While Lidl currently tops up its offerings every month with a Wine Tour, its main premium discounter rival does things a little differently.
Aldi are more flexible, slotting some things in over the year but giving their range a major refresh twice a year – spring and autumn.
Interesting trends emerge from their latest reset although, in truth, the direction of travel has been clear for a while now.
First, there are continuing attempts to break into wines at higher price points – as we saw with their Cabernet Franc (£8.49) and Cigales Crianza (£9.99).
Indeed, such wines are the main focus of my red wine selections here.
Secondly, they are adopting a similar approach to M&S, Waitrose and Asda’s Wine Atlas revival in trying to find “undiscovered” wines.
In Aldi’s case, it is the “Unearthed” range that takes that route towards wines which – for their segment – offer above average quality at below average prices.
Taking the broad view, however, here are my nominees for the high spots from the autumn collection.
Also today is news of a new initiative at Waitrose involving used wine corks.
Once again, pictures and hyperlinks are included where possible to make it easier to track down the wine in question.
Starting with a bargain
2024 Cambalala South African Sauvignon Blanc (£4.79 at Aldi – but some reports suggest it is even lower than that – and 11% abv):
Although most prices are no longer racing upwards, wines are still rising in price and inexpensive bargains are increasingly elusive.
Happily, this Western Cape white is something of an exception.
Sensational sauvignon it is not, but those classic floral, tropical fruit, grapefruit and sherbet lemon acidity components are all clearly in evidence.
Admittedly, they are in a gently restrained format but that is a bit of quibble when considering something at this price point.
Who loves to be beside the sea?
2023 Baron Amarillo Rías Baixas Albariño (£8.99 at Aldi and 12.5%):
Since Rías Baixas is a coastal region, its wines developed as an ideal accompaniment to seafood.
The crispness, citrus and saline traces on display here all confirm that producers there continue get that exactly right.
Alive with aromas of the seashore and delightfully clean, it provides rounded apple, peach and melon flavours which are all especially well-defined.
They are supported by bold lemon acidity to create a vibrant mouth-feel also containing grapefruit pith and minty traces, yet with those saline elements sitting in the background.
Rosé for all seasons
2023 Mimo Moutinho Alentejo Rosé (£6.99 at Aldi and 12.5%):
Rosé’s evolution into an all-year drinking option gets a further boost with this nicely crafted version from southern Portugal.
After all, it is not just summertime that we need lightish, fresh and delicate wines with aromas and flavours of soft fruit.
Pale with an aura of freshness, this is centred around intricate cherry, red currant and white peach flavours.
In addition, it has firm lemon acidity and green herb touches and a brightness and ripeness that injects a modicum of sweetness.
On to the reds
2020 Chateau Les Trois Manoirs Medoc (£8.49 at Aldi and 13%):
Here is an excellent example of a sound, everyday Bordeaux blend at a really keen price.
It is so typical of that region’s red wines that it could be used as a benchmark in deciding whether Bordeaux is for you.
Nothing wrong with deciding that it is not, being thoroughly familiar with your preferences is an important part of enjoying wine.
Whatever you decide, however, the region’s classic autumn leaf aromas and graphite background appear early on here.
In doing so, they neatly supplement the wine’s smooth damson, blackberry and raspberry flavours.
Further support arrives in the shape of lively acidity, mellowed tannins and hints of baking spice, toast, menthol and mocha.
And off the beaten track
2019 Specially Selected Nemea Red (£9.99 at Aldi and 13%):
While Greek whites – deservedly – steal headlines, that country’s reds are busy winning friends too.
Nemea, near the east coast of Peloponnese, is the current hot spot especially with local grape varieties, and this classy red helps to show why.
Smooth with aromas of dark fruit, this – in effect – “unearthed” offering displays stylish plum and bramble flavours with real depth.
These are enhanced by good acidity, clove and chocolate touches and a twist of sweetness with contrast supplied by firm tannin and a mineral edge.
Then to a well established friend
2017 Specially Selected Rioja Gran Reserva (£9.99 at Aldi and 13.5%):
Both premium discounters excel with their Rioja ranges and Aldi’s £5.99 Reserva is a good option for informal drinking.
However, my advice is to seize the chance to trade up to this excellent Gran Reserva which is worth every penny of its modest £10 price tag – and more.
Mellow and delightfully smooth, it has as its centre piece complex cherry, mulberry and raspberry flavours.
These are quickly joined by active acidity, well balanced but firm tannin, rosemary and cinnamon traces and, presumably oak derived, cedar and vanilla components too.
Ending with a fizz
Winemaster’s Lot Classic Cuvee Brut (£19.99 at Aldi when it arrives in store next month, and 12%):
While land prices and labour costs will ensure that English wines are never cheap, it is good to see this example squeezing in just below the £20 mark.
In case anyone wonders whether that is at the expense of quality, this has won silver in two prestigious UK wine competitions.
It opens with a lively mousse and yeasty aromas that lead into intense quince, melon and orange flavours.
When these are combined with the wine’s firm lemon acidity they provide an energetic mouth feel that is neatly supported by toast and vanilla – evidence perhaps of time in oak.
NB:-Prices in store may vary from those on the retailer’s website.
Bring out your corks
This month saw a trial begin in half a dozen Waitrose stores to encourage customers to deposit their used natural corks there for recycling.
The initiative – a first among major UK supermarkets – is prompted by the company’s calculation that Waitrose customers get through around 25 million natural corks a year.
Most of those currently go into landfill even though cork is a durable material with potential for use in various products second time around.
Placemats, coasters, flooring, shoes and even enriching soil are but a handful of examples.
If the trial is successful, Waitrose plan to extend the scheme to more of their stores from 2025 onwards.
After today’s glimpse at a single retailer’s offerings, it’s back to great value, budget wines from other High Street stores in Monday’s Top Tip selections.
23 responses
Interesting initiative from Waitrose, copying what the Wine Society have been doing for some time now .. we have a box for used corks and when you get a delivery, the Society van driver will take the corks in exchange.
Majestic wine warehouses also have recycling bins for corks; I accumulate mine in an old champagne box and when it’s full, take it along to deposit the contents. Good to know that Supermarkets are also catching on…
I didn’t know about either of those initiatives and, as you say, good to see the concept now moving into supermarkets. Thanks, for pointing this out, Richard and Jerry – and welcome aboard the Comments section to another Richard (our fourth I think).
Hello Brian,
Thanks for the heads-up for the cork recycling scheme. I’ll start saving them up in the hope that the scheme will eventually make its way to the wild west in Hereford!
Thanks for getting in touch Michael – another “first time caller” I believe. As you suspect, the pilot Waitrose stores do not get further west than Bath but be patient! There is something rather nice about thinking that your teapot stand once graced a Chateau bottled claret.
Another English sparkling wine,well worth a trip to Asda, is Asquith Gardens at £18 full price,but on six bottles offer at 25% off at the moment
Very rare to see English fizz at £13.50.Silver Award IWC.
Asda are coy about the provenance.
Perhaps a job for Fiona Bruce on “Fake or Fortune”?
Rumours abound that is a big boy of the English wine industry and a bumper harvest.
Whatever the reasons,us consumers benefit.
Full disclosure,I do not work for or have any financial interest in Asda!
Hi Paul,
The Asquith Gardens wine is credited to the mysterious “Rolling Green Hills”. They, some years back, produced the Morrisons’ 2010 Vintage English fizz, which I bought quite a few bottles – when the price dipped, it did fluctuate quite a bit. Rumour is that it is connected to Nyetimber. I did taste the Asquith recently and detected just a touch of caramel on the nose, but also had a nice freshness. (I believe it has had 60+ months in bottle!) At 25% off it would be a pretty classy fizz for Christmas, and would also support our wine industry!
The Asda Cremate d”Alsace, 65% Auxerrois, 34% Pinot Blanc, 1% Chardonnay, at £11 was very decent – but 25% off that and it is also a steal!
Thanks for the intel, Richard.
I totally agree about the Asda Cremant d’alsace ,as when it is discounted from £11 is my go to party fizz.
A frequent buy for me, Paul and known amongst some of my wine friends as Notimber 😉
Hi Brian
When it comes to Corks, I’m afraid I’m a bit of a collector (God knows how many I have now, must run into the 100’s if not 1,000’s)
Always think I’ll get around to doing something with them, Christmas decorations etc, never get around to it, hence they mount up.
On the wines I will grab a bottle of the Albarino on the strength of your recommendation and other Baron Amarillo wines I’ve tried which have been excellent. The Greek Nemea sounds interesting, I’m assuming it’s Agiorgitiko.
Just been to M&S ( not Asda!) and there is a 10% promotion off all wines and fizz.
I do think the Italian wines in the £8 to £10 range at M&S are particularly strong at the moment.
Anyone fancying a serious Toscana Rosso from Tuscany Italy 2021 made by top wine maker and consultant Alberto Antonini at full price £10 will not be disappointed.
Reminds me of strawberries and blackberries beaten with a leather strap.
15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon which softens the 70% austere Sangiovese.
Firm tannins,not an easy going glugger, but needs food to shine.Tuscan white beans or some meaty terrine?
Should have said 10% off any mix of four bottles or more.
G’day Brian …
I do usually prefer Aldi over Lidl for what it has to offer across its whole range. I’ve spoken about this before with Aldi in respect of not keeping its online listings up-to-date and the fact most of my local stores, of which there are several I use, often don’t have bottles that get spoken about in press promotions. I go for something specific and it’s a wasted trip unless I also want any specific food they sell that again might not be there! Mind you their frozen lamb shanks are to die for when they have them!
Try as I might to have it, for weeks their self-promoted, excellent English Pinot Noir rosé from Lyme Regis Winery online was never there at the £5.99 they kept punting at customers.
Today the Cambalala SB you suggest online is indeed a different price, £4.19, but it’s also a different bottle pic. If it’s the same wine, well, such a bargain!Another ”small” thing, the fizz you suggest is coming up £17.99 online …
The only thing I would say in your defence …. Aldi don’t make it easy for you reviewers doing your job but I have no doubt any complaint I might make at them will go in one ear and out the other. Just how much do retailers actually value their customers’ opinions more than showing-off with ”medals” from their own wine and grocery trade?
I will shop at Lidl this afternoon and take advantage of another South African white, their Deluxe Chenin Blanc, £5.49 down from £6.49 with a Clubcard.
Awaiting arrival as I sit and type of a TWS delivery, 6 bottles now out of bond, Domaine Perdiguier, Cuvée d’en Auger, Coteaux d’Ensérune 2022 . Another case of the kids from Languedoc and some Bordeaux style blending of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Excited to try it. I have another bonded case of en primeur 2021 Verdelegen South African Cabernet that won’t come until next spring they tell me!
I must say how much I’ve enjoyed your Morrisons Grüner Veltliner from 14/10 MWW . I’ve been taking it easy with a small aperitif glass over several days, from the fridge door. Has held-up wonderfully well and still at £8 with the store loyalty app.
I’d have to say along with the Asda Wine Atlas usual-suspect whites that I got earlier this week for just over a fiver a bottle the Austrian was a real treat!
I got the Dao from Asda too and a bottle of the Wine Atlas Ile-de-Beauté rosé that is very acceptable but disappointingly the two new Wine Atlas reds were not there, a Bonarda and a Roussillon Villages. Sainsbury’s Muscadet on the shopping list next Tuesday. Cheers for now …
Hi Brian, I think the point regarding the Bordeaux red is spot on. (“It is so typical of that region’s red wines that it could be used as a benchmark in deciding whether Bordeaux is for you. Nothing wrong with deciding that it is not, being thoroughly familiar with your preferences is an important part of enjoying wine). It’s precisely how our fascination with wine develops – follow recommendations, get to grips with characteristics you like, and work out from there. I guess it’s why we value the experts, including you, whose clear and concise descriptions convey the essence of a bottle leaving the individual to follow up anything that appeals and gather an ever-expanding bank of experience and knowledge.
I reckon I’ve got a sound grip of France and Italy now but OMG a short trip to Portugal last week revealed I’m still at basecamp there!
And on a different note, folks might be interested in the Great Wine Co (formerly Great Western Wines in Bath and now the retail arm of on-trade supplier Enotria&Coe) online sale until Monday (28 October) giving 25% off any 12 bottles with free delivery. Although 12 bottles for the discount is a large outlay there’s quite a range of sub £10 bottles that might interest and you can always add a couple of ‘special occasion’ wines from their extensive range.
I’ve bought decent wines from this retailer in the past – a couple of good hefty reds from Francesco Candido in Puglia, ‘Ou Kalant’ Cab Sauvignon and ‘Skaapveld’ Syrah from M.A.N Family in South Africa, and various varietals from Languedoc-Roussillon under ‘Les Mougeottes’ label.
Even when the peak of Portuguese wine in conquered, other regions come over the horizon – Greece, Romania etc – but I don’t think we would change that even if we could.
Your other point is a particular bee in my bonnet. Read many wine books and a newcomer to wine would believe that if you don’t enjoy certain classic options, you will always be thought to know diddly squat about wine. Folk can even be pressurised into pretending they like a wine to avoid seeming gauche. Elitists go as far as describing it as “educating your palate”. That is such baloney (nearly said something else then). Find what you like, learn about its subtleties and ignore outdated prejudices. The real wine world will welcome you with open arms.
Good call on the Aldi Rioja Gran Reserva.
This is very decent.
The price point on many Rioja Gran Reservas now seems to be £15+ so this is excellent value at £10.
Agreed. Not only that but not all £15 versions shine whereas this one is rock solid.
Finally caught up on the Aldi Unearthed Cigales Crianza. It was just £7.99 in store today and, although I just wanted a hefty red wine to add to my ragu, it was wonderfully appropriate to accompany the resulting Pappardelle alla Bolognese
Yes. Impressed me too – great value option.
Arising out of this mention here about the ”validation” of Bordeaux wines for those who care about such matters, I’m prompted to write having taken delivery of a 6 bottle case from TWS that I’ve tried over the weekend. More about that shortly.
Generally and as an Old-Worlder and traditionalist in the main I do gravitate towards my first love of French wine (not forgetting all that is Italian and a lot of Portuguese too, now).
A contributor to discussion many times on many sites about ”what’s the fuss about claret” and the elusive ” great-claret-under-tenner” argument I long ago came to the conclusion, as with proper, characterful Burgundy at lower price, we will be so lucky to find any such in bottles on the shelf in the popular British retail outlets at an affordable price.
Departing then from the traditional norm’ (as we might with German Spätburgunder for instance as a viable Pinot Noir substitute for good Burgundy), then without it actually being true Bordeaux what might we find by looking towards the same grapes involved but wine made elsewhere.
Herein lies the problem of course relating to the terroir and climate and what proper Bordeaux is supposed to offer in the way of its uniqueness and individuality in character.
I’d suggest that as much as people are turned-off from the cheaper end, they would not be when drinking the better quality real-deal stuff that is out there but unfortunately for most people out of budget range. I can’t think there is any regular wine drinker who would not ”get” what Lafite and Petrus are all about if only they could get to have it.
In going elsewhere for the usual suspect grapes involved, Cab’ Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab’ Franc and Petit Verdot (some Côt but little Carménère any more), the cuvées they could still be but that location stuff, terroir and climate they are not. But then I’m thinking those unaffordable first growth and premier crus are not like what we know as regular Bordeaux claret anyway.
So maybe there is no comparison to be made in this case. Wine is wine and all it should ever do is deliver a basic requirement that is enjoyment. If all we ever do is be disappointed in almost all the affordable claret we drink then we are drinking, for ourselves, the wrong stuff! It’s one of those Marmite situations I think for a lot of folk. Move on eh?
So from TWS I pitched for 6 bottles a couple of months ago for wine still in bond, got an allocation and paid £42 for it. When it became available I then paid the £4.74 vat and duty per bottle and as ever they were delivered without charge and within a couple of days!
Domaine Perdiguier, Cuvée d’en Auger, Coteaux d’Ensérune 2022 From Languedoc-Roussillon, close to Beziers, this is 80% Cabernet and 20% Merlot so think maybe Pauillac or Margaux if you have enough imagination for that, LOL, and a pocket full of dosh that I don’t have!
I can’t sing its praises more highly as one of the best Cabernet’s I’ve ever enjoyed at the money. It works beautifully with such ripeness yet less tannin than many left bank Bordeaux reds deliver, probably the Merlot contribution softening the cuvée, and it’s an elegant, drinkable delight. For the money it is astonishing and probably worth £25 of anybodies hard-earned if it was a Bordeaux pedigree. TWS have none left. We had to put-up months ago to get it. It’s all been spoken for as of now. Maybe there could be more. Certainly I wish I’d tried for more and in future fingers crossed another vintage will deliver similarly. It will lay-down and get better but hard to wait when it’s drinking fine right now.
I also bought a bottle of Bordeaux being offered to members as being worth a punt. This was Château de Pitray, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2021 . It’s a Merlot … think Saint-Emilion in this case … in truth not far wrong, it is from the right bank, Côtes de Castillon appellation way less well-known but in fact only 8 kms from Saint-Emilion. It cost £11.50. Not to be dismissive, it was rather good of its type, and yes it WAS perfumed that I find a very attractive aspect of Bordeaux wines especially. It even threw a sediment! But even at that moderately affordable price I wouldn’t have it again compared to Asda’s Montagne Saint-Emilion that I’ve had on a double dip before today for less than £6 quid! And most definitely at £11.74 the Domaine Perdiguier beats all-comers hands down just now in our house.
My review at TWS just posted …
At some point I had to be brave and instead of just the 4 stars for many really good Societies bottles I’ve enjoyed one could turn up trumps eventually for a 5! The extra one mainly for my wife who never wavered when I asked … what do you think? Her endorsement of a French Bordeaux-style cuvée, albeit from close to Beziers in Languedoc-Roussillon capped it! She struggles with tannin and this one is so silky she never saw it coming. Elegant drinking for the £11.74 I paid after it came out of bond, I can find no fault. It is lovely. Wish I’d pitched for more. It will lay-down I’m sure, but it won’t be around for long enough to find out the provenance of waiting.
That Languedoc blend sounds a winner – must try to get some.
On the Aldi theme may I give a recommendation for their Mimo Moutinho Dao Red at £5.99. Maybe not the epitome of the marque but at that price a really tasty mouthful with bags of character. The MM range may seem downmarket, as it is their own brand, but there are a couple of Portuguese wines in there that might surprise, especially at their keen price points.