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Top tips and current promotions
I finish my Top Tips of 2020 with a fresh but soft New Zealand Sauvignon and a dark, intense Italian red. I have also included a reminder of the festive discounts currently available at major retailers. We'll be back on Thursday with a look at Christmas lunch wines and will return in the new year with more great value weekly tips.
2019 Castellore Sangiovese Appassimento (£6.99 at Aldi)
Appassimento is a (probably exclusively Italian) drying process that reduces the water content of harvested grapes to make what is left behind richer, sweeter and more concentrated.
This version from Romagna uses Sangiovese grapes to create dark, dense but floral red wine with surprisingly little tannin. What it does have is gloriously intense cherry, bramble and nutty flavours with hints of cinnamon and menthol.
2019 Tukituki Sauvignon Blanc (currently £6 – instead of £7 – at Asda)
Catch this Asda promotion while you can as 2020 New Zealand Sauvignon prices have gone up a bit.
Even after a year in bottle, however, this guy has plenty of soft, sweet-edged, gooseberry, ripe melon and red apple flavours while its original fresh grapefruit acidity also remains undimmed.
Current promotions
- Sainsbury's: Buy 6 or more and save 25% until 13 December. This offer can be used on top of other special discounts for extra savings (but note, the end date for other promotions may differ).
- Waitrose: The Save up to 1/3 on wine and fizz offer is back until 3 January. They also have a selection of fine wines at £10 until 16 December.
- Morrisons: Buy 2 for £10 on many of the usual suspects if ordered by 26 January 2021.
- Asda: Their Buy 6 or more and save 25% ends today but some of the Rollback deals may continue.
- Majestic: A number of Christmas offers are available on popular wine and fizz.
Join us again on Thursday for our annual look at red wines to grace your Christmas lunch table.
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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
8 Comments
Hello Brian
I can certainly vouch for the Castellore Sangiovese Appassimento above. Along with a lot of what Aldi have in the way of very decent reds just now this is another to warm the heart at the money. For £2 cheaper I can point your readers to the Aimone Rosso as well. Very acceptable Italians for my money. Best now. Eddie.
Thanks for the extra tip Eddie – that will certainly be appreciated by regular MidWeekers. Glad that the appassimmento works for you too as I was especially impressed by it.
Hi Brian
Please may I ask if it would be possible for you to consider adding the alcohol by volume levels again to the wines listed in your emails? I find the levels useful when choosing from your excellent recommendations.
Take care.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Tony
Hello Tony and terrific to hear from you. I trust you are in rude health. I have only omitted the alcohol strength from my Thursday posts for the Christmas selections, abv will be back in the New Year.
Cheers Brian, thank you. Here’s to 2021 and more of your invaluable recommendations.
Thanks Tony and good wishes to you and yours.
I’ve had a bottle of the Sangiovese in the garage for a few weeks now. Think I may have to try it this weekend… I also like the Aimone that Eddie mentions in the comments. Salut!
Modern sangiovese is so much more approachable than versions from former times. I sampled the Waitrose Bluepint example the other day, for instance, and it is terrific. Thanks too for endorsing Eddie’s suggestion – feedback like that is a great help to other subscribers.
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