THE DRINKER
EAT - DRINK - BE MERRY
LIDL WINES SELECTION 2023/4
SUMMARY
I am really impressed by the thought that is clearly going into the Lidl range particularly in terms of their Wine Tours, look out for these there are four a year and they tend to focus on a specific country or region.. As you'd expect of a 'discount supermarket' there's some great value to be had here. The wines are listed by release date rather than price. Go for the sweeties and fortifieds for value this Christmas.
Please note prices differ in Scotland and Wales.
KEY
The reds are written up in this colour
The whites in this colour
Pink in this colour
The fizz in this colour
Sweets and forts in this colour
Core Range Wines - Always Available
Chardonnay Pays d'Oc, Chevalier Fauvert £4.75 rating 88
Lovely creamy buttery chardonnay, green apple and grass
Deluxe Fairtrade Chenin Blanc £6.49 rating 90
Gentle lemon pith nose, fresh and dry, very easy drinking, citrus and green grass notes
Winemaker's Selection Clare Valley Riesling £7.15 rating 87
Beautifully made dry, aromatic riesling. Lime zest and white blossom dominate.
Botte Conti, Pecorino £5.49 rating 87
Classy and rather grassy pecorino, mineral and citrus, fresh and bright
Rioja Blanco, Cepa Lebrel £6.29 rating 89
Good white Rioja! Zesty, lime and mineral palate, great value
Pinot Grigio, Neszmely (Hungary) £4.99 rating 90
Oh! My! God! £3.89, light white peach, hint of floral blossom, dry, well made, amazing!
Chardonnay, Cimarosa (Australia) £4.69 rating 89
Big old fashioned Aussie chardonnay, buttery oak, fresh acidity, classic
Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Cimarosa £6.99 rating 89
Understated sauvignon,green hedgerow, elderflower, fresh, light
Mosel Riesling, Thornicher St. Michael £5.29 rating 87
Good aromatic, low alcohol and off dry riesling, fresh and very drinkable
Winemaker's Reserve Pinot Noir, Marlborough £8.29 rating 89
Ripe red berry notes, big hit of raspberry, some lovely earthy tones, bargain
Deluxe Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir £8.29 rating 89
Beautifully light and elegant pinot noir, fruit driven, velvet blueberry and raspberry, light tannin
Comte Tolosan Malbec £5.49 rating 90
Intense black fruit, hint of fresh road tar and tobacco, blackberry and black cherry
Barbera D'Asti £6.99 rating 88
Well priced, very well made Italian, will work well with a bolognese, winter night in
Cimarosa Pinotage £4.79 rating 89
The one with the giraffe on the bottle - forward fruit and woodsmoke, real bargain
Chianti Reserva £6.49 rating 90
Spicy herbal nose, anise and black fruit palate, oak, a lot of wine for the money
Rioja Reserva, Cepa Lebrel £6.29 rating 91
Complex nose, cedar, pencil box, balack berry, maturing well, well used oak
Monte Plogar Gran Reserva £5.79 rating 89
Intense black cherry and blackcurrant compote, full on vanilla oak, big and expressive
Deluxe Malbec Reserva Privada, Chile, £5.79 rating 88
Solid, ripe, classic malbec, very well made balance of big fruit and easy tannins
St Emillion Grand Cru £15.49 rating 91
Good open black pepper and oak nose, lovely burnt toast notes, smashing wine
Nero D'Avola Terre Siciliane £5.99 rating 88
Lots of wine for the money, good morello cherry palate, fantastic food wine
Pinot Noir Rosé Pays D' Oc £6.49 rating 88
Really easy drinking style, good fruit, hint of white pepper spice, pleasing
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie Blush £5.29 rating 88
Fresh, pure, light and elegant, a real summer crowd pleaser
Trevenizie Rossa de la Dame Ca Lago Rosé £6.49 rating 87
Perfect easy drinking pink, light, dry and refreshing with a little touch of strawberry
Champagne Brut, Senneval £13.99 rating 90
Miraculous price for this beautiful bready, lime Champagne, amazing
Cremant de Loire £8.99 rating 89
Super wine, light toasty nose, green apple palate, really well made, great price
Premium Organic Prosecco £7.99 rating 89
Fresh, dry and pretty, soft bubbles, peach and apricot character
Arestel Cava Brut £5.45 rating 89
Cava is back after a while on the doldrums! This wonderful apple scented Cava is fab.
Winter Wine Tour 2019/20 - available from 21 November
Alsace Weiber Pinot Blanc £7.99 rating 89
Perfect example of an Alsace pinot blanc, poise, body, balance, floral
Second Fleet Tasmainian Riesling £9.99 rating 90
Perfumed nose, steely but floral, dry, very classy wine
Outlook Bay Chardonnay £7.99 rating 89
Lovely citrus and pineapple notes, oak comes through on the finish, great value
Forget Me Not Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Grigio £6.49 rating 88
Blend works well together, grassy and herbal, great party wine
Tavel Rosé £7.99 rating 88
Really easy drinking style, good fruit, hint of white pepper spice, pleasing
Domaine Creux du Chene, Corbieres £6.99 rating 89
Black fruit and spice nose, big but very soft tannins, fab winter wine
Vacqueyras Les Gabets £9.99 rating 89
Big bramble nose, good use of oak, nice structure, very solid wine
Passo Mastro Frappato Syrah Terre Siciliane £6.99 rating 90
Bottle wrapped in white paper, looks great, plum and blackberry, vanilla and black pepper
Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva £7.99 rating 90
Forward oak, vanilla and coconut, bold black fruit palate, great value
Outlook Bay Central Otago Pinot Noir £9.99 rating 91
Looks very classy and does not disappoint, spice, bramble, forest floor, fantastic at a tenner
Champagne Comte Senneval Vintage £19.99 rating 91
Generous green apple nose, brioche and red apple palate, beauty, amazing price
Armilar Ruby Port £6.49 - rating 90
Serve chilled, lovely hearty ruby port, house port for the winter
New Wine Tour Range Available 27th September 2018
Moulin a Vent, Beaujolais £7.99 rating 90
Spicy nose, black pepper and raspberry, full on for Beaujolais but very pleasing
Clos de Batuts, Cahors £6.99 rating 89
Lovely open nose all black pepper and coconut husk, lovley Old World feel, classy
Duc de Chasteignier Listrac £6.99 rating 89
Ripe black berry notes, full on cedar and spice, bramble palate, hot Bordeaux
Fitou Les Cazals Cascatel £8.99 rating 89
Lovely full on palate, bramble, cinnamon and a touch of smoke, warming finish
Costieres de Nimes £6.49 rating 90
Pencil box and pencil rubber nose, wonderful, blueberry palate, full on, great value
Plan del Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages £6.99 rating 91
Ripe black fruit, cracked black pepper, oak, the full works, integrated, super stuff
Gigondas £11.99 rating 91
Classy autumn Sunday lunch wine, bursting with blackberry, rich and rewarding
Chateau La Peyrere, Bordeaux Blanc £5.99 rating 90
Simple, light and fresh, wonderful lemon peel palate, only 11% easy drinker
Cotaux Bourguignons £6.99 rating 89
Light buttery nose, red apple palate, hint of mineral, real beauty
Mascavinae Picpoul de Pinet £6.99 rating 88
Classy looking bottle, lime peel and zest, very well made, top value
Jean Cornelius Alsace Riesling £7.99 rating 89
Interesting aromatics, floral and perfumed, white blossom and tropical fruit
Champagne Brut, Senneval £10.99 half bottle £6.99 rating 90
Miraculous price for this beautiful bready, lime Champagne, amazing
Cremant de Bourgogne £7.99 rating 89
Super wine, light toasty nose, green apple palate, really well made, great price
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh £7.99 rating 91
Wonderful combination of sweetness and acidity, fine balance, lemon peel, candied fruit
Muscadet de Saint Jean de Minervois £5.99 - half bottle rating 90
Wonderful floral aromatics, real grapey wine, beautiful, amazing price
Christmas Wine Cellar Available 24th November 2017
Grechetto,Gaudiale £5.99 rating 89
Pleasant light wite flower nose, good fresh citrus palate, interesting at the price.
Verdicchio deiCastelli di Jesi Classico Superiore £6.99 rating 90
Classy looking bottle, green fruit nose and white stone fruit palate, very pleasing
Tete a Tete,Pinot Gris/Riesling £7.99 rating 89
Smashing wine, medium dry, lime and spiced pear, beauty
Alte Vogtei Zu Ravensburg Spatburgunder £8.99 rating 89
Classy nose, tar and tobacco leaf, lovely savoury and raspberry palate, versatile
Syrah Frappato Terre Siciliane £5.99 rating 89
Big, generous wine, all black pepper and bramble, expressive and warming
Ciro Classico Superiore Reserva £6.99 rating 89
Brick red with age, spiced pepper and cedar nose, classy, elegant
Amarone della Valpolicella, Corte Allodola 2012 £12.99 rating 91
Deep concentrated black fruit compote, black cherry and plum, oak and smoke
Bardolino Chiaretto £6.99 rating 89
Absolute belter of a wine at the prices, classy Italian pink fizz, refreshing redcurrant
Pinot Grigio Veneto Spumante £6.99 rating 89
Lovely hint of sweetness (just off-dry) brings peach flavour to the fore, party wine
Vin Santo del Chianti £9.99 rating 90
Beautiful savoury nutty nose, intense sweetness, rich Christmas cake palate
Grand Tkaji Aszu £13.99 rating 89
On the pricey side but very classy, Lemon and lime peel, sweet but balanced with acidity
Check out the three lovely boxed Icewines from Canada - go for the Cabernet Franc, rich and unctuous. £14.99 rating 92
Available from 28th September 2017
Bordeaux Blanc, L'Horizon Cuvee Morgane £5.99 rating 89
Light gooseberry nose, zippy fresh and herbal, top wine great price
Touraine, Clos des Ronceveaux £6.49 rating 89
Perfect light sauvignon all green grass and cucumber
Petit Chablis, Oliveira Lecestre £10.99 rating 90
Lovely mineral nose, stone fruit palate, restrained and poised
Riesling, Hans Michel £7.99 rating 90
Good old fashioned riesling, dry but floral and aromatic, beautifully perfumed
Chardonnay Rex Goliath (USA) £4.99 rating 89
Big buttery, oaky chardonnay, proper old skool US style, bargain!
Mercurey, Louis Chavy £11.99 rating 91
Bramble and black pepper, tar and savoury leather, very good indeed.
Minervois,Chateau Bonhomme £4.99 rating 88
Spicy black pepper nose, good solid fruity backbone, well made, very well priced.
Fitou, Cers & Marin £5.99 rating 91
Lovely earthy depth on nose, black cherry and oak, fab wine.
Cremant de Limoux Brut, L'Ephemere £7.99 rating 90
Lovely green grass nose, dry and fresh, hint of white peach, great value fizz.
Champagne Brut Rose, Bissinger £14.99 rating 89
Touch of light raspberry, some toasty complexity, fab pink fizz.
Available from 25th May 2017
Palmela, Paco do Bispo £4.99 rating 89
Lovely soft, fresh, approachable wine, green fruit, touch of tropical flowers
Marsanne, Val de Salis £6.99
Light green tropical fruit, bags of fresh citrus, touch of minerality
Chardonnay Viognier, Val de Salis £6.49 rating 90
Grassy meadow nose, green apple, layers of flavour, deep and refreshing
Chardonnay Viognier Reserva Privada, Vajero, Chile, £4.99 rating 90
Loads of fresh green fruit, apple and pear, balanced acidity, great price
Chardonnay, Bourgogne £6.99 rating 89
Lovely creamy nose and palate, well judged oak, fresh green limes
Verdejo, Finca los Trenzones, Spain, £4.99 rating 88
Proper summer garden wine, well priced, easy drinking, party or BBQ fare
Somontano Crianza 2011 £4.99 rating 89
Touch of leather on nose, violets and blkack fruit palate, hot pepper and spice finish
Carinena Gran Reserva, Monte Plogar, Spain 2010 £4.99 rating 89
Big powerful wine, ripe black fruit and earthy notes, very solid value
Rioja Reserva, Soligamar 2011 £9.99 rating 89
Shows age on nose, juicy cherry, pepper and spice, loads of oak, classy
Toro Crianza, Tulga, Spain 2013 £4.99 rating 90
Plum and black pepper, intense fruit, damson and bramble, terrific wine
Bordeaux, Terres Nouvelles 2014 £6.49 rating 89
Lovely cedar and pencil box nose, spice and bramble, classy 2014
Valdepenas Gran Reserva, Los Molinos 2009 £5.99 rating 89
Development on nose, earthy notes, lots of oaky support, good holding black fruit
Blanc de Blancs Brut, Languedoc, £7.99 rating 89
Lovely simple, uncomplex wine, dry and mineral, great value fizz
Ribeiro Santo Portugal, £8.99 rating 89
Lovely looking bottle, interesting wine, lots of complexity on the palate
SUMMARY
I am really impressed by the thought that is clearly going into the Lidl range particularly in terms of their Wine Tours, look out for these there are four a year and they tend to focus on a specific country or region.. As you'd expect of a 'discount supermarket' there's some great value to be had here. The wines are listed by release date rather than price. Go for the sweeties and fortifieds for value this Christmas.
Please note prices differ in Scotland and Wales.
KEY
The reds are written up in this colour
The whites in this colour
Pink in this colour
The fizz in this colour
Sweets and forts in this colour
Core Range Wines - Always Available
Chardonnay Pays d'Oc, Chevalier Fauvert £4.75 rating 88
Lovely creamy buttery chardonnay, green apple and grass
Deluxe Fairtrade Chenin Blanc £6.49 rating 90
Gentle lemon pith nose, fresh and dry, very easy drinking, citrus and green grass notes
Winemaker's Selection Clare Valley Riesling £7.15 rating 87
Beautifully made dry, aromatic riesling. Lime zest and white blossom dominate.
Botte Conti, Pecorino £5.49 rating 87
Classy and rather grassy pecorino, mineral and citrus, fresh and bright
Rioja Blanco, Cepa Lebrel £6.29 rating 89
Good white Rioja! Zesty, lime and mineral palate, great value
Pinot Grigio, Neszmely (Hungary) £4.99 rating 90
Oh! My! God! £3.89, light white peach, hint of floral blossom, dry, well made, amazing!
Chardonnay, Cimarosa (Australia) £4.69 rating 89
Big old fashioned Aussie chardonnay, buttery oak, fresh acidity, classic
Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Cimarosa £6.99 rating 89
Understated sauvignon,green hedgerow, elderflower, fresh, light
Mosel Riesling, Thornicher St. Michael £5.29 rating 87
Good aromatic, low alcohol and off dry riesling, fresh and very drinkable
Winemaker's Reserve Pinot Noir, Marlborough £8.29 rating 89
Ripe red berry notes, big hit of raspberry, some lovely earthy tones, bargain
Deluxe Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir £8.29 rating 89
Beautifully light and elegant pinot noir, fruit driven, velvet blueberry and raspberry, light tannin
Comte Tolosan Malbec £5.49 rating 90
Intense black fruit, hint of fresh road tar and tobacco, blackberry and black cherry
Barbera D'Asti £6.99 rating 88
Well priced, very well made Italian, will work well with a bolognese, winter night in
Cimarosa Pinotage £4.79 rating 89
The one with the giraffe on the bottle - forward fruit and woodsmoke, real bargain
Chianti Reserva £6.49 rating 90
Spicy herbal nose, anise and black fruit palate, oak, a lot of wine for the money
Rioja Reserva, Cepa Lebrel £6.29 rating 91
Complex nose, cedar, pencil box, balack berry, maturing well, well used oak
Monte Plogar Gran Reserva £5.79 rating 89
Intense black cherry and blackcurrant compote, full on vanilla oak, big and expressive
Deluxe Malbec Reserva Privada, Chile, £5.79 rating 88
Solid, ripe, classic malbec, very well made balance of big fruit and easy tannins
St Emillion Grand Cru £15.49 rating 91
Good open black pepper and oak nose, lovely burnt toast notes, smashing wine
Nero D'Avola Terre Siciliane £5.99 rating 88
Lots of wine for the money, good morello cherry palate, fantastic food wine
Pinot Noir Rosé Pays D' Oc £6.49 rating 88
Really easy drinking style, good fruit, hint of white pepper spice, pleasing
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie Blush £5.29 rating 88
Fresh, pure, light and elegant, a real summer crowd pleaser
Trevenizie Rossa de la Dame Ca Lago Rosé £6.49 rating 87
Perfect easy drinking pink, light, dry and refreshing with a little touch of strawberry
Champagne Brut, Senneval £13.99 rating 90
Miraculous price for this beautiful bready, lime Champagne, amazing
Cremant de Loire £8.99 rating 89
Super wine, light toasty nose, green apple palate, really well made, great price
Premium Organic Prosecco £7.99 rating 89
Fresh, dry and pretty, soft bubbles, peach and apricot character
Arestel Cava Brut £5.45 rating 89
Cava is back after a while on the doldrums! This wonderful apple scented Cava is fab.
Winter Wine Tour 2019/20 - available from 21 November
Alsace Weiber Pinot Blanc £7.99 rating 89
Perfect example of an Alsace pinot blanc, poise, body, balance, floral
Second Fleet Tasmainian Riesling £9.99 rating 90
Perfumed nose, steely but floral, dry, very classy wine
Outlook Bay Chardonnay £7.99 rating 89
Lovely citrus and pineapple notes, oak comes through on the finish, great value
Forget Me Not Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Grigio £6.49 rating 88
Blend works well together, grassy and herbal, great party wine
Tavel Rosé £7.99 rating 88
Really easy drinking style, good fruit, hint of white pepper spice, pleasing
Domaine Creux du Chene, Corbieres £6.99 rating 89
Black fruit and spice nose, big but very soft tannins, fab winter wine
Vacqueyras Les Gabets £9.99 rating 89
Big bramble nose, good use of oak, nice structure, very solid wine
Passo Mastro Frappato Syrah Terre Siciliane £6.99 rating 90
Bottle wrapped in white paper, looks great, plum and blackberry, vanilla and black pepper
Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva £7.99 rating 90
Forward oak, vanilla and coconut, bold black fruit palate, great value
Outlook Bay Central Otago Pinot Noir £9.99 rating 91
Looks very classy and does not disappoint, spice, bramble, forest floor, fantastic at a tenner
Champagne Comte Senneval Vintage £19.99 rating 91
Generous green apple nose, brioche and red apple palate, beauty, amazing price
Armilar Ruby Port £6.49 - rating 90
Serve chilled, lovely hearty ruby port, house port for the winter
New Wine Tour Range Available 27th September 2018
Moulin a Vent, Beaujolais £7.99 rating 90
Spicy nose, black pepper and raspberry, full on for Beaujolais but very pleasing
Clos de Batuts, Cahors £6.99 rating 89
Lovely open nose all black pepper and coconut husk, lovley Old World feel, classy
Duc de Chasteignier Listrac £6.99 rating 89
Ripe black berry notes, full on cedar and spice, bramble palate, hot Bordeaux
Fitou Les Cazals Cascatel £8.99 rating 89
Lovely full on palate, bramble, cinnamon and a touch of smoke, warming finish
Costieres de Nimes £6.49 rating 90
Pencil box and pencil rubber nose, wonderful, blueberry palate, full on, great value
Plan del Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages £6.99 rating 91
Ripe black fruit, cracked black pepper, oak, the full works, integrated, super stuff
Gigondas £11.99 rating 91
Classy autumn Sunday lunch wine, bursting with blackberry, rich and rewarding
Chateau La Peyrere, Bordeaux Blanc £5.99 rating 90
Simple, light and fresh, wonderful lemon peel palate, only 11% easy drinker
Cotaux Bourguignons £6.99 rating 89
Light buttery nose, red apple palate, hint of mineral, real beauty
Mascavinae Picpoul de Pinet £6.99 rating 88
Classy looking bottle, lime peel and zest, very well made, top value
Jean Cornelius Alsace Riesling £7.99 rating 89
Interesting aromatics, floral and perfumed, white blossom and tropical fruit
Champagne Brut, Senneval £10.99 half bottle £6.99 rating 90
Miraculous price for this beautiful bready, lime Champagne, amazing
Cremant de Bourgogne £7.99 rating 89
Super wine, light toasty nose, green apple palate, really well made, great price
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh £7.99 rating 91
Wonderful combination of sweetness and acidity, fine balance, lemon peel, candied fruit
Muscadet de Saint Jean de Minervois £5.99 - half bottle rating 90
Wonderful floral aromatics, real grapey wine, beautiful, amazing price
Christmas Wine Cellar Available 24th November 2017
Grechetto,Gaudiale £5.99 rating 89
Pleasant light wite flower nose, good fresh citrus palate, interesting at the price.
Verdicchio deiCastelli di Jesi Classico Superiore £6.99 rating 90
Classy looking bottle, green fruit nose and white stone fruit palate, very pleasing
Tete a Tete,Pinot Gris/Riesling £7.99 rating 89
Smashing wine, medium dry, lime and spiced pear, beauty
Alte Vogtei Zu Ravensburg Spatburgunder £8.99 rating 89
Classy nose, tar and tobacco leaf, lovely savoury and raspberry palate, versatile
Syrah Frappato Terre Siciliane £5.99 rating 89
Big, generous wine, all black pepper and bramble, expressive and warming
Ciro Classico Superiore Reserva £6.99 rating 89
Brick red with age, spiced pepper and cedar nose, classy, elegant
Amarone della Valpolicella, Corte Allodola 2012 £12.99 rating 91
Deep concentrated black fruit compote, black cherry and plum, oak and smoke
Bardolino Chiaretto £6.99 rating 89
Absolute belter of a wine at the prices, classy Italian pink fizz, refreshing redcurrant
Pinot Grigio Veneto Spumante £6.99 rating 89
Lovely hint of sweetness (just off-dry) brings peach flavour to the fore, party wine
Vin Santo del Chianti £9.99 rating 90
Beautiful savoury nutty nose, intense sweetness, rich Christmas cake palate
Grand Tkaji Aszu £13.99 rating 89
On the pricey side but very classy, Lemon and lime peel, sweet but balanced with acidity
Check out the three lovely boxed Icewines from Canada - go for the Cabernet Franc, rich and unctuous. £14.99 rating 92
Available from 28th September 2017
Bordeaux Blanc, L'Horizon Cuvee Morgane £5.99 rating 89
Light gooseberry nose, zippy fresh and herbal, top wine great price
Touraine, Clos des Ronceveaux £6.49 rating 89
Perfect light sauvignon all green grass and cucumber
Petit Chablis, Oliveira Lecestre £10.99 rating 90
Lovely mineral nose, stone fruit palate, restrained and poised
Riesling, Hans Michel £7.99 rating 90
Good old fashioned riesling, dry but floral and aromatic, beautifully perfumed
Chardonnay Rex Goliath (USA) £4.99 rating 89
Big buttery, oaky chardonnay, proper old skool US style, bargain!
Mercurey, Louis Chavy £11.99 rating 91
Bramble and black pepper, tar and savoury leather, very good indeed.
Minervois,Chateau Bonhomme £4.99 rating 88
Spicy black pepper nose, good solid fruity backbone, well made, very well priced.
Fitou, Cers & Marin £5.99 rating 91
Lovely earthy depth on nose, black cherry and oak, fab wine.
Cremant de Limoux Brut, L'Ephemere £7.99 rating 90
Lovely green grass nose, dry and fresh, hint of white peach, great value fizz.
Champagne Brut Rose, Bissinger £14.99 rating 89
Touch of light raspberry, some toasty complexity, fab pink fizz.
Available from 25th May 2017
Palmela, Paco do Bispo £4.99 rating 89
Lovely soft, fresh, approachable wine, green fruit, touch of tropical flowers
Marsanne, Val de Salis £6.99
Light green tropical fruit, bags of fresh citrus, touch of minerality
Chardonnay Viognier, Val de Salis £6.49 rating 90
Grassy meadow nose, green apple, layers of flavour, deep and refreshing
Chardonnay Viognier Reserva Privada, Vajero, Chile, £4.99 rating 90
Loads of fresh green fruit, apple and pear, balanced acidity, great price
Chardonnay, Bourgogne £6.99 rating 89
Lovely creamy nose and palate, well judged oak, fresh green limes
Verdejo, Finca los Trenzones, Spain, £4.99 rating 88
Proper summer garden wine, well priced, easy drinking, party or BBQ fare
Somontano Crianza 2011 £4.99 rating 89
Touch of leather on nose, violets and blkack fruit palate, hot pepper and spice finish
Carinena Gran Reserva, Monte Plogar, Spain 2010 £4.99 rating 89
Big powerful wine, ripe black fruit and earthy notes, very solid value
Rioja Reserva, Soligamar 2011 £9.99 rating 89
Shows age on nose, juicy cherry, pepper and spice, loads of oak, classy
Toro Crianza, Tulga, Spain 2013 £4.99 rating 90
Plum and black pepper, intense fruit, damson and bramble, terrific wine
Bordeaux, Terres Nouvelles 2014 £6.49 rating 89
Lovely cedar and pencil box nose, spice and bramble, classy 2014
Valdepenas Gran Reserva, Los Molinos 2009 £5.99 rating 89
Development on nose, earthy notes, lots of oaky support, good holding black fruit
Blanc de Blancs Brut, Languedoc, £7.99 rating 89
Lovely simple, uncomplex wine, dry and mineral, great value fizz
Ribeiro Santo Portugal, £8.99 rating 89
Lovely looking bottle, interesting wine, lots of complexity on the palate
