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This week’s top tips and current promotions
There's not much happening on the discount front but below you will find my top tips of the week. These include an aromatic (2020 vintage) South African Sauvignon, and a beautifully smooth Rioja – both with links to their online retailer for those shopping online.
2020 Bruce Jack Sauvignon Blanc (£6 – instead of £7 until 16 November – at Tesco):
Good to see a trickle of 2020 vintage wines appearing on the shelves – but don’t forget that the southern hemisphere harvests in February or March (their autumn).
This wine delivers delightfully aromatic and grassy Sauvignon with apple and pear flavours, firm lime acidity and hints of gooseberry and melon.
2015 Extra Special Marques Del Norte Rioja Reserva (£7 – instead of £8.50 for now – at Asda):
The extra maturation that Rioja’s Reservas receive has beautifully smoothed out this wine and added clove and black pepper influences to its backbone cherry, plum and bramble flavours.
Crucially, though, aging has not dimmed its acidic liveliness. Since Asda promotions can suddenly disappear, snap this guy up quickly.
Current promotions
This is a quiet week for promotions but don't forget that the Waitrose “25% off when you buy six” deal end tomorrow.
Drop back in on Thursday when we run the rule over a selection of Wine Society offerings that start around the £7 mark.
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Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott is an established wine journalist, taster, judge and writer with a weekly column in Scottish newspapers.
Comments
4 Comments
Hi Brian, I remember first tasting this Marques Del Norte Rioja a few years back when their was a big promotion, claiming it was the best Supermarket Rioja on the market, winning lots of plaudits from respected experts (think it was the 2009 vintage) and I must say I agreed. I’ve not tasted the recent vintages but it’s a well made modern style Rioja, more about the fruit and not overly tannic. The ones I’ve tasted did have some bright acidity and brambly fruit but I found this smoothed out even more if decanted for a while, which I recommend. For £7 it’s well worth a try !
I agree that this is modern Rioja – and a great example of it too. As you say, snapping it up at £7 a bottle is a shrewd move.
Hello Brian. I had the Bruce Jack SB back in September on a double-dip deal that came to me at £4.50 a bottle! What’s not to like about that for such an enjoyable bottle of real quality. I tried the Bruce Jack Malbec you recommended too, that was fine, and the Chenin Blanc that was ok! But the SB really took all my attention. I just missed out at Sainsbury’s, going back in while their 25% buy-6 was on again, but sure, I think there will be another before Xmas and some more of the BJ-SB will be in my trolley. Cheers …
I was impressed too. Bruce Jack has been around a while but has only emerged recently under his own brand. His wines seem to be priced to sit just below Supermarket premium versions yet rivals them for quality. I believe Tesco has his chenin as a Bag in Box wine for Christmas.
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