With 10% of the UK wine market nowadays, the Co-op is working hard to promote itself as the ideal convenience store on lots of street corners, and I know that many of you like to “impulse buy” a bottle there on the way home.
So, here are my pick of the reds and whites from their current promotion that best fit what this site is all about – everyday wines that nevertheless light up ordinary evenings.
Although the discounts shown here end on 17 May, the judgements on the wines themselves should hold good for at least another three months from this post.
Click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded shelf.
Getting the acidity based freshness right
South African sauvignon can be patchy; acidity levels (and the freshness they bring) are often too low in the hotter parts of the wine regions.
No such problem though with 2015 Stonehaven Sauvignon Blanc (£5.99 – instead of £7.99 and 13% abv) where lime centred crispness and pithy grapefruit touches are nicely offset by tropical fruit ripeness.
Widely acclaimed but well priced malbec
Sticking with the southern hemisphere but crossing the ocean, here is an excellent malbec from Argentina’s higher altitude Uco Valley that secured high marks from a Decanter judging panel.
Smooth, warm and aromatic, 2015 Trapiche Pure Malbec (£5.99 – instead of £7.99 and 14% abv) brings us hints of milk chocolate and cinnamon but, because its tannin is soft and gentle, has little to obscure the ripeness and intensity of the plum and raspberry fruit.
2 responses
Hi Brian
Coincidence, I just cleared the shelf of the ‘Trapiche Pure Malbec’ at my local Co-op, there were only 4 bottles left so I grabbed them all. Tasted this before and for £6 it’s a steal, unoaked, intense fruit, full of ripe cherries and as you say mild soft dusty tannins. I will be checking in store in a few days see if they have anymore.
Enjoyed the Stonehaven SB last time it was on offer, again a great buy at £6, softer than NZ Sovees (as my daughter calls it) maybe even a touch of mango, very nice.
Good to hear from you Dave ……… You know you are on a winner when the Decanter tasters wax lyrical about that £6 malbec and say “An honest Malbec, blending soft, creamy fruit with polished oak and butter-soft tannins. The classic palate is vividly expressive and lifted, with lovely floral and fruit characters winding throughout” …… Praise indeed ……… Brian