in Reviews
This week’s top tips and current promotions
My top tips this week include a soft and balanced Soave which recently triumphed at the International Wine Challenge, and an irresistible Rioja currently on offer at the Co-op. Scroll down for details of more offers at the Co-op plus other supermarket promotions – including one at Sainsbury's ending tomorrow.
2020 Morrisons Soave (£4.35 at Morrisons)
I have long been a fan of this uncomplicated, everyday Italian white so it was great to see it win silver at the latest International Wine Challenge where it outperformed wines that cost appreciably more.
The IWC judges were impressed by these virtues outlined in their Tasting Notes – “lemon sherbet and cream on rose. Textured, round and soft with great balance and subtle yet lingering flavours.”
2017 Irresistible Rioja Crianza (£6 – instead of £7 until 8 June at the Co-op)
Crianza is the step before “Reserva” in Rioja’s (age-based) classification structure. Delightfully aided by the year in oak that Crianza’s require, the superb quality of this wine shines through brilliantly. It is easily worth more than £6!
With minty and rose influenced aromas, it delivers intense cherry and bramble flavours neatly supplemented by balanced tannin and orange zest acidity coupled with clove, caramel and green herb elements.
Current promotions
At Sainsbury's
The current promotion at Sainsbury's finishes tomorrow. This fruity red is a particularly good value option at the discounted price:
- Taste The Difference Langhorne Cabernet (Down to £6.50 until 25 May)
At Co-op
A new offer kicked off at Co-op last week, running until 8 June. If this Rioja is available in your local store, it's definitely worth a look. Or you can buy it online:
- Muriel Tempranillo Rioja (Drops £2 to £6.50 until 8 June)
At Morrisons
Offers continue at Morrisons for another week with savings on wines across their range including this excellent Portuguese red:
- The Best Douro Red (Down to £6 until 1 June)
At other retailers
Promotions also continue at M&S and Asda this week. See my previous post for highlights and end dates. Or see what to buy in the current Waitrose promotion here.
Join us for our next post on Thursday when we take a walk through Lidl's latest promotion.
Subscribe for FREE!
Do you want every review I write, direct to your inbox, absolutely free?
Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott is an established wine journalist, taster, judge and writer with a weekly column in Scottish newspapers.
Comments
4 Comments
Is it really the 2018 Soave vintage to look for? -I have tended to believe that with cheap simple whites the most recent vintage is the one to go for.
Quite right Derek and thanks for pointing out the typo. It is indeed the 2020 vintage that won the award – and it is that vintage that is in stores and available online. Website duly amended with apologies for any confusion caused.
Hi Brian … the Muriel you mention above at the Co op with a whole £2 discount, I had well over a year ago now and thoroughly enjoyed it especially at the discounted price too, back then. But I remember going in the store and looking high and low for the bottle on the shelf (too many Co ops around here at least are hopeless as to the way they stock their shelves with no apparent system operating!) . Then I realised … it was in a box and not as obvious as you might imagine. But I certainly enjoyed discovering it eventually. Best now … Eddie.
Thanks Eddie …. The sample I tried was not in a box so, perhaps, things have moved on. In parts of the country with lots of local Co-op shops, the full national wine range does not always appear on the shelves but, as you say, this one is well worth seeking out.
Leave a Comment