THE DRINKER
EAT - DRINK - BE MERRY
WAITROSE CELLAR 2018/19 TOP WINES IN PRICE CATEGORY
SUMMARY
Far more wines recommended here than any of the other major retailers, partly due to the huge number of wines at their tasting and partly due to the brilliance of their wine team in selecting so many great quality and good value wines. This list really has everything including some new Bag in Box wines from Italy, which might look pricey but contain the same amount as three bottles. Also look out for their newly branded and expanding Blueprint range which are pretty much all tip-top.
Please bear in mind that not all of these wines are available in every store - but they can all be found here at Waitrose Cellar where you can do a next day click and collect from any UK store. Prices are subject to variation.
KEY
The reds are written up in this colour
The whites in this colour
Pink in this colour
The fizz in this colour
Fortifieds in this colour
Christmas 2018 Wines
10 Fine Wines for £10 - highlights
Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir
Beautiful light pink fizz, bargain at £10, light peach and raspberry palate
El Piadoso Gran Reserva Rioja 2008
You simply won't find a better Rioja on the highstreet at this price
The Hedonist Shiraz
Big bold black fruit dominate, lovely black pepper spice finish
Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
Big heavyweight bottle, easy ripe fruit some woodsmoke and tocacco
Broglia Gavi di Gavi
Classy drop and only £10, apple, cinamon, minerailty, zesty lime
Louis Latour White Burgundy
All that you want in a white Burgundy, green fruit and a creamy mouthfeel
Rustenberg Chardionnay, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Good use of oak, vanilla balancing with greengage, cream and coconut, fantastic
Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Grassy nose, gooseberry and tropical fruit palate, bursting with life
Wines on offer from 28/11 to 01/01/19 - offer price listed
Chateau Florie Aude Bordeaux 2014 £7.99 rating 90
Very classy Christmas Claret at the price, pencil box and cedar nose, intense bramble palate
Paul Mas Reserve Grenache/Syrah/Carignan £6.99 rating 90
Heavy bottle! Solid wine, plum, damson and oak, v.good indeed at the price
L'Arene des Anges Costieires de Nimes £5.99 rating 89
Very decent drinking, party wine, full and ripe, bold and intense stewed fruit
Montidori Sangiovese Romagna £6.99 rating 89
Wonderful violet nose, warm and deep black cherry palate, wonderful structure
Terre di Faiano Organic Primitivo Salento £7.49 rating 90
Forward vanilla nose, big fruit to balance, easy tannins, smashing wine
Escarpment The Edge Pinot Noir, Marlborough £11.99 rating 89
Fresh cracked black pepper nose, light game and savoury palate, classy
McGuigan Family Release Shiraz £5.99 rating 89
A belting price for a straightforward fruit driven wine, easy going, easy drinker
Fief Guerin Muscadet Sur Lie, Cotes de Grandlieu £7.49 rating 89
Wonderful aromatics, green vine leaf, olive and lime, amazing price
Dourthe Terroirs d'Exception Roqueblanch Sauvignon Blanc £6.99 rating 89
Perfect party wine, lovely grassy character, zippy and fresh, belting value
Louis Moreau Chablis 2017 £14.39 rating 92
Perfect Christmas lunch wine, unoaked Chablis, complex but refreshing, adaptable
Forte Alto Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti Trentino £6.49 rating 88
Fresh easy drinking pinot grigio at an adorable price
Radacini Sauvignon Blanc (Moldova) £4.99 rating 88
Kiwi style sauvignon, gooseberry and elderflower, incredible value for sauvignon lovers
Waitrose in Partnership Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough £7.99 rating 90
Lovely big tropical fruit nose, lychee, pineapple and apricot, under £8 for NZ SB!
Earth, Vine and Sun Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion S. Africa £5.99 rating 89
Proper party wine, enough about it to keep us interested, cheap enough to look generous
McGuigan Family Release Chardonnay £5.99 rating 89
Forward oaky chardonnay, lime and coconut, vanilla finish
La Gioiosa Prosecco Superiore £8.99 rating 90
Classy looking bottle, nose of peach palate of sherbet, lovely stuff
Charli Vecchia Modena Pignoletto Spumante Brut £7.99 rating 88
Hint of pear on the nose, fresh grass and lime, beatuifully made
Cordoniu '1872' Vintage Cava 2016 £7.99 rating 90
Cava is back! Precise melon and peach nose, yeasty undertone to palate, perfect Cava
Cuvee Royale Brut Cremant de Limoux £8.99 rating 91
Perfect wine, open and fresh nose, green apple, lovely brioche palate, classy
Graham Beck Chardonnay/Pinot Noir S. Africa £10.99 rating 90
All sorts of complexity in this magnificent wine, apple, bread, toast, pear, amazing stuff
Leckford Estate Brut Hampshire £21.49 rating 91
Give the English fizz a go, this is amazing, green hedgerow and nettle, perfect fizz
Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne £18.39 rating 91
Brilliant cooking apple nose, deep, complex and giving all it should be
BAG IN BOX WINES remember that you're getting the equivalent of 3 bottles in these and that works out at £8.60 per bottle
When In Rome Nero d'Avola £25.99 90
Bags of primary black fruit, nicely made, easy drinking, soft tannins, food wine
When In Rome Falanghina £25.99 90
Brilliant Wednesday night fridge wine, god fresh acidity, fresh citrus, some mineral notes
Up to £5
Waitrose Vibrant and Grassy Chilean White £4.99 89
Lovely easy floral sauvignon, delicate nose, touch of gooseberry, fresh
Up to £10
Les Canots Picpoul de Pinet £8.49 89
Good citrus nose, green grass and lime peel, hit of mineral- chalk on palate
Vom Loes Pinot Blanc (Ger) £7.99 89
Elegant floral nose, white flowers, dry, really well made, top wine at the price
Voyage au Sud Vermentino Pays d'Oc £6.49 89
A perfect summer wine, light and fresh, zippy acidity, good citrus notes, value
Maree d'Ione Organic Fiano £8.79 89
Classy wine at the price, light and easy drinking, lovely tropical palate, mango and pineapple
Fenaroli Pecorino Superiore £9.99 89
Beautiful, fruity number, full and giving, citrus and summer meadow, cracker
Cowrie Bay Sauvignon Blanc NZ £7.49 88
Big Kiwi sauvignon, grapefruit, elderflower, refreshing acidity, great typicity
Waitrose Blueprint Chilean Sauvignon Blanc £7.49 88
Soft and fruity, some light sauvignon aromatics, floral and fresh
Mont Gras Reserva Chardonnay £8.99 88
Lovely nutty, creamy nose, grassy chardonnay, apple and custard, too oaky?
Swartland Private Collection Chenin Blanc £8.29 90
A very generous wine, all mango, lime and peach, great value, top stuff
Talisman Gruner Veltliner,Hungary £6.99 89
White blossom nose, forward fruit, peach and pear, nicely made
Waitrose Vina Taboexa Albarino £8.49 90
Beautiful zesty wine, lively citrus, touch of apricot white stone fruit, mineral finish
Baily and Baily Riesling Aus £8.79 88
Lovely aromtic, floral nose, mineral palate balanced with tropical fruit and flowers
Cuvee Pecheur (Fra) £5.49 87
Simple, uncomplex, gooseberry notes, good price, easy drinker
Thorn-Clarke Pinot Grigio (Aus) £8.99 89
Classy P. Grigio, white flowers and stone fruit, has real character
Tuna Club Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc £6.99 89
The first rule of Tuna Club.... Seaside and ozone nose, bright, fresh wine
The Waterfront Chardonnay/Viognier, South Africa £7.99 88
Great value fresh white, green apple and citrus, zippy acidity, smasher
Sandiford Road Pinot Grigio, California £7.99 90
Very floral, more gris than grigio, peach and blossom, off dry, well made
Corbello Cataratto/Inzolia (Ita) £7.99 90
Only 11.5% alcohol, soft and easy drinking style, light white fruit, lovely
Moncaro Verdicchio dei Casteli di Jesi Classico (Ita) £5.99 89
As good a sub £6 as you'll get, great house/party wine, uncomplex but v pleasing
Waitrose Dry German Riesling £7.99 88
Good aromatic wine, floral, perfumed, solid acidity on palate, white blossom
Domaine de Sainte Rose Coquille d'Oc Blanc (Fra) £7.99 89
Lovely peachy nose, fresh acidity, good forward green fruit palate
Sous le Soleil du Midi Chardonnay Vin de France £5.99 88
Very approachable, easy drinking party wine, good straightforward white
Yalumba Organic Viognier (Aus) £9.99 89
Hint of blossom, floral nose, good minerality, clean lines, crisp, great value
Secret Cellar Pinot Grigio Western Cape (SA) £7.79 89
Good, well priced, floral nose, tropical fruit palate, beauty
Le Grand Ballon Sauvignon Blanc (Fra) £8.99 89
Lime and minerality, grassy and green apple, lovely fresh acidity
Calvet Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc (Fra) £6.99 88
Light hint of elderflower, green apple and zest, pleasing body, well priced
Waitrose Blueprint White Burgundy (Fra) £8.99 89
Green apple and peach blossom nose, light oak, buttery, lovely
Cowrie Bay Chardonnay (NZ) £6.99 89
Melon on nose, good body, tropical and citrus palate, lots of wine at great value
Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc (SA) £7.99 88
Fresh zest sauvignon, not too floral but the right amount of fruit to acidity
Waitrose Gavi (Ita) £8.49 89
Good fresh acidity sitting under lovely citrus fruit notes, hint of melon
Waitrose Californian Chardonnay (USA) £6.49 92
Soft peachy nose, creamy palate, lovely citrus finish, classy
Cowrie Bay Merlot, Hawke's Bay NZ £7.49 90
Open fruity nose, bramble and blueberry, soft on palate, easy drinking, value
Tempus Two Silver Series Cabernet Sauvignon Aus £7.99 90
Little hint of menthol, big wine, eucalyptus and blackcurrant, bold primary flavours
Storm Tree Shiraz (Aus) £5.49 90
Big fruit driven nose, plum and blackcurrant, menthol note, hot finish, lovely
Mont Gras Reserva Pinot Noir (Chile) £9.39 89
Delicate light redcurrant nose, easy fruity Pinot Noir, bramble and cedar
Waitrose Blueprint Reserva Carmenere (Chile) £7.49 89
Lots of wine for your money, lots of black fruit, cherry and currant
Heredad del Rey Monastrell/Syrah Seleccion Reservada, Yecla £7.99 88
Soft spiced bramble nose, good fruit driven red, well priced, mouthwatering finish
Sandiford Road Pinot Noir, California £8.99 90
Ripe pinot noir, touch jammy in a good way, lots of American oak
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, California £8.59 89
Spiced cinamon and pepper, light violet, big but refined, hot finish
James Irvine Signature Selection Merlot (Aus) £7.99 91
Classy wine, great look and palate, intense damson, generous
Atkins Farm Shiraz (Aus) £9.99 90
Tobacco, spice and pepper nose, black fruit palate, big wine, very good
Triade Rosso Negroamaro/Primitivo/Nero di Troia (Ita) £8.99 90
Black cherry nose, ripe easy tannins, good full on fruit, really big and interesting wine
Maree d'Ione Nero di Trioa, Puglia £8.79 90
Generous black cherry palate and bold use of oak, mouthwatering stuff
Sous le Soleil du Midi Merlot (Fra) £5.99 89
Everyday drinking, forward fruit, soft tannin, make a great party wine
Anda Tempranillo/Syrah (Spa) £7.99 90
Soft, spicy wine, warming and generous, full on black fruit, spicy autumn wine
Blason du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages £9.49 89
Lovely soft, sweet, ripe black fruit, intense with lovely firm tannins
Domaine de Sainte Rose Coquille d' Oc Rose (Fra) £7.49 89
Light raspberry on nose, young, fruity dry, party wine
Le Grand Ballon Rose (Fra) £8.99 89
Easy drinking rose, hint of redcurrant, refreshing acidity
Vignale Pinot Grigio Rose Blush (Ita) £6.29 88
Lovely fresh BBQ wine, light strawberry, zippy acidity, bring on the summer
Luis Felipe Edwards Cab Sauv/Merlot Rose (Chi) £6.99 90
Lovely open peachy nose, well balanced, very well priced, top stuff
Montgravet Cinsault Rose £5.99 88
Good open nose, bright red cherry, light and refreshing
Waitrose Prosecco £7.89 88
Soft and interesting, light peach, fresh acidity, great value
Up to £15
La Calesa Privada Roble Campo de Borja £10.99 91
Wonderfully put together wine, forward juicy ripe black fruit, nice tannic structure, long spicy finish
La Sabbie dell' Etna Rosso £12.99 92
Very pretty bottle, deep ripe black fruit, integrated tannins, classy Sicilian
Norton Winemaker's Reserve Malbec, Mendoza £12.99 91
Complex nose, hay loft and baking bread, ripe and savoury, really intriguing wine
Kilkanoon Grenache/Shiraz/Mouverdre £10.99 90
Open spice and bramble, touch medicinal, big, bold, open, menthol
Yalumba Galway Shriaz, Barossa Valley £12.99 90
Eucalyptus and black cherry, inky, black currant leaf, long hot finish
Brazin Old Vine Zinfandel (USA) £13.99 90
Fresh rain on a hot day, plump ripe stewed fruit, good tannin
The Hedonist Shiraz (Aus) £14.99 91
Tobacco, spice and black pepper, full on powerful stuff but elegant with it
Recanati Shiraz, Upper Galilee (Israel) £14.99 92
Big burnt oak nose, full on fruit, intense, very well crafted wine, deep
Ara Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (NZ) £11.99 91
Red cherry and cinamon nose, earthy, deep, spiced oak, red currant finish
Rustenberg John X Merriman (SA) £14.99 89
Deep intense spice and black fruit, very concentrated, good wine
Waitrose Douro Valley Reserva Quinta da Rossa (Por) £11.49 89
Bottle looks so good, full ripe plum and damson, lovely hint of bitterness, classy
Noble Vines Chardonnay, California £14.99 91
Wonderful apple and vanilla nose, good, full oak, buttery wine, creamy texture
Chateau Souverain Chardonnay, California £10.99 90
Good lees body and complexity, grass, vanilla, oak, fabulous wine at the price
Waitrose Chablis (FRA) £13.99 87
High standard Chablis for the price, good acidity and minerality
Terredora Greco di Tufo (Ita) £14.99 89
Lime and floral nose, good body and acidity, lovely generous fruit palate
Boschendal Chardonnay SA £10.49 93
Heavy, classy bottle, nice use of oak, vanilla and flint, good fruit, super wine
San Leo Rosato (ita) £10.49 90
Light raspberry nose, persistent mousse, soft in mouth, great value
Cava L'Alzar Brut Reserva 2015 £10.99 89
Beautiful yeasty nose, good drinking, green apple, Cava is back!
Mirabeau en Provence La Foille Sparkling Rose £13.99 90
Classy looking wine, lovely light red berry notes, yeasty touch, balanced
Over £15
Morambo Creek Canernet Sauvignon, Padthaway, S. Australia £16.99 93
Fantastic smoky charcoal nose, big, powerful wine, deep concentrated black fruit, smashing stuff
Domaine du Grapillion d'Or 2015 Gigondas £19.99 93
Classy looking bottle, big spice, earthy and rich, deep intense fruit, powerfull
Montecrasto Ribera Reserva £26.99 91
Classy looking bottle, intense and concentrated, power and expression, great wine
Orovela Saperavi (Geo) £16.79 88
Big damson and plum, heavyweight wine in heavyweight bottle
Louis Latour Volnay Premier Cru En Chevret (Fra) £49.99 93
Great example of how age affects red Burgundy, developing savoury fruit and settled tannins
Coeur de Rochevine, Saint Joseph £29.99 93
Big heavy bottle, big heavy wine, spiced fruit and oak, forest floor development, proper wine
Domaine de la Pousse d' Or Chambolle Musigny £50.00 92
Lovely developing pinot noir nose, bramble and forest floor, nice structure, Christmas Day wine
Blason du Rhone Chateauneuf du Pape £22.49 90
Generous spice, black pepper and cedar, subtle fruit but powerful, mouthwatering stuff
Cave de Tain Hermitage £29.99 92
Deep and inky looking, complex blood, soil and gravel, full on fruit, wonderful
Jean-Max Roger Le Clocher d'Amelie Sancerre £18.99 91
Really precise Sancerre, green lemon ppel, grass and cucumber, proper Xmas Day wine
Cave des Grand Crus Pouilly-Loche £15.99 92
Mineral, peach and citrus nose, good body, lovely mouthfeel, lots of wine for the money
Moss Wood Semillion, Margaret River £16.99 91
Really very, very good, the full ticket, citrus, fig, orange blossom, complex, wonderful
Lismore Estate Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc (SA) £19.99 91
First rate wine, lovely fruit and oak in balance, good body, complex and giving
Frei Brothers Reserve Chadonnay, Russian River Valley, California £17.99 91
Deep and complex nose and palate, creamy apple and vanilla, class act
Louis Guntrum Oppenheimer Sacktrager Riesling (Ger) £17.99 90
Fresh floral, white blossom aromatics, green stone fruit, dry but with good body
Domaine Gerard Thomas St Aubin Premier Cru (Fra) £24.99 92
Depth on nose, mineral and fruit, green touch on palate, melon and apple, classy
Chorley les Beaune, Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils (Fra) £21.49 92
First rate wine, my ideal for Christmas Day, generous palate, subtle and elegant, lovely hit of oak
Ridgeview Bloomsbury (ENG) £28.00 91
Serious yeasty nose, cooking apple and savoury palate, really complex
Digby Fine English Leander Pink (ENG) £30.00 90
Lovely classy looking pink fizz, hint of raspberry, classy stuff
Breaky Bottom Brut Sussex (Eng) £26.99 91
Green apple and brioche nose, soft mouthfeel, world class fizz
Jansz Premium Cuvee Pipers River, Tasmania £17.99 91
Grassy and green apple nose, classy very well made wine, great value
Chandon Brut NV Mendoza Argentina £16.99 90
Wonderful wine, made by Moet & Chandon in Argentina, white pepper and spice
