A couple of New World whites feature today and provide an interesting contrast.
One shows how blending semillon with sauvignon enhances texture and flavour in a way that the latter variety alone would struggle to provide.
The other – a Top Tip Bonus – gets right back to the original and authentic taste of Marlborough sauvignon that first took the wine world by storm.
Welcome as those tropical fruit elements are, it is good see how refreshing that initial citrus burst can be.
Equally though, being the dawn of autumn-tide, there has to be room for a red – and today’s selection is from Sicily.
It uses a grape that is beginning to rival montepulciano as the dependable default variety on any Italian red wine list.
In the usual way, hyperlinks and pictures are used where possible to help you locate the bottle in question.
First, then, the red.
2022 Vito Mameli Nero d’Avola (£8.99 at Majestic and 14% abv):
Overall, Majestic seems to be easing itself above the main Top Tip price points.
However, this Sicilian red remains in their kindly priced category and is certainly well worth seeking out.
Dark with rustic aromas, its main component is medium bodied cherry and plum flavours.
These are reinforced by bold acidity (but little tannin) and lingering traces of liquorice and spice.
Click on the end of this line to link to the retailer’s website… https://www.majestic.co.uk/wines/vito-mameli-nero-davola-73905
Next to South Africa
2022 Cape Point Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (£7.65 at the Co-op and 12.5%):
This appealing South African white perfectly illustrates how blending semillon with sauvignon provides something that exceeds the sum of its parts.
Cultured and beautifully clean, it features ripe melon and vanilla flavours given energy by sharp tangerine acidity.
Support comes from a creamy texture that also contains camomile and marzipan traces.
Top Tip Bonus
2023 Marlborough Heartlands Sauvignon Blanc: (£10 – instead of £12.50 until 17 September – at Sainsbury’s and12.5%):
This is called “Heartlands” because of the part played in its creation by Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative – an 80-strong group of grower families from right across the region.
The wine itself blends grapes from four different valleys in Marlborough to provide the traditional and original taste of that region’s sauvignon blanc.
What I like is its unambiguously citrus foundation in a restrained wrapper that brings us such appealing grapefruit, green apple flavours – and yet fresh pineapple constituents too.
Grassiness, lively lemon acidity and Loire-like mineral hints complete the picture to deliver exactly what, I guess, its architects intended.
Click on the end of this line to link to the retailer’s website… https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/marlborough-heartlands-sauvignon-blanc
See you again on Thursday when the spotlight goes on the latest Lidl Wine Tour that started last Thursday.
14 responses
Really glad to see the stunning Co-op SA Sauvignon blanc /Semillon wine highlighted.
From an equally stunning location in SA -Cape Point vineyards- and made by the young talented wine maker Riandri Vizzer,who was mentored by Duncan Savage,enough said!
A bargain.I had to check the price twice.
The 14% Semillon adds a lovely waxy herby background to the gooseberry and lime forefront.
Great choice,Brian- keep them coming!
Hi Brian
There are many die-hard Sovee (Sauvignon Blanc) fans out there, including my wife who enjoys anything from New Zealand (her preferred style). Me, I still enjoy the odd glass but I think I’m sovee’d out a bit, there’s so much of it around, but I do like the Bordeaux blend whites, that addition of Semillon does make a difference, as you say giving it a bit more texture and taming the intenseness of the gooseberry, grass and high acidity, so I must try that Co-op Cape Point. Saying that, get a good Marlborough and it can be very decent indeed.
I do like Nero d’Avola, actually just finished a bottle from Chile (Adnams, they do source very good wines) which was excellent for around £7.99. I shall add that Majestic red to my list next time I’m in store.
Hello David,
Your liking of Bordeaux white blends reminded me of an official Bordeaux blending event I was invited to.I was teamed up with an independent wine retailer and we did proper blending with burettes and precision.
After tasting many experiments and much amiable arguing ,we -I think,it is a little hazy- agreed that the sweet spot was 80% Sauvignon blanc,15% Semillon and 5% muscadelle. That splash of muscadelle added a floaty aromatic layer to an already great mix.
Bordeaux white blends may be unpopular ,not even instagrammable, but I my book they can be great,
Agree that a dash of muscadelle gives those Bordeaux sauvignon blends a nice lift. Also those blending opportunities are terrific. It is amazing how much difference a few percentage points change can make.
Hi Brian
Speaking as we do personally here on MWW I have a long time devotion to New Zealand, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc in its typical form that likely features strong minerality and flintiness with citrus and other fruit of a somewhat more exotic nature as well as typical limes and lemons. Well chilled it is my regular go-to as an aperitif as well as a big favourite to accompany the usual food suspects. But as with all things strident characteristics in some wine does not always suit others.
Of course as a wine hobbyist I don’t stick to this or anything else exclusively where wine is concerned, (as we might give intense, loyal fan support to one football team!!). Too many grapes on the vine across a dozen lovely wine producing countries that I must check out as well.
But there are those as we know who rarely venture off-piste and stick to known fave’s and that’s their choice too!
Just this weekend as I finished with the Tesco Floreal, open several days in fridge door, and an unbelievably cheap bottle of Masabele SA Chenin Blanc, 10.5% abv from Lidl and surprisingly decent stuff much in the way of cheaper-end, a little off-dry, lower alcohol Vouvray, I also have a Yealands Reserve 2023 NZ-SB on the go that I paired with a chicken chasseur-like main made with the last third of that Floreal!
The Yealand’s was a show-stopper for me. Everything as I said that I love in an NZ-SB. Tesco have the reserve at £11. Other stores have the basic one, cheaper. Can’t remember exactly where I got mine and for what money.
I mentioned in Thursday’s MWW posting the latest Sainsbury’s deal of buy 3 TTD for 25%, that runs for 2 weeks in September. It seems that their TTD Mid Strength Val De Loire Blanc might cover two bases covered by discussion here recently.
Firstly, this is only 8.5 abv though online reviewers already are saying it doesn’t feel any different to higher strength offerings. And secondly it’s a grape almost unknown by name to the average punter, Grolleau Gris, but folks that holiday in the central Loire will likely have had it in those offering labelled Vin du Pays, Jardin de France, and regularly features as cheap-end house wines in bars and cafés in Samur, Anjou, Tours and the like. I will get a bottle to try when I’m in Sainsbury’s soon with Nectar points to use-up, as well as your Heartlands recommendation.
Thanks as ever for super this enjoyable MWW.
ps my wife bless her just came in from Tesco and treated me to the Vista Casteli Montepulciano and the Vina del Cura Rioja Crianza 2021. A good week’s drinking in prospect… must prepare a menu ….
Sainsbury’s Mid Strength Val De Loire Blanc, Taste the Difference 75cl | Sainsbury’s (sainsburys.co.uk)
Grolleau (grape) – Wikipedia
I hesistated about trying that Loire white so be interested in the thoughts of anyone who has tried it.
It could have been me but typically with my local branch they didn’t have it today!!!
I had to look twice at the price of the Cape Point Vineyard wine! Although it does say £8 online, but still a bargain. They don’t make this in SA, so guess it’s a special export wine, but the quality of wines coming from those vineyards is exceptional and it is the most beautiful setting I’ve ever visited for a vineyard, right next to the ocean. I need to go 6 miles to find it, but I shall be going for a drive!
Do you know how much Semillon is in there?
Hello Lisa,
I believe the Semillon is 14%.
Happy hunting,I really rate this wine,but do not just rely on the Co-op store/ availability checker, have a back up plan.
Paul, after some ‘searching’, I think this is the same as their entry level SB, which I tried at their tasting room last December. It also contains 14% Semillon (if they declared that on the front label nobody would buy it locally!). But it was very good and an absolute bargain at £8
Unfortunately it’s only in 2 stores close to me, well about 6/7 miles away and in completely the opposite directions! I am driving past one at the weekend so I’ll pop in and hope it’s in stock
I think that the 2023 version of this one also omits the reference to semillon – as I believe is permissible if any variety makes up less than 15% of the content (but I am not sure whether that rule is still extant).
Brian, it’s still 15% of other varieties that can be added without declaring them on the label in SA
I know quite a few producers that add Semillon to their SB but say nothing! Although it’s usually 5-10%
Morning all,
Have to agree Brian, that Nero d’Avola is really lovely. I tried it at a recent Majestic tasting event and of the three reds offered that day, it was by far the nicest so picked up a bottle to have at a later date. I can happily second your recommendation!
Cheers
Yes – to me – it comfortably outperforms several wines at higher price points so I am pleased that you like it too.