I attended a “Try January” Wine Society tasting in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The format was to take 10 different wines, and offer 2 alternatives to each. It was interesting to see, and try, what they considered alternatives to Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay etc. So a total of 30 wines plus 4 wines to blind taste to match up to their descriptions. It was actually one of their best tastings I’ve attended, and I’ve been to quite a few! An eclectic and thoughtful selection of wines.
Glad that roussanne resonates with you, Paul. I was not totally sure about featuring it (savoury whites do not hit the spot for everyone) but, hey-ho, fortune favours the brave.
Here at MWWines,I do like to bring to readers attention really special offers of quality wines.This is even more pertinent as the looming Alcohol Duty Doomsday rises are coming in early February.
After the excellent TWS event ,I popped into Chester Waitrose who have 25% off their Number 1 wine range and attractive reductions on Australian Wines- which is not surprising as Australian wines seem to be unfashionable and in particular any wine with Cabernet Sauvignon in it.
There are a lot of rubbish Australian wines around so choose carefully.I am not a great fan of anything with Jam or Jammy or numbers less than 20 but more than 18 in the title, but this is a personal opinion.
Here are my six bottle suggestions:
1.The Number 1 Douro Red wine reduced by £4 to £10.99 and worth every single reduced penny.
2.Ara Pinot Gris reduced by £3 from £11.99 down to ££8.99.Much better than say a competent NZ Sauvignon Blanc.Think of a good club golfer as the SB and then go up to Seve Ballesteros.
3. Wildstone Roussanne.£7.99 reduced by a useful £1 and recommended by Brian as was the wine above.
4.Reyneke Organic Chenin Blanc Was £10.99 reduced to £8.99. Superb SA producer, can do no wrong.
5.Yalumba Organic Viognier Was £10.99 now £7.99 .Australia is not usually good with Viognier,Yalumba are very much the exception.
6.Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz/ Cabernet Sauvignon Was £11.99 reduced to £9.49.Worth remembering why this ever reliable producer makes great “unfashionable “ wines.
Then when the bill came for £51.71 ,there was an included mysterious mixed wine reduction of £2.73 which I did not question!
Nice Paul
You can’t go wrong with Yalumba and Penfolds, I’ve been buying the Koonunga Hill for a while now, as you say great value even if it is their entry wine. I’m a big fan of Reyneke, all their wines are generally good.
The 25% off Waitrose No 1 wines is welcome, and lasts until 11th Feb. And Sainsbury’s currently have 25% off 3 or more Taste the Difference wines – until 14th Feb.
I do like Waitrose’s attempt to be make choosing wine less daunting – when faced with so many bottles displayed on their aisles.
Linking to Brian’s excellent 3 Tier Wine Level terminology: The Blueprint range corresponds to “Entry Level” or “Gateway” wines; The Waitrose No 1 range could be seen to be the “Sweetspot” for a particular style/region; And the (non Waitrose branded) wines displayed horizontally on the separate aisle (and also those only available from Waitrosecellar.com) could be “Aspirational”. And, as a bonus, they have a 4th level, “Loved & Found” for those of a curious disposition.
I think supermarket wine buyers are very conscious that their, and their shop’s, reputation stand by these branded options. I certainly feel that these wines, and Tesco Finest, Sainsbury’s TtD etc. are reliable, good value choices.
WRT the No 1 wines, I thought the 2023 Gruner Veltliner was a step above less expensive “Bistro Gruner’s” and at £11.99 less 25% well worth a try. Their Douro white wine was impressive, serious but with a fresh aromatic style. The Marlborough SB was exotic, powerful but with only 1.8g/l residual sugar, very good example. Barossa Valley Shiraz is not a goto wine for me, but I enjoyed the No 1 version – the usual warm fruit, but a touch toned down and leaner – and as 14.5% ABV this will be sharply going up in price next month! The Gigondas at £22.99 I guess is getting a bit “Aspirational” but with 25% off, perhaps still above “Sweetspot” status, but it was a really classy wine! And of course, as a Cru Beaujolais enthusiast, the Mommessin Beaujolais-Village at £13.99 less 25% is excellent. I thought this struck a good balance between a fun, fresh Beaujolais and some of the more serious Crus that don’t always appeal to all.
Oh, and I will join Paul and Dave in their Reyneke Fan Club. That organic Chenin Blanc is lovely – and this style of wine is so useful for food pairing.