I have mentioned the idea of Personal House Wines before but make no apologies for doing so again.
The idea is to mirror restaurant House Wines with your own safe, board appeal, versatile choices that you enjoy (and which most visitors will enjoy too).
Aim for “uncomplicated and easy drinking” rather than “breathtaking quality and avant-garde experimentation”.
Value and flexibility will be important to – as will the need to keep a bottle or three handy for an informal impromptu glassful.
The current craze for “25% off” multi-buys can help you out here, but premium discounters can also meet the need – as today’s selections reflect.
So, give some thought to your own liquid “spécialité de la maison” but do remember to refresh your choices as the seasons change.
Once again, pictures and hyperlinks are included where possible to make it easier to track down the wine in question.
From zero to hero
2021 Mimo Moutinho Portuguese Dão (currently £6.19 – instead of £6.49 – at Aldi and 13% abv):
Once upon a time Portugal’s touriga nacional grape was unpopular with growers.
It needed extensive and labour-intensive pruning and its yields were low – time to find a replacement, many thought.
Then the world started to laud the quality and intensity of wines the variety produced, and those downsides were quickly forgiven.
Full and dark, this example confirms that praise by delivering bold damson, mulberry and cherry flavours coupled with gentle tannin (but firm acidity).
Background components add slate-like minerality and savoury herb elements to make this wine even more attractive.
Centre ground sauvignon
2022 Deluxe Sauvignon Blanc Reserva Privada (£6.29 at Lidl and 12%):
Chilean sauvignon like this could be categorised as a “middle of the road option”.
It is midway between assertive New Zealand versions and those more restrained and subtle examples from France’s Loire Valley.
Try this one to see for yourselves whether that middle ground suits your palate.
Minty and vaguely herbal, it is centred around clean, slightly grassy, apple, lemon and orange flavours.
These are supported by a neat combination of firm citrus acidity and just a trace of minerality that provides a flicker of savouriness.
Join me again on Thursday when I take a look at an “own label” range now arriving in Majestic stores.
