Last week involved a look at the latest Lidl Wine Tour.
Today, I move across to wines from the other premium discounter, Aldi.
Their business model is slightly different centring on a major refresh twice a year as against sizeable monthly promotions.
And the good news is that the spring and summer refresh is currently under way.
Rather then pick bargain budget wines – although Aldi does have a good collection of them – this feature concentrates a little further up the price points.
Bargain wines get oxygen aplenty in the Top Tips feature every Monday.
Behind them, though, is a broad trend to tempt customers with what awaits them if they venture just beyond average prices.
Here, then, are selections from Aldi’s participation in that process.
I think they will handsomely reward those intrepid enough to spend just a little more.
As is normal here, pictures are provided where possible to guide you straight to the right wine on shelf or web page but there is one hyperlink available this time.
Starting with a classy white
2024 Baron Amarillo Godello (£9.99 at Aldi and 13.5% abv):
Bierzo is a part of north-west Spain noted for its delightful red wines from the mencia grape.
Here, though, it entices us with white wine from godello.
Oz Clarke suggests that godello is one of that country’s most interesting white wines, and this version is certainly a cut above most standard Spanish whites.
Opening with stone fruit fragrances, it brings us ripe apple, quince and kiwi fruit flavours.
There is an intensity at work here too aided by an appealing smooth texture that also contains a contrasting savoury edge.
NB:- This may not be available until next month but keep it on your “must buy” list; it is well worth the wait.
Moving to Austria now.
2024 Unearthed Gemischter Satz (£8.49 at Aldi and 12.5%):
“Field blends” – gemischter satz in German – are a disappearing wine feature.
They involve an (often random) range of grape varieties, built up over time, that are grown, harvested and fermented together.
Climate variations mean that any one year’s version can seldom be exactly replicated because so much depends on each variety’s volumes and ripeness at vintage time.
However, in 2024, this blend from Austria’s Niederosterreich region excelled itself and fully deserves the plaudits it is receiving.
When opening it, you are greeted by mountain fresh aromas that lead temptingly in to vivid greengage, white currant and ripe melon flavours.
Perfectly balanced support comes in the shape of an acidic grapefruit tingle to keep everything lively but with an attractive depth to add complexity as well.
And on to rosé.
2023 Pezat Rosé (£11.99 at Aldi and 12.5%):
Is it just me or do many of the current crop of everyday level Provence rosés lack something this year?
Whether I am being unduly “picky” or not, this guy hits the spot rather well – although its price is on the high side.
Nevertheless, it does have all the crispness, freshness and delicacy that makes that region’s wines an almost indispensable part of summertime drinking.
Pale in colour with enticing aromas, it displays fresh mandarin and peach flavours.
That foundation is built into a light texture and given support by lively lemon acidity.
Next a summer red.
2024 Specially Selected Austrian Zweigelt Red Wine (£8.99 at Aldi and 13%):
With the changing of the clocks, hearty and full red wines begin their “hibernation” until the autumn shooting season demands their presence.
However, we do not have the same range of lighter reds as the “heavies” offer – despite the best endeavours of France’s Loire Valley and Beaujolais.
Happily, Austria’s most planted red wine grape can come to the rescue with the light, fruity and fresh characteristics of the zweigelt grape.
Dark with fruity fragrances, this example delivers smooth raspberry, blackcurrant and cherry flavours.
Those are accompanied by sharp acidity (but minimal tannin), a savoury liquorice twist with additional suggestions of baking spice and cocoa.
Finally to some bubbles.
Mimo Moutinho Sparkling Vinho Verde (£6.99 at Aldi and 11%):
Portugal’s Vinho Verde region has been trying for some time to produce good level fizz but, to date, results have been patchy.
Here, though, is a gentle “sunny Sunday afternoon, garden” version that will provide a light (mild alcohol) alternative for lovers of prosecco.
Ripe with small but limited life bubbles, it has a centre-piece of intense apple, apricot and sherbet lime flavours.
Balancing constituents include grapefruit acidity, a relatively firm texture and saline hints to remind us of its homeland’s proximity to the Atlantic.
Call in again on Monday when the spotlight falls on Top Tips that offer especially good value at a store near you.
10 responses
Aldi’s buyers do dig out some interesting stuff. Obviously none of it is from small parcels or boutique wineries, but they’re usually reliable with an excellent quality to price ratio.
Thanks Brian, they all sound excellent and I shall definitely be trying the Gemischter Satz and the Zweigelt, both varieties I enjoy. By the way the Wine Society also have a very good Gemischter Satz listed for £8.75. Will be interesting to compare it to the Aldi one
I’m with you on Provence rosé, a lot of it has become very ‘wishy washy’ and I very rarely buy it now, choosing other regions and countries over it
With Brian and Lisa on the very ordinary pale and boring lakes of Rosé out there.
That does not apply to Brian’s example above and not to the Famille Perrin Arc du Soleil Rosé from Tesco etc.
There are also oceans of very ordinary Sauvignon Blanc out there too.Verdejo is a good alternative and often more interesting, like the Aldi Baron Amarillo Spanish Rueda Verdejo White Wine £5.99.A bit of a steal.
Where do these wines come on a 1-10 from dry to sweet?
Hi Richard and welcome aboard the comments section. I do not have the actual residual sugar levels but I do not think any of the whites are at 1. The Vinho Verde is probably at 3 and the remaining whites and rosé are at 2. Very subjective measure, though, so it should be treated as for guidance and not definitive.
Nice to see Aldi continuing to list interesting wines that will appeal to the adventurous drinker alongside their bargain priced more familiar offerings. As noted previously, the Austrian field blend has been picked out consistently by reviewers of their Spring / Summer selection. I’m also intrigued by your choice of the Spanish Godello Brian which I’d also got my eye on following recommendation by Victoria Moore last weekend in the Telegraph.
Thanks Lisa too for pointing out The Wine Society’s Austrian Gemischter Satz. I always like a comparative tasting although I guess the very nature of a field blend means that differences in this case could be more marked? But after reading Brian’s write-up of Aldi’s new Zweigelt the comparison I’m lining up straight away is a run-off between it and my favourite Lensch Austrian Zweigelt at Waitrose which is essentially the same price (£9.00 v £8.99) until 15 April.
Thanks Brian
You know how much I like Godello and Baron Amarillo wines are usually dependable, a forgotten grape that almost became extinct in the 1970’s is making a comeback and probably has been for a while now but it’s still not as popular as other Spanish whites. For me it’s Spain’s hidden gem and deserves to be up there with the likes of Albarino, Verdejo and Viura, in fact I’d say, for me, as much as I like the other wines, it would be top of the list by a country mile. It varies in style significantly from bright with minerality to denser, richer, and complex, depending on whether it’s made in Stainless steel tanks, sitting on Lees, or matured in oak barrels (my preferred style) I’m assuming this one is unoaked?
Hello Dave
Totally agree on the merits of Godello.
Godello can take quite a bit of work to get the best out of it. It’s an early-ripening grape that delivers quite low yields. This means it certainly doesn’t work for mass-produced wines.
However it means that a Godello wine is likely to be well crafted,the downside is you have to pay a touch more.
Brian’s choice is certainly worth the extra.
Morning Brian …
Somewhat conflicted here with Aldi, the much vaunted people’s champion of the high street grocery retailers. I hope Sainsbury’s don’t decide to do price-matching against Aldi on wine like this Gemischter Satz, ”field blend”, or a more accurate but less sexy identifier of Österreich tafel wein (I was seduced for old times’ sake), that this bottle is. Even given it’s not in the category of silk purse-sows-ear because it is perfectly enjoyable, but at 9 quid (I paid £8.99 btw!) I think Aldi are price loading here and going beyond their usual worthy remit based on the true provenance of this wine. They really do not have to charge this money for what it will cost them at source. Supply and demand will not attach to their advantage regardless of a few good reviews.
I can’t remember the last time I paid £8.99 for any Aldi bottle, probably never. I shop weekly at Lidl but often at Aldi too. If I was to drop only ONE bottle of the Austrian white into my weekly shopping trolley over a year this would come to £467.48. That’s 4% of the annual new state pension!! On one item, a single bottle of wine a week!! Starts sounding like a luxury purchase to me.
Two things then, overcharging and affordability. I understand why professional reviewers won’t want to undermine their own status by being so negative about an issue like this. I get that. And sometimes the kings new suit of clothes applies too!
So it’s left up to the customer to be discerning and do as I might, give it a go once but not bother to try again if a product isn’t outstanding and just OK, when there’s so much out there of better value and more affordable to lower income families.
I mention issues such as these not because I personally am so cash-strapped as I might sound. I’m just reconciling as I say affordability against quality within the general economy, especially inflationary prices, that are so much in the minds-eye right now.
I don’t think I’m shooting myself in the foot then by saying that I see today in the April issue of Decanter the Alain Grignon Réserve Vignes Carignan, Minervois, 2023, £11.99 at Majestic, gets the nod as Weekday must-try red of the month and a hefty 94/100 points!! We read it here first though yeah? That’s a great occasional treat. It really is top drawer drinking at THAT money.
And at Sainsbury’s I finally managed to get a bottle of their TTD Discovery #40 Müller-Thurgau Trentino 2023 at £7.50. I offer this as affordable value for type and provenance.
Hi Brian, an attractive selection of wines, thanks.
The sparkling Vinho Verde particularly appealed, as I find the straight spritzy versions, well chilled, to be a simple joyous drink to have with a light lunch on the patio. So I popped off to buy a bottle. Whilst there spotted another £6.99 fizz – a Ribolla Gialla. It seemed familiar, and checking my records, I bought the same wine in April 2023, and reported it as a “light frothy fun”. The price paid then? £6.99! I resisted an Unearthed Thracian Valley Pinot Noir Rose, from Bulgaria, at £8.99, and subsequently found it has pretty good reviews.
But, feeling light headed – having broken my temporary buying embargo – I went into a local Co-Op and bought their Irresistible Macon-Village (Cave de Lugny), ready for next week’s Co-Op Online Tasting. Then put together an order for some 2023 Beaujolais, having been very impressed at yesterday evening’s TWS walk around London tasting.
Now back to a bit of buying restraint.