Cracking spring bargains!

My pick of the best-value bottles

2024-03-29 -

IF You know where to look, there are some fantastic bargains to be had in the wine aisles. And, with extra discounts if you buy in bulk, you could stock up for spring, too.

FINE WINE (usually £20 plus) Morrisons The Best Chablis Premier Cru

£19 (save £5), Morrisons

CHABLIS has four quality levels from Petit Chablis all the way up to Grand Cru. This sits just below the top and showcases traditional pale melon and cool mineral flavours.

Lanson Champagne Black Label Brut NV £40.99, Waitrose

LANSoN screams ‘ English summer’ with its Wimbledon connotations and it’s a gloriously easy-going Champagne that’s effortlessly classy. There’s a tempting £10 off per bottle, if you buy six.

Saint Emilion Grand Cru Château Guillemin La Gaffelière £9.99 (save £10), Aldi

THIS must be a one- off special for Aldi because, even at full-price, this is a total bargain. Blackcurrant and cedar with a very Bordeaux metallic tang. Great with beef.

Heidsieck Monopole Champagne Rosé £24 (save £9.50), Morrisons

THE Monopole has been a classic for generations and the rosé, with its aromatic, red fruit, is rarer than the white version.

Nyetimber Cuvee Chérie NV £41.50, Ocado

NYETIMBER put sparkling fine English wine on the map, but it can get expensive. Chérie is the first English demi- sec (semi- sweet) wine. Buy six to save £10 per bottle.

MID-RANGE (£8-20) Sainsbury’s Cremant d’Alsace, Taste the Difference

£10.50 (save £1), Sainsbury’s CRÉMANT’S star is rising again and those stocking up on easy, yet classy fizz need look no further. Already great value, the buy six offer brings this down to under £8 per bottle.

Château d’Estoublon Rose Méditerranée

£13.99 (save £8, mix six), Majestic

A RELATIVELY new name on the premium, French rosé scene, Roseblood is made by wine- making legends and combines ripe fruit with slick salinity.

Taste the Difference Cotes de Provence Rosé £9.50 (save £2), Sainsbury’s

RoSÉ season is coming back and Provence leads the way in the quality and kudos department. Well worth grabbing.

Pol Guyot Selection Champagne Brut

£13 (save £6), Sainsbury’s

THIS price drop makes it cheaper than Aldi and Lidl’s versions. Think crunchy apples under a crispy crumble. use the mix six discount to get it even cheaper, too.

Extra Special Uco Valley Malbec £8 (Save £4), Asda

ARGENTINA’S uco Valley is a premium spot for grape vines, thanks to its very high altitude. Malbec from here, like this, is concentrated and blueberry- scented with a cocoa powder finish.

GREAT VALUE

(£7 and under)

Toro Loco Superior £4.99, Aldi

BELIEVE it or not given the price, this is the trade-up red from Aldi’s straight Toro Loco. Flavoursome and foodfriendly, if a touch rustic.

Specially Selected Le Bourgeron Pinot Noir

£4.99 (save £3.30), Aldi THIS cheeky little French Pinot, with its notes of ripe cherry, baked raspberry and a whiff of vanilla, is a decent dupe of a more expensive red Burgundy. A must buy.

Pecorino Terre di Chieti

£5.49, Lidl

A CRISP, dry and yeasty little Italian number that over delivers on quality and pretty packaging.

Isla Negra Cabernet Sauvignon £5.95, Ocado

oCADo has worked hard to keep the Chilean Isla Negra wines low in price to compete with other supers and this powerful, cedary, cassis-scented red is a bargain.