A new Wine Cellar Collection started in Lidl a couple of days ago with the usual cross section of wines and price points – including some really impressive prices too. Here are a few of the highlights.
As ever, these wines are available while stocks last – and the most popular ones usually sell out very quickly.
Click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded shelf.
Rhone whites can be stars too
Given the Rhone Valley’s extensive range of memorable reds, its whites are frequently overlooked but they offer excellent food friendly options – often with an especially attractive savoury background.
Those savoury touches clearly emerge in the pleasantly smooth 2014 Cotes du Rhone Pierre Chavin Blanc (£6.99 and 12.5%) where they mingle agreeably with a lemon acidity and nutty depth.
Born again reds
One interesting recent development is the way that well made but keenly priced pinot noir is surfacing from the remnants of the wine industries in old Iron Curtain countries.
For a good example, seek out Hungary’s fresh and lively 2012 Balaton Pinot Noir (£5.79 and 12.5%) which has appealing strawberry and raspberry fruit and good acidity yet useful substance too.
Aged but non vintage Burgundy
Here, however, is an unusual (these days) twist on much more conventional pinot noir with a well aged burgundy that – taking a step back in time – is actually non- vintage.
Spicy and nicely matured Cote de Nuit-Villages, De Marcilly (£9.99 and 12.5%) still has firm acidity to give life and freshness to its soft cherry fruit yet very little tannin to prevent that fruit from showing through distinctly.
….And for the rest
Other whites I also enjoyed included the red apple and contrasting peach elements of 2013 Juhfark from Hungary (£5.99), the balanced and surprisingly light 2014 Alsace Gewurztraminer JP Muller (£7.99) and the fresh but rounded 2014 Chateau Gales Graves Blanc (£7.99)
Commendable reds include the mellow and black cherry influenced 2012 Barbera d’Asti Superiore (£9.99) and the floral, bramble touches of 2013 Domaine du Clos Mirador Cahors (£5.99)
4 responses
Never tried Juhfark before, a pleasant surprise. Just finishing the Cahors, Clos Mirador and with some Moussaka it has been sensational.
Really pleased you enjoyed them and even more pleased that you were adventurous enough to try them. The balance in the Juhfark is exceptional as is the vibrant bramble fruit of the Cahors. Better still, you can savour them both and still have change from £12 …. Best ……….. Brian
just drank the white Cotes du Rhone and wondered where i had got it – so easy drinking lovely
Great to hear from you Alan and I was also hugely impressed by this white. There is, I suspect, a dash or three of viognier in the mix which provides the aromatic texture to counterbalance the savoury roussanne and marsanne elements so well ….. Brian