THE DRINKER
EAT - DRINK - BE MERRY
WAITROSE 2018 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
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
Il Venti Rosso (Ita) £4.79 88
Forward fruit, very well made, bargain, big wine great value
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 £8.49 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 £8.49 89
The first rule of Tuna Club.... Seaside and ozone nose, bright, fresh wine
Arnegui Viura Blanco Rioja £7.99 89
White stone fruit, peach and pear, lovely fresh easy white
Les Collines de Luzanet, Cotes de Gascoigne £7.99 89
Lovely open floral nose, fresh gooseberry, aromatic sauvignon
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) £7.49 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
The Menagerie Exotic Collection (NZ) £7.79 89
Off dry, peach and white blossom, good holding acidity, white pepper finish
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 Procupine 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
Teruzzi & Puthod (Ita) £8.99 89
Full, fresh and vibrant, good holding acidity and bags of green fruit character
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) £8.99 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
Irvine Merlot, Barossa £7.99 90
Big wine, bursting with ripe black fruit, proper BBQ wine, fruit and oak
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
Valle de Viento Old Vine Carrignan (Spa) £6.49 89
Full oaky spice, very well made, easy tannins, full fruit, great value
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 Negroamaro/Primitivo/Nero di Troia (Ita) £8.79 90
Black cherry nose, ripe easy tannins, good full on fruit, really big and interesting wine
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
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) £13.99 91
Tobacco, spice and black pepper, full on powerful stuff but elegant with it
Stobi Winery Barrique Syrah (Macedonia) £11.99 91
Full on intense wine, powerful alcohol, inky, concentrated fruit compote
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, Cave des Vignerons (FRA) £14.49 87
High standard Chablis for the price, good acidity and minerality
Terredora Greco di Tufo (Ita) £12.99 89
Lime and floral nose, good body and acidity, lovely generous fruit palate
Chandon Brut NV Mendoza Argentina £16.99 90
Wonderful wine, made by Moet & Chandon in Argentina, white pepper and spice
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
Domaine du Grapillion d'Or 2015 Gigondas £19.99 93
Classy looking bottle, big spice, earthy and rich, deep intense fruit, powerful
Chateau la Marzelle 2004 Saint Emillion Grand Cru £45.00 92
Developing really well, mature, savoury aroma, full fruit, leather, beautiful
Montecrasto Ribera Reserva 2013 £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 £28.99 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
Boschendal Chardonnay SA £19.99 93
Heavy, classy bottle, nice use of oak, vanilla and flint, good fruit, super wine
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
Leckford Estate Brut, Hampshire £26.99 91
Lovely creamy nose, soft and light, touch of strawberry and hedgerow
Ridgeview Merret Bloomsbury (ENG) £28.00 91
Serious yeasty nose, cooking apple and savoury palate, really complex
Hush Heath Estate Balfour Leslie's Reserve Kent (ENG) £24.00 90
Green nettle nose, English meadow palate, lovely long finish, top stuff
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
Waitrose Brut Special Reserve Vintage 2005 Champagne £24.99 92
Lovely apple pie and brioche nose, as good a vintage Champers as you'll get at the price
Piollot Cuvee 'come des Tallants' Zero Dosage (Fra) £25.99 94
Fresh bread and yeast nose, deep and intense palate, very complex, wonderful
