Welcome as the drop in inflation is, it only means that prices are rising less quickly; they are still higher than they were.
That means getting the best value on wine purchases is (and will remain) a challenge.
In addition, the increasing range of available wine makes the task even harder.
Little wonder, then, that research by M&S discovered that a third of Brits found the task overwhelming.
Indeed, a quarter of the shoppers they surveyed took over 10 minutes deciding which bottle to buy.
Take Italy for example.
With a production of well over 40 million hectolitres of wine a year, making a selection is difficult.
Which is where the guidance from MidWeekWines comes in.
It is independent, regular, based on wine that’s been critically tasted and, what’s more, recommendations are currently absolutely free.
Read on to see which of those 40 million hectolitres, are being recommended today.
As is normal here, pictures and hyperlinks are provided where possible to guide you straight to the right wine on shelf or web page.
A blend that pays off well
2023 Dino Trebbiano Pinot Grigio (£6 at Tesco and 10.5% abv):
The new vintage of this deftly conceived blend from Central Italy is as enjoyable as its predecessor that I praised last summer.
Neatly, it draws on the typical ripe, red apple influences from pinot grigio but tempers it with the acidity (and relative dryness) of trebbiano.
Straightforward with a saline edge, the result is centred around soft orchard fruit flavours and a ripe finish.
Those elements are partnered by grapefruit acidity – reminiscence of green Refresher sweeties – and a lime peel and orange background.
Use this link to the retailer’s website … https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/263641986
Staying in that country.
2022 Castellore Castel del Monte Rosso (£7.69 at Aldi and 13.5%):
Head now for the northern end of Puglia to discover a little known, great value red wine made from the underestimated nero di troia grape.
Soft with menthol aromas, it delivers rich prune, mulberry and raisin flavours.
Additional support comes in the shape of lively acidity (but limited tannin) and touches of liquorice, chocolate and clove.
Full marks to Aldi for sourcing this excellent (and kindly priced) example of an offering that will not immediately catch the eye of corporate wine buyers.
Use this link to the retailer’s website … https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-specially-selected-castel-del-monte-rosso-75cl/4061461703202
After today’s focus on Italy, we broaden our search for good value wine producing countries on Thursday courtesy of Asda’s revived Wine Atlas. range
21 responses
May I make another Italian wine suggestion ?
I have just started exploring the thankfully resurrected Wine Atlas* range in Asda and I am impressed so far.
The Wine Atlas Carricante Terre Siciliane Sicily 2023 £6.50 Asda
Balanced ,flavoursome nice mineral edge.IWC Silver Award and recommended by David Williams in the Guardian.
If these grapes were grown higher up on Mount Etna you would be looking at over £20 a bottle.If we lower our sights a little,we can still enjoy brilliant value.
*I also liked the other tag line to this range which was Passport to Discovery.
Yes, Paul, Passport to Discovery is a great headline. Thursday’s post here does indeed focus on that range (including the Greek white that Eddie raves about). The range aligns nicely with your point that is, in effect, a cousin of the 80:20 rule – you can get almost all the way to top level wine at a substantially lower cost if you compromise on the final fifth.
I have yet to find a wine in Asda that I can honestly say I enjoy. I buy wines from Lidl, Sainsburys, Tesco, M&S and I’m also in several wine clubs, so get a variety of wines at varying prices.
I live in hope about Asda wines and will look again, particularly at the Passport to Discovery wines.
I think you may have been more than a bit unlucky Colin – and the Wine Atlas selection on Thursday may be a good place to look. In addition, I have been impressed with these options in recent month but cannot, obviously, guarantee that stock remains:
• 2022 Extra Special Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserva.
• 2022 Extra Special Barossa Valley Shiraz.
• 2022 Extra Special Gavi.
• 2022 Extra Special (Chilean) Pinot Noir
Talking about your Pinot Grigio recommendation today, doesn’t 10.5% alcohol wine qualify for a lower tax rate than 11%?
I am always a bit wary of wines that are made to fit an arbitrary HMRC band
I’m no expert, Geoffrey, but I think you are right, judging by this extract from the Government website … “between 11.5% and 14.5% ABV will be treated as if it is 12.5% ABV for the purposes of calculating the charge to Alcohol Duty”.
So, the step down from 11.5% to 10.5% is twice what it would otherwise be.
I understand your caution though; it can feel contrived, even manipulative and putting the cart before the horse. Like, I imagine, seeing what wines secure top Parker points and then making something like it – rather than simply producing the best that your grapes and terroir can deliver.
At the end of the day, though, I guess that the market will decide. If people like the wine, they will keep buying it. If its reduced alcohol makes it low in texture and just like fruit juice, then they probably won’t.
Hi Brian,
A couple of inexpensive wine recommendations in the Times/Sunday Times caught my eye over the weekend:
Jane MacQuitty, in her feature on Vinho Verdes, thought the Pro do Sol Vinho Verde, 9%, Tesco £5.25 “Brilliant value-for-money”. I haven’t tried this but Aldi used to do an Animus example at a very low price. That had some residual sugar, but served well chilled, was an inexpensive delight – great with a patio lunch.
Will Lyons’ Bargain of the Week was the 2022 Bordeaux AOP, 13.5%, Lidl £5.29. which he thought “ridiculously cheap”. Claret can be a bit of a “challenge” to some drinkers, but if new or unsure, this is a pretty cheap way of finding whether claret is to your taste.
I remember years ago, when there was much less variety in wine merchants’ catalogues, wine amateurs were often categorised as either being in the “claret ” or “red Burgundy” camp. Rather like music tribes: Cliff or Elvis; Rolling Stones or Beatles; Blur or Oasis!
A wine I drank over the weekend, was discovered by randomly browsing The Wine Society website. This had very good member reviews – but was out of stock. Nothing like being thwarted to increase one’s interest. When emailed that it was back in, I ordered without delay.
“Black & Wine”, Blanc de Noirs, 11.5%, £7.95.
“Made by an association of 10 cooperatives in the Entre-Deux-Mers and Duras regions, this is the first vintage of an innovative dry blanc de noir made from merlot. The wine has been developed in response to the critical situation that many growers face in this part of France, with prices for red grapes dropping below cost of production.”
I found good depth of flavour with citrus notes, but also a hint of red fruits. A touch unusual, but not scary different. I liked it very much, but more importantly, my wife thought it excellent.
A great initiative that deserves to succeed!
Really interesting stuff, Richard; thank you. I agree with Jane about that Vinho Verde – soft, gentle and perfect summertime drinking. I have also been impressed by Lidl Bordeaux but have yet to try that merlot with no skin contact you mention.
I look forward to trying the 2023 Dino. I do like Trebbiano, particularly at this time of year, and find it’s often a good value option on an Italian restaurant’s wine list.
Hi Rebecca and welcome aboard. You are right, it is a good value option in many cases. It is one of the most widely grown white grapes in Italy, though, so quality can vary if you have not had the specific one before.
Just a heads up, that 25% off 6 bottles of wine, champagne etc, starts at Sainsbury’s from this Wednesday 24th, if you book a click and collect or delivery from this date you can see the price per bottle included promotions.
Really helpful alert Jonothon. Thank you so much for pointing it out .
Afternoon Brian
Back from my trip sarf ….
When Sainsbury’s first presented their own excellent Terre di Faiano Nero di Troia Organic , a few years ago now, I did wonder back then with this relatively unknown-here grape, and as you say underestimated too, and then at its original price point, if they would be able to keep it, if it didn’t impress and sell well!
Fingers crossed when there was not comparatively so much Italian choice around other than the usual suspects, compared to the mass of varieties that Italy can offer for us to investigate.
But clever they’ve had it regularly with a shelf price reduction and it can get included to make a double-dip in a 25% deal (as your correspondent Jonothon here tells us starts this week at Sainsbury’s on Wednesday 24th! ).
Usually it’s £9.50 … but today £8. If it’s still £8 on July 24th and folks are having a buy-6 selection it will be a very competitive £6. At this money and satisfying the organic preference it’s terrific value.
In Waitrose I got my Les Nivières Saumur Loire, Cabernet Franc, £10.99 down to £8.99 and a bottle of, again another nero di troia, Maree d’ione Organic Nero di Troia £9.99 down to £7.99.
So now I must have today’s Aldi recommendation of the 2022 Castellore Castel del Monte Rosso to complete a roster of this very enjoyable grape variety.
I think that David Williams’ recommendation in yesterday’s Observer for the Asda Wine Atlas Carricante Terre Siciliane will no doubt give the Greek Roditis/SB a run for its money except they are very different beasts. I’m yet to try that exact one but have drunk the grape in Catania right next to Mount Etna and as Paul rightly says further up those slopes prices go sky high in more ways than one!!
But also in that Observer column was a mention of the Tesco Claret, Des Tourelles, £5.49 that we’ve had cause to discuss here a good while back when it was only £4.49, that I thought for a bottom-shelf offering … with just the bare mention of Claret on the unadorned label, was for the money excellent basic characteristic Bordeaux and a very good partner alongside both Lidl and Aldi Bordeaux/Claret bottles around the same money. Very cheap, cheerful, evocative, does a job mid-week especially, that is a given remit here!
The only other easily found contender that has squirted up in price recently after all the press accolades, is for me Tesco’s Bergerac Eglise Saint Jaques that is also a merlot/cab. sauvignon cuvee. Clubcard and buy-6 25% off price currently £5.62. Could mix and match with the 2023 Dino Trebbiano Pinot Grigio at £4.50 until the 29th July!!!!!!
I have to remember all these bottles are there to be had at very reasonable money as TWS tries to divert my attention so often …
PS ….sorry …..
Just received my weekly Aldi heads-up email and there are some cracking price reductions in there.
Most notable though, but as has already been mentioned a few weeks ago like hens teeth for those who went looking for it when I suggested the Specially Selected English Pinot Noir & Précoce Rosé, they say its down from £9.99 to £5.99. Quintessential summer drinking and English too. There’s never been a cheaper bottle of anything English but this I reckon. As I say … might be very difficult to find. If not buy lots if it’s a fresh, elegant rosé you like!
Other rosé offers worth a try I think … Costellore Italian Sparkling Rose £8.99 down to £4.99 and Specially Selected Coteaux De Beziers Rosé £8.49 down to £4.99.
Summer is a coming in and we will drink the drink-o ….
Hi Brian, and fellow MIdWeeker TWS members,
Just discovered a Wine Society feature, where you can list, or search, all the wines you have purchased from them. It seems to cover everything bought since 1998. So a very convenient way to jog one’s memory.
It also enables the purchaser to leave a review on a wine that is no longer in stock. I think this is useful, as: (1) often potential buyers look at previous vintage reviews to help in deciding whether to buy the current offering; (2) It shows support for a wine, that may influence the WS Buyer’s future purchases.
I discovered this as I wanted to leave a positive review (it had mixed reviews) of a 2022 Manseng Noir. This is now out of stock, so although reviews are shown there is no facility to add a new review – unless you go to the “My Wines” tab, under your Account tab, find the wine, and then you have the option to leave a review!
A word of warning however … at the start of the listing it tells you how many wines you have bought!
I knew I’ve bought a lot of wine, but that many bottles?
Hi Richard,
A very useful feature, as you say, and one I’ve been using for about 3 years now. I use it instead of a cellar book for all WS buys, the latest of which was a remaindered 2018 Ch. Lary Tagot at the ridiculous price of £6.95 that I found remaindered at the showroom whilst at a recent free ‘Wine Champions’ tasting! Unfortunately they wouldn’t deliver this showroom special and I had to lug home 6 bottles on the train.
Hi David,
I’m envious that you can get to their showroom by train! Although having checked it wouldn’t be too bad a journey for me, – didn’t think of it.
Perhaps you could let us know how many wines were on show, and whether it was not too crowded? Would you go again?
I’m signed in for their Zoom Champions’ Tasting this Thursday evening – and have 6 100ml samples waiting. For the first time the samples are not labelled (other than indicating their colour), and there is a sealed envelope “to be opened during the tasting”. So I will be able to drink the wines without prejudice, and then all will be revealed. So a blind tasting without any embarrassment of having to publicly identify the wines. Sounds like a good idea.
8 (generously poured) wines in total. Society’s Cava Reserva, 3 whites, 1 rosé and 3 reds. Stars for me were 2019 Willi Haag Riesling Feinherb Kabinett and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Gran Sasso 2022. Not crowded at all. But caught up in the microsoft meltdown at Stevenage station on way home – only reason I might not go again!
Hi all
Really enjoyed the Verdejo I got from Aldi last week, for the silly price of £3.99 (think it’s now back to £5.99, which is still very good value) Not the most complex of Verdejo’s I’ve tasted, and I’ve tasted a lot but it delivers for a Mid Week wine, if you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc then this would be the perfect fridge filler.
Another wine that surprised me the other day was Morrisons ‘The Best Carmenere’ (produced by Cono Sur) this was really good, much more plummy flavours than I expected (currently £9.75) Well worth picking up when on offer, terrific stuff !
PPS … the Aldi English pinot noir rose ….
I do wonder why a retailer like Aldi feels it needs to treat its customers with such contempt. Of course many would say small potatoes but …. it makes me very angry because it’s unnecessary and because I’m a regular customer there for wine.
I got a bottle of Specially Selected English Pinot Noir & Précoce Rosé today but paid £9.99, not the one advertised on their website reduced to £5.99. What I bought … because I enjoyed it last time …. was the original offering I’d had already with a certain label on the bottle. They have changed the label picture slightly on the reduced price offering even though it’s exactly the same wine from the Lyme Regis vineyard.
Maybe you won’t find either. That would not surprise me! Maybe you will find the cheaper offering and if so well done. Whatever … I’m sure you’ll enjoy it ….
Hi Eddy,
Called into Aldi this afternoon to seek – again – the English Rose!
Well the 2022 Pinot Noir & Précoce Rosé that I tried at a tasting, some time back, was 12%, the one currently “on offer” (as on the web site) at £5.99 is 11.5%. so I guess it is a different batch, with a slightly different label. However my Aldi did not stock either of these either at £5.99 or £9.99!
However they stocked a 2023 vintage Bowler & Brolly English Pinot Noir Rose, 11.5% but no longer any mention of Précoce, and completely different label. Couldn’t see any price for it, so put two bottles in my basket, thinking I’m happy to pay £9.99. At checkout it came out at £12.99 a bottle! Grrrrrrr! Had I seen the price I would only bought one. So I will drink it – and if it is not as good as the original (which had a lovely slightly farmyard, real Burgundian PN nose) I will take the other bottle back.
To lessen my grumpiness they had 2 bottles on offer:
Specially Selected 2022 Bourgogne Gamay, 13%, down from £9.99 to £8.69;
Specially Selected 2023 Le Bourgeron Pinot Noir, 13%, down from £8.29 to £6.99. (note: from Limoux, not Burgundy)
I have tasted both of these and they were pretty good: low residual sugar, good acidity and some bite. The PN did have a pretty decent PN nose. I put one of each in my basket, so overall, Hey Ho, I’m not going to lose sleep over my overall purchase.
But one clearly has to treat their offers with scepticism and set expectations low!