Lidl’s Wine Seller promotions now emerge at two monthly intervals and a new one starts today. The time the focus goes back onto France and the list includes some excellent wines which, to me, are a little stronger on the whites than the reds.
As usual, click on any picture for an enlarged image to help you find the bottle in a crowded display.
Lesser known Loire gem
Great value can often be found on the Loire by heading for its less well known areas and this example from Reuilly is, to me, marginally ahead of the Sancerre.
Revel then in the smooth and rounded 2015 Domaine du Chene Vert Reuilly (£8.99 and 13% abv) with its green apple and melon fruit supported by neat touches of herbs and lemon acidity.
Ah!! Chablis as it should be
The list contains several white burgundies but this one secures top marks from me as classy Chablis that tastes exactly as it should.
There is real delicacy and that trademark mineral edge to 2015 Jean Desvignes Chablis Premier Cru (£11.99 and 12.5%) and both neatly underline the balance and complexity of the wine and the mellow apple based fruit that underpins it.
Great value red Burgundy
Best value, I maintain, comes from the least expensive of the red burgundies on this list and, mirroring the impressive whites produced there, it’s from Macon.
My point is illustrated by the freshness of the red cherry and raspberry elements in 2015 Domaine de la Bruyere Macon Ige (£6.99 and 13.5%) and the accompanying firm acidity, suggestions of chocolate and shrewdly judged tannin.
Better than the Chateauneuf
Instead of Chateauneuf du Pape, opt for the less overtly powerful wines from an appellation a little to the north east – Gigondas.
A twist of liquorice and suggestion of treacle give real depth to 2015 Puech Morny Gigondas (£9.99 and 14%) and to its minty, cherry, plum and cranberry fruit foundation and the bold acidity that enlivens it.
Fizz right on form
After a couple of Lidl promotions where the Champagnes did not quite tick all the boxes, the three principal versions included this time are all good with this excellent Premier Cru leading the field.
There is a lovely mouth-feel to Bissinger Champagne Premier Cru Brut (£15.99 and 12%) which nicely supplements the wine’s subtle and slightly nutty, lemon and lime fruit and the sharp but balanced acidity that enlivens it.
Really well balanced Sauternes
Stunningly good sweeties will probably have to wait for Lidl’s Christmas promotion – due at the end of November – but this tasty sauternes will certainly give them a run for their money.
Complex and balanced 2015 Chateau Menota Sauternes (£9.99 and 14%) brings us lovely orange and grapefruit marmalade influences but excellent counterbalancing acidity too.
Best of the Rest
I would also give honourable mentions to the greengage and white peach centred 2015 Apremont Savoie (£5.99), the textured, savoury red apple based 2015 Chateauneuf de Pape Blanc (£11.99), the nicely balanced mocha and raspberry touches of 2013 Chateau de Grezels, Cahors (£6.99) and the mellow cherry and clove influenced 2012 Les Hauts de Pez Saint Estephe Bordeaux (£12.99).
