A new Lidl Wine Tour starts today, and here are my recommendations from its content.
As regular MidWeekers may have noticed, there are a few changes in this Tour stemming from the retailer’s latest refresh.
First, the date has changed to the last Thursday of the month rather than the third.
But the frequency has altered too – a new Wine Tour is now expected on the last Thursday of every month, rather than on a two-month cycle.
Possibly reflecting that switch to monthly cycles, the number of wines involved has been reduced.
Instead of the 30 or so bottes in past Tours, each promotion is likely to drop below 20.
Finally, it seems probable that the hugely successful De Luxe brand will figure prominently in a number of future Wine Tours.
One thing unlikely to change though appears to be the quality and the value for money of the wines that go to make up each Wine Tour.
I hope you reach that conclusion too.
Once again, pictures are included where possible to make it easier to track down the wine in question but there are no hyperlinks this time as the wines were only released this morning .
Opening with a “new season” white
2023 Deluxe Grenache Blanc (£6.99 at Lidl while stocks last and 13.5% abv):
Normally the outriders for the new vintage (2023 in this case) come from New Zealand but this nicely configured white is from South Africa’s once famous Paarl region.
Bright and textured, its main feature is a smooth apple, apricot and greengage flavour range.
This is partnered by zesty orange and grapefruit acidity with traces of honey to add complexity.
Staying in the Southern Hemisphere
2021 CXV White Blend (£9.99 at Lidl while stocks last and 13.5%):
Back in March, the Lidl Wine tour included a red equivalent to this Argentinian white blend and that was a laudable choice too.
However – as this time – there were few clues to the constituents of the blend.
But never mind the components, enjoy the taste – and the £1 introductory discount until 4 October.
Medium bodied with inviting aromas, the wine itself brings us complex peach and greengage flavours with just a hint of sweetness.
Those components are built into a lingering finish containing clean tasting acidity and a creamy texture with a savoury, fennel influenced edge.
My Star Choice White
2022 Carpinus Tokaji (£9.99 at Lidl while stocks last and 12%):
A warm welcome back to this regular participant in previous Wine Tours that remains as good as ever.
It is from the (usually sweet) wine epicentre of Tokaj in northeastern Hungary and uses the indigenous hárslevelű grape to produce delicately dry white wine in this case.
Smooth yet lusciously rich, this example has bold quince, green apple and tangerine flavours behind its opening hedgerow aromas.
A sweet edged backdrop and vibrant lime acidity complete the pictures of a nicely configured white wine that fully justifies its £10 price label.
Moving to a red
2021 Deluxe Mount Benson Shiraz (£7.99 at Lidl while stocks last and 14.5%):
South Australia does shiraz rather well even when you move south of the prestigious Barossa to an area like this wine’s homeland.
It is a well-crafted, ready to drink wine that provides a kindly priced, everyday bottle which satisfies nicely -rather than excels.
Bright and smooth, the wine’s foundation is ripe cherry and damson flavours with a savoury – somewhat meaty – counterbalance.
All that is rounded out by cinnamon, fudge and menthol touches with good acidity and limited tannin, although the high alcohol level also makes itself felt.
And off to Chile
2022 Carménére Reserva Privada (£6.49 at Lidl while stocks last and 13%):
Carmenere, Chile’s flagship red, can be rich and distinctive but its flavours tend more towards vegetable taste-alikes than the more customary fruit ones.
This is a good, ready-now, example that – for me – performs much better than its modest score in the Wine Tour promotion material.
Medium bodied with firm tannin, it features damson, green pepper and beetroot flavours.
Complementing elements are provided by good acidity and suggestions of cocoa, tobacco and aniseed.
Back to Europe for the finale
2022 Tuffeau Saumur (£7.49 at Lidl while stocks last and 13%):
While cabernet franc is widely used as a blending partner, France’s Loire Valley allows it to show its potential all on its own.
And considerable potential that is.
It may vary according to the exact soil cocktail in which it grows, but aromatics, herbal hints and vibrant fruit contributions seem to be “ever-presents”.
Light bodied and attractively perfumed, this version exhibits fresh plum and blackberry flavours with a very soft tannin framework.
A dark colour, tart acidity and mineral edge, with just a trace of coffee beans, also join the party to help underline the joys of Loire Valley cabernet franc.
And the Keepers
For the previous Wine Tour, MidWeeker Chris pointed out the benefits of using these promotions to source wines to keep for a year or two.
So, I have pinpointed a couple that I believe have aging potential.
From Spain
While 2020 Hacienda Uvanis Garnacha Navarra (£6.99 and 14%) secured high marks in the Wine Tour literature, I feel that it would benefit from more time.
For sure, it is drinking OK currently, but maturation should soften its tannin and allow its sharp orange acidity to underpin the (currently slightly muffled) raspberry and plum flavours.
From Chile
While – to me – the 2022 Cigar Box Old Vine Pinot Noir (£6.99) does not quite hit the high spots some of its predecessors reached, maturation will soften its tannin too and also bring forward its fruit components.
That said, it will still be on the mineral, smoke, liquorice wing of the pinot noir flavour spectrum rather than the fruit driven one.
More News from Eddie
First about Asda
Asda already have their latest 25% off buy 6 bottles running, until Sunday October 1st.
There are some double dips with already discounted prices, most notable for my shelf are two excellent reds.
One is the Portuguese Bodacious, and the other Via Vincini Gran Rosso from Italy.
Both are very easy drinking and, currently around the £5 point, are exceptional value.
https://groceries.asda.com/product/all-other-grapes/bodacious-red/1000103442739
https://groceries.asda.com/product/all-other-grapes/via-vincini-gran-rosso/1000304027784
Spend a little more money on an excellent Italian white in the way of Extra Special Gavi. £6.94, and a French Syrah from the Paul Mas Occitanien stable in the deep south for £6.56.
Again, both are terrific value!
https://groceries.asda.com/product/all-other-grapes/asda-extra-special-gavi/1000195942870
https://groceries.asda.com/product/shiraz/paul-mas-syrah/1000383164092.
Then about Waitrose.
Waitrose currently have a 25% off buy 6 bottles offer running until Tuesday October 3rd.
As ever conditions apply so best to check online to familiarise yourselves with anything that might affect your purchasing.
Previous shelf discounts look to have finished so chances of double-dips seem slim!
In Scotland, though, some of the previous discounts have been extended because multi-buys are prohibited there.
Elsewhere, however it’s a prescient deal taking into consideration Brian’s blog from last Thursday.
His recommended Paul Mas Réserve Languedoc Blanc will still be down, at £7.50, but the highly regarded Languedoc Réserve Rouge offering will be the same price too, down £2.49 from £9.99.
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/paul-mas-reserve-languedoc-rouge/597041-593795-593796
Interestingly the whole Paul Mas range (as the previous item indicates) is becoming widely available with different wine styles at different retail outlets.
Waitrose doesn’t carry what Asda does for instance, and vice versa.
Finally to Sainsbury’s
Hot on the heels of the other big retailers comes Sainsbury’s 25% off buy 6 bottles that runs until October 4th.
A change in conditions recently now excludes bottles that are priced under £6 in England and £7 in Wales so their House Wine range for instance is still excluded.
Scotland is excluded altogether from this deal. But Sainsbury’s do have a lot of shelf reductions running concurrently so it is possible to get a double-dip on quite a few bottles.
If you are a fan of Porta 6 it becomes £8/£7/£5.25
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/porta-6-vinho-regional-lisboa-750ml
While the more expensive but superior Primitivo Manduria is
£12.50/£11/£8.25 and worth every penny of its price.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/la-masseria-del-borgo-primitivo-manduria-75cl
After today’s primary focus on a single retailer, the sweep is extended in Monday’s Top Tip selections to tease out budget (but great value) fare in other stores.
10 Responses
Hi Brian,
Thanks again for keeping us all out in front with what is going on in the wine world. And also to Eddie for his timely updates on the supermarket discount scene. That has become particularly interesting now that we all feel to be paying over the odds to buy at normal prices in those supermarkets.
Personally, I much prefer an “always best price” approach like Aldi and Lidl.
I lead a U3A Wine Appreciation group. Do you mind if I send a link to you to my members as I am sure many of them would appreciate your observations?
Thanks again for an excellent piece, Brian. I always find the Lidl wine tours fascinating, but your expert guidance is welcomw. I found a piece written by you in the Daily Record, while I was looking for some Comte Tolosan info. (it was the birthplace of the great French scrum-half Antoine Dupont which prompted me). Funny to se those prices!
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/the-wine-seller-march-27-1054386
Brian … friends … so all-change at Lidl then!
This year they have moved away from their long-standing, cover-all, remainder bins at £3.99 to being more specific in offering around £2-£3 maximum reductions depending on an original bottle price. Makes business sense to them of course even though our grab-and-dash raids of £6 off superior £9.99 bottles has finished! Que sera sera ….
At my local stores now there are shelf locations away from the wine aisle and Tour ”crates”, at the end of aisles nearest the checkouts, where all the ”left overs” are priced-up accordingly.
But we have to know what was the original price to see what our now deal price will give us. Occasionally there’s a hot one in there at a better-than-usual drop. I recently got a few bottles of their quality Gruner Veltliner for £4.50!
My eye was immediately drawn Brian in this new Tour to the Tuffeau Saumur. They had it a year ago at £6.99. I can’t resist a Loire cabernet franc especially when it’s waiting for me in a shop not 3 miles away. And being a bit ”quirky” in style it seems to get overlooked for the more popular, usual suspects. But that’s ok, there’s usually plenty on the shelf to be had. If I had to choose a favourite grape and terroir it would be as indicated. This one with its perfume, acidic edge and all else does it easily. Santé …
Hi Eddie, That Tuffeau Saumur sounds good to me as well as the Navarra Garnacha. I wish we had a store like yours, never any bargains in ours, ever!
Thanks for calling into the comments section, Edwin – it is good to have your thoughts. Meanwhile more than happy for your group to be linked in – and even happier if its members become subscribers; it is of course absolutely free.
Welcome aboard the comments section, Neil. Yes, those 2010 prices are a revelation. I still write that column (15 years now) but the team there are great people to work with – not the same with all newspaper columns, I fear.
Thanks again for the updates Eddie – as you will see from Edwin’s comment below, your advice is warmly appreciated. I enjoyed that Loire red especially because it is light in texture and responds well to gentle chilling.
Hi Dave
Long time-no speak!
Given that Brian is suggesting that the Garnacha will benefit from laying down, what do you … and Brian … think about an optimum time for putting it away??
I had a case if you remember back in the Tesco Wine Community day of Tressa Ceresuolo di Vittoria 2010, bought 10 years ago. I still have one bottle left if you can believe that. It definitely needed to be laid down but I kept having one on its anniversary in the hope it had arrived. It never has sad to say but this annual check was a must to know what was happening. Some hope!
So it’s a question of how many bottles and then for how long. Why I’m particularly interested is that garnacha in the case of Spanish wines really floats my boat above many we can have that have improved immeasurably; we are common fans of Sangres de Toro are we not?
And without being certain, this bottle could be one that ends up on the shelf reduced a couple of £s, at my local store. Sorry that you have never had that benefit. I think it’s the branch manager’s call not national policy.
Speaking of Spanish, the Mucho Mas Tinto is in Sainsbury’s now as well as Tesco and Morrisons. At £8 it is currently £6 on their latest 25% deal. I don’t see the blanco there yet. But I’d be interested in what you thought about that. I think it’s a belter as is the tinto that my wife chooses as her favourite bottle these days. Best now to yourself and Agnes.
Be interested in your thoughts on the garnacha, Dave. It did feel a bit heavy on the savoury elements but it may just have hit me on a bad day.
Eddie, I’ll reserve judgment on the Garnacha until I taste it, will grab a bottle next time I’m in store. Agree Sangre de Toro is a lovely everyday red even without the Plastic Bull around the neck!
My only reservation about the Mucho Mas is the slightly confected sweetness, which seems to be a current trend, but it obviously appeals to a lot, so what do I know?
Keep up the good work Eddie, we all appreciate your wine words and wisdom.