As their 25% off promotion ends, so Sainsbury’s move onto their next range of offers – which began yesterday.
The list contains around 70 price reductions which run through until 19 September and range from a tenner off Piper Heidsieck Brut NV Champagne (down to £20) to 50p off some of their Camino del Angel range (down to £5.75).
Here, though, are my highlights from the promotion together with details of a champagne offer at Lidl – which replaces the Best of the Rest and Top Tip features this time.
As usual, click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded shelf.
Alternative sauvignon to Marlborough
Blinded as we are by the volume and vitality of New Zealand Sauvignon, it’s easy to overlook the quality of stand-alone sauvignon from Bordeaux and the bonus it often brings when blended there with semillon.
Instead of the gooseberry components of southern hemisphere versions, 2016 Taste the Difference Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc (£6.25 – instead of £7 – and 12.5% abv), offers a crisp grapefruit backbone enhanced by touches of herbs and green pepper, supercharged by a shot of lime acidity and rounded off by a mellowing pear finish.
The Gavi story continues
Regular MidWeekers will know that I have been impressed by several 2016 versions of Gavi and here is another that delightfully illustrates how well cortese grapes and Piedmont winemakers work together.
See what I mean in the delicate and light 2016 Gavi Terre da Vino (£7.25 – instead of £8 – and 12%) with its pear drop and white peach fruit, firm sherbet lemon acidity, fresh spiciness and gentle edge of sweetness.
Start point for claret virgins
Move across to reds and re-wind to Bordeaux and we find ourselves confronting a sound example of everyday claret that offers a good start point for those wondering what all the fuss over Bordeaux red is about.
Rich and balanced 2014 Taste the Difference Claret (£6 – instead of £7 – and 12.5%) uses suggestions of menthol, vanilla, wood smoke and sweetness to support its blackberry, black cherry and raspberry fruit, firm acidity and soft tannin.
Great merlot from Chile
Finally, my vote for the best of these four selections goes to a merlot that benefits from the slightly cooler and less dry climate (by Chilean standards) of the Curicó Valley.
Soft, smooth and savoury edged 2014 Taste the Difference Curicó Valley Chilean Merlot (£6 – instead of £7 – and 14%) has bold plum and black cherry fruit embellished by hints of aniseed, toffee and chocolate accompanied by firm acidity but limited tannin.
Champagne Offer this Weekend
Lidl have another of their 48 hour “Super Weekend” deals this Saturday and Sunday.
This time it features their Comte de Senneval Champagne which drops from £9.99 to £7.99 for that two day timeframe, but with a limit of six bottles per customer.
Much inexpensive champagne majors on acidity and little else but this version has attractive biscuit and toast touches that nicely counterbalance its green apple and lemon freshness.
Sophisticated champagne with long lasting bubbles it is not, but what you get is well above what anyone is entitled to expect for a tenner – let alone at its discounted price.
Last week’s prosecco offer at Lidl prompted complaints that stores sold out very quickly, so be prepared to act early – but do be philosophical if doorstep sitters got there first!
