The Tesco promotion that starts this morning has several names with a distinctly retro feel but the wines themselves are bang up to the minute – and with prices that start at £5.99.
The specific promotions expire on 4 August but my judgements on the wines themselves should hold good for at least three months from the date of the post.
Click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded shelf.
Oak is OK
While excessive oak influences are to be avoided, beware of throwing the baby out with the bathwater; a few month’s barrel time can really enhance full white wine like this.
The fresh but nicely weighty 2013 Trivento Chardonnay Reserve (£5.99 – instead of £8.99) uses oak to add smoothness and vanilla touches to the central peach and other tropical fruit flavours but complements the whole package with firm apple based acidity.
Get ripeness in context too
Equally, over-ripe Australian reds with little else are seriously out of favour now – but do not tar well balanced versions like this with the same brush.
The rich, chocolate influenced 2013 Finest* Las Lomas Estate Shiraz (£6.99 – instead of £8.99) gets everything right with lively acidity to counteract the luxuriousness of its black cherry and bramble fruit but sweet spices and a tannic edge to add contrast.
Rioja still delivering the goods
With many exciting new Spanish wine regions coming on stream, it easy to think of rioja as slightly outdated – but done well it has so much to offer.
Consider, for example, the warm and rounded 2009 Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva (£7.19 – instead of £10.79) with its fruity cherry, menthol and cinnamon flavours and appealing tobacco aromas.
…..Or for the Ultra Retro ……
Once upon a time Beaujolais was required drinking for the chattering classes and even though times change, there is still so much to enjoy in skilfully crafted expressions of the gamay grape.
A super example is the juicy, raspberry centred and beautifully balanced Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages (£8.49 instead of £9.99) from a producer that does little wrong in either Beaujolais or up the road in Burgundy.
