This week my recommendations include a lively Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and a bright, intense Malbec – both on offer around the £6 mark. Read on and you’ll also find a heads up on the current 25% off discount at Sainsbury’s, plus how to join the Wine Events Scotland bubbles bonanza.
2019 Finca Las Moras Barrel Selected Malbec (£6.25 – instead of £8.25 until 3 November – at the Co-op):
Barrel Select is a controversial term which doesn’t always mean the winery has blended wine from its best barrels. But who cares about labelling conventions with wine this good at this price?
From San Juan, this guy delivers bright, intense cherry, prune and bramble flavours with good acidity, suggestions of chocolate, sage and baking spice but only modest tannin.
2019 Earth Vine Sun Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (£5.99 – instead of £6.99 until 3 November – at Waitrose):
Blending Sauvignon with the Semillon grape – a technique perfected in Bordeaux – brings together the sharpness and verve of Sauvignon with Semillon’s richness.
The result here adds texture and robustness to the wine’s herbal, gooseberry and orchard fruit flavours without compromising its gentle citrus acidity. Find it online here.
Current promotions
At Sainsburys
From now until 1 November, you can enjoy 25% off when you buy 6 bottles or more at Sainsbury’s. And, I’m told, the offer includes wines already on offer, providing an extra saving.
See instore or online for full details but do note, the offer isn’t available in Scotland or some Sainsbury’s Local stores. Wines under £5 are also excluded.
Fizz Fridays
From this Friday, you can join Wine Events Scotland for a series of online events celebrating fizz from around the world. The first (of five) online events will focus on Crémant – where it’s produced, a bit of history and some quirky facts. You can also taste some superb Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant de Loire (Rosé) and Crémant du Jura. Tickets are £58 and can be bought here.
We will be joining the Wine Events Scotland team for the second of these events, on Friday 6 November. This “BYO” style tasting will look at (and taste) six supermarket sparkling wines. Tickets are just £10 and available here.
The other Fizz Friday events (on 13 November, 20 November and 27 November) include a pink fizz tasting with Woodhouse Wines, learning about Méthode Cap Classique with South African winemaker Natalie Ferreira, and enjoying an evening of Taittinger Champagne with Kevin McKee, Family Taittinger’s UK Director.
For further details of these fun-filled sparkling evenings or to book tickets, go to www.wineeventsscotland.co.uk
Join us on Thursday for a look at the (recently released) New World selection in the acclaimed M&S Classics range.
