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Top tips and current promotions
Now Black Friday is over, the big retailers are turning their attention to festive promotions. Below is a round-up of wine and fizz offers currently running at the major supermarkets. You will also find my standout wines from Lidl's latest Wine Tour. Be quick though, the wines are only available while stocks last.
2019 Sicilia Nero D’Avola (£6.99 at Lidl)
The prime Sicilian grapes used for this red have been dried slightly to reduce the water content and make what is left behind slightly sweeter and – as if often the case – higher in alcohol.
Savoury edged with cherry and raspberry flavours, this wine has firm acidity, limited tannin and a smoky, menthol and baking spice finish which enhances the brightness of those fruit components.
2019 Tokaji Amethyst Premium Furmint (£7.99 at Lidl)
The wine world is used to praising the deliciously sweet wines of Hungary’s Tokaji but we are slowly appreciating what dry versions the Furmint grape can also deliver.
This excellent example is the star white from Lidl's promotion providing pithy but bright pear and red apple flavours, firm grapefruit acidity, smooth savoury depth and mouth-watering spice.
Other high spots from the Lidl Wine Tour
Other bottles of note from the Winter Wine Tour (that began last Thursday) include an excellent vintage Champagne, a sound entry-point Tawny Port, and a beautiful example of ice wine. See below for details but note, they are only available while stocks last.
- 2019 Riesling Reserve Trocken (£6.99)
- 2014 Champagne Comte de Senneval (£19.99)
- Armilar 10 year old Tawny Port (£11.99)
- 2018 Pillitteri Vidal Icewine (£13.99)
- 2019 Vis a Vis Cabernet Sauvignon (£6.99)
Current (festive) promotions
- Tesco: Buy 6 or more and save 25% on selected wine and fizz but only until tomorrow (1 December).
- 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: Save up to 1/3 on wine and fizz also until tomorrow (1 December). Their 25% off spirits runs until Thursday.
- Morrisons: Buy 2 for £10 on many of the usual suspects if ordered by 26 January 2021.
- Asda: Another Buy 6 or more and save 25%, running until 7 December.
Note, some restrictions and exclusions apply. Check individual retailer websites or stores for full details.
Tune in again on Thursday when we look at Champagne and sparkling wine for Christmas and the New Year.
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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
Morning Brian, trust all is well with you and yours. Another good read with the cornflakes this morning. Opened the champagne you mention above and was thoroughly impressed, so much so I went to my local Lidl yesterday and cleared the shelf (if you’re not fast you’re last!!!). Picked up a few bottles of Priorat also, big fan and the ice wine is also a sound favourite for Christmas Day with the blue cheese. Stay safe
Thanks Chris …. Glad we are on the same page with that champagne. I thought that the priorat took a while to open up and for those familar liquorice elements to become less assertive and get into balance. Decanting seems a must but, once everything has settled, the wine is once again very tasty.
Hello Brian ….
Yes I can vouch for the Armilar Tawny Port. I got it last Thursday early doors … I like Chris Scott’s remark above … if you’re not fast you’re last … hahahaha! This port is quite classy and very enjoyable. Just to mention from the other 25% off deals you list, Asda have some good bottles especially, for not a lot of money. Latest Decanter magazine supplement on 2020 Awards flags-up a platinum medal for Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec that Asda usually sell at £16 but currently on a roll-back deal of £12. Now take off 25% for buying 6 and it’s £9 that to me looks like a steal. I got some in its posh-box packaging …but I bet it disappears pdq! Best now … Eddie.
Morning Eddie ….. Pleased to see your endorsement for my thoughts on the Tawny Port. They tell me that even the port shippers in Porto have now made tawny their drink of choice.
Those Asda deals are certainly worth following up – and if you are a Twitter user look at my friend Peter Turner’s You Tube video about several their “under £10” wines. It make neat, quick, unstuffy viewing.
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