A well-priced New Zealand Sauvignon and a fruity but solid Montepulciano are this week’s top supermarket buys. Scroll down and you’ll also find the usual round-up of offers and promotions, plus details of a limited-run sommelier text service from Tesco.
2020 The Ned Sauvignon Blanc (£7.50 at Asda )
Few people exact a more diverse flavour range from New Zealand’s Waihopai Valley vines than Brent Marris at The Ned and this great price Sauvignon sits at least a couple of rungs up the Marlborough quality ladder.
Fragrant and rounded, it is centred around bold, green apple and tangerine flavours enlivened by firm tangerine acidity and a long, leafy finish that provides citrus peel and lemongrass depth.
2019 La Piuma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (£5.99 – instead of £7.99 until 6 April – at Waitrose)
Not be confused with Vino Nobile de Montepulciano (which relates to a place and is Sangiovese centred), this guy employs actual Montepulciano grapes.
Its medium-bodied plum and bramble flavours are supplemented by baking spice and dark chocolate influenced nuttiness, good acidity and firm tannin. The discount is valid at Waitrose until tomorrow.
Current promotions
At Tesco
As well as the Buy 6 and save 25% offer which ends tomorrow (6 April), Tesco has launched a new promotion which is expected to run until 19 April. This discounted red represents particularly good value:
- La Vieille Ferme Red Wine (Down from £7.50 to £6.50 until 19 April)
At Asda
The Spring promotion continues at Asda this week and, until the end of today, runs alongside the Buy 6 and save 25% offer. My highlight from the promotion is this award-winning white:
- Tukituki Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (Down to £6 until 21 April)
At Morrisons
Don’t forget, current offers at Morrisons end tomorrow. This one stood out to me as good value:
- The Best Grenache Blanc (Down to £6 until 6 April)
At Waitrose
The current promotion at Waitrose also finishes tomorrow. Look out for this one if you’re shopping before the offer ends:
- Tempus Two Silver Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Drops to £5.99 until 6 April)
At other retailers
The current promotion at Sainsbury’s continues this week (ending on 13 April). Offers at Majestic, M&S and the Co-op all end in the next day or two.
Tesco wine tips by text
Until 16 April, Tesco are offering a text-based sommelier service in aid of Hospitality Action, a charity supporting employees of the hospitality industry.
One of our MidWeek Wines community tried out the service to find a wine match for her Easter meal. After sending her usual wine preferences and meal details (roast pork belly), the restaurant sommeliers that Tesco have onboard came back with the following recommendations:
- Bellingham The Bernard Series Chenin Blanc
- Tesco Finest Mosel Steep Slopes Riesling
The verdict? “Although the old vine Chenin Blanc was certainly substantial enough to serve with food, the German Riesling was the winner.
The gentle acidity cut through the fat of the pork belly and the delicate orchard fruit was a perfect match for the accompanying apple sauce. At £7 a bottle, it was a good buy”.
I (Brian) also had a go, by requesting a wine under £8 for slow cooked beef and one under £15 for that tricky food partner, asparagus.
The resulting suggestion of Trivento Reserve Malbec and Porta 6 Lisboa for the beef seemed great options but it was the asparagus choices that were the most interesting.
Tesco Finest Chenin Blanc and Miraval Studio Rosé were not the Sauvignon Blanc or Gruner Veltliner, say, that I was expecting but do have clear logic
I shall certainly try out the liaison the next time that asparagus features prominently on our menu.
To try this service for yourself, text “WINE” to 82228 between 12pm – 7pm each day, answer a few questions about your wine preference and what you’re cooking and they will send back some tailored wine recommendations.
Our “Pick of the Clicks” feature is back on Thursday highlighting good buys from the major online wine merchants.
