My High Street heroes this week include a soft and fruity Gran Reserva (but not from Rioja) and a tasty Sauvignon blend, both under £6.
Use the pictures below to help you find the bottles on busy supermarket shelves.
2013 La Niña Roja Gran Reserva (£5.50 at Sainsbury’s and 13%):
Gran Reserva sits at the top of Spain’s official wine ageing pyramid and, in some areas, requires two years of oak maturation. However, in areas like Valencia, the maturation period can be much shorter which may be a factor in the favourable price label here.
This Valencian example has soft, medium bodied cherry and red plum fruit with suggestions of baking spice and mint, good acidity but only modest tannin.
Find it here on Sainsbury’s site.
2018 Les Richoises White (£5 at Morrisons and 11.5%):
Comte Tolosan, a large area of South West France, and its neighbours are currently producing great value whites including this tasty £5 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Colombard.
This vibrant version combines creamy apple and lemon fruit with dashes of green pepper, refreshing grapefruit acidity but only mild alcohol.
We’ll be back on Monday with details of the latest supermarket wine offers.
5 responses
Hi Brian
The Niña Roja is now on my list to try, especially at that price. From the region close to my heart (Valencia), probably better known for Bobal. Monastrell and Moscatel, I’m assuming there is a touch of something else in the blend as well as Tempranillo?
The Sainsbury’s site says it’s Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bobal. The (generally poor) customer reviews all relate to much older vintages
Be interested in your thoughts (as a keen Spanish wine drinker). In a later comment Swicky provides more information on the components of the blend.
Hi Swicky and thanks for those details of the blend.
As you say, previous vintages received mixed reports (which may indicate bottle variation in those years) I had no doubts about the sample I tasted of this one though despite 2013 being a rain affected vintage.
Thanks guys, if I can fight my way through to the wine aisle, I’ll check it out.