Rather than a single retailer focus, today’s post takes a look round the High Street – and a little beyond – with the emphasis on whites; after all it is (allegedly) summertime.
As ever, click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded shelf – although the alcohol percentage has had to be omitted this time.
Pinot Grigio with acidity
Harvesting before the ripening process has converted too much acidity into sugar can be very tricky in hot regions – especially with pinot grigio – so full marks to this Sicilian version which has brilliantly retained its freshness and verve.
The green apple and lime acidity in 2014 Pinot Grigio Terre Siciliane (£5.50 – instead of £7.50 until 5 September – at M&S) gives real vibrancy to its textured and clove influenced mango and orange fruit.
Well priced tasty chardonnay
Before we leave M&S, have a look at something from New Zealand’s most easterly wine region – the now slightly unfashionable Gisborne – which can still produce tasty wines from its signature chardonnay grape.
Take advantage of the current promotion, then, to sample the new 2015 Koha Gisborne Chardonnay (£6.50 – instead of £8.50 until 5 September – at M&S) with its delicate white peach and lemon fruit and gentle hints of butter.
Same again everyone
Staying in that part of the world – and with that grape variety – but switching to a convenience store, here is a good value and nicely balanced antidote to all those blockbuster chardonnays of yesteryear.
By contrast, there is lightness and only minimal use of oak in 2015 SPAR Australian Reserve Chardonnay (£5.50 instead of £6.19 until 17 August at SPAR) but its smooth, perfumed, peach fruit is impressive as is the zesty lemon acidity that supports it.
And a third
Completing a world tour of modern chardonnay, here is a Californian, branded (yes, branded) version that provides us with well made wine at a keen price – by American standards!
Enjoy then the apple and lemon fruit with slowly evolving acidity in Barefoot Chardonnay (£6.99 at NISA stores – and Tesco sell it too) with its touches of honey, vanilla and savoury spices.
And so to the reds
Let’s complete our tour of the New World in South Africa with an attractive blend that combines the reliable shiraz with pinotage – not always everyone’s choice but, here, showing rather well.
2015 Vanderburg Shiraz Pinotage (£5.99 at the Co-op) brings us medium bodied, floral, red wine with cherry and plum fruit, suggestions of menthol and clove, firm acidity but only limited tannin.
Back home in Europe
Finally, let’s return where we started, in Europe, but with yet another example of Languedoc’s accomplished winemaking that, this time, creates essentially a Rhone blend but adds in 20% carignan too.
Soft and herbal, 2015 Taste the Difference Languedoc Rouge (£6 – instead of £7 until 30 August – at Sainsbury’s) contains raspberry and cherry fruit, gentle oak influences, firm acidity and just the right degree of tannic twist.
