New promotions started this week at Majestic and here are five that caught my eye – with prices that start at £5.33. Reflecting an increasing trend in the origin of value wine, all are from Europe.
Apart from the Portuguese red, the quoted prices apply when you buy two or more bottles – although different arrangements are in force in Scotland. Currently the minimum purchase in most Majestic stores is six bottles but they can be mixed any way you like.
Click on any of the bottles shown for an enlarged image to help you pinpoint the wine on a crowded display.
Off dry but on-target
Here an impressive Loire producer has ignored appellation boundaries (hence the modest Vin de France designation) to draw the very best from chenin blanc.
Enjoy then the light and aromatic 2014 Sauvion Chenin Blanc (£5.99 – instead of £8.99 until 31 August) with its marriage between off-dry red apple and marmalade components and textured balancing acidity.
Where’s Albarino come from?
We all know the answer to that – green Spain, but this excellent version is actually from Carcassonne and one of the first albarinos France has produced.
The perfumed and complex 2014 Laurent Miquel Albarino Premiere (£9.74 – instead of £12.99 until 31 August) has the classic greengage and lime freshness and savoury substance but also introduces interesting ripe, orange hints.
When safety and tasty coincide.
Faced with an unfamiliar Italian wine list, good old Monty is usually a safe option but, here, that choice will also get you a nicely integrated, great value wine too.
See what I mean with the juicy but soft 2014 Grifone Montepulciano D’Abruzzo: (£5.33 instead of £7.99 until 31 August) with fresh acidity, concentrated, ripe plum and red cherry fruit but very gentle tannins that mingle agreeably with the wine’s cinnamon and vanilla spices.
Portugal ticking lots of boxes
A great value red using the local periquita grape from the Setubal peninsula just across the river from Lisbon.
Smooth and rounded 2013 Terras de Pegoes Vinho Tinto (with an ongoing price of £5.49) delivers warm, floral blackberry and raspberry centred red wine with neatly balanced tannin, lively acidity and a suggestion or two of vanilla.
Exactly as Rhone should be
With rather too much heavy and dull-fruited Rhone around it is a joy to find one with everything knitted together harmoniously.
In 2013 Leon Perdigal Cotes du Rhone (£6.66 instead of £9.99 until 31 August) the cherry and raspberry fruit is clear, clean and bright yet integrated well with sweetish spices and gentle acidity to provide appealing mellow and rounded, medium bodied red wine.
2 responses
Remember old times in the Land Registry? My preference is for full bodied reds. Looking forwards to you regular recommendations.
Best regards
Godfrey
Good to hear from you Godfrey and I hope all progresses well. The Saint Chinian and South African Shiraz mentioned in the 5 August post are both big wines that should work for you …. Best …… Brian