WEEKEND WINES
Get through the working week, and it’s time to crack open something a little bit more special. As a companion selection to our 25 wines under £20, the Decanter team has selected seven standout bottles that are sure to impress, all available in the UK and priced between £20 and £50
Champagne Guy Méa, L’Assemblage 1er Cru Brut, Champagne, France NV
£35.50 The Whisky Exchange
A very good value, Pinot Noir-dominant Champagne. Yellow plum, blanched almond and lemon rind aromas are supported by tangy Sorrento lemons in the mouth. The soft, silky, slightly honeyed mousse finishes chalky and dry. NE Alc 12%
Fitapreta, Palpite Branco Reserva, Alentejo, Portugal 2021
£32.50 Swig
There’s a Burgundian poise to this Arinto-based blend. Beautifully layered, with orange peel, Asian pear and roasted almonds topped by white pepper and aniseed. The core of honeydew melon, preserved lemon and Golden Delicious apple is carried by enticing salinity. IS Alc 13.5%
Benjamin Leroux, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Burgundy, France 2017
£45.50 Berry Bros & Rudd Talented young Burgundy vigneron Leroux also makes Berry’s own-label Côte d’Or Pinot Noir. This has bags of appeal, with spicy red berry and plum fruit, and crunchy acidity. Savoury, stony hints add interest. A little pricey perhaps, but very well made. JS Alc 13%
Boutari, Assyrtiko, Santorini, Greece 2021
£21.99 Aspris & Son
With prices for Santorini Assyrtiko going through the roof, it’s worth seeking out this affordable iteration. The linear acidity, salty tang and robust minerality will not disappoint. Green apple, pear, grapefruit and melon. Full and generous but also refreshingly zesty. IS Alc 13.5%
Damascene, Old Bush Vines Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2021
£39.95 Lea & Sandeman
Sourced from three sites located above 300m in Stellenbosch, with a small portion aged on the skins. Intense, fresh and saline, it’s at first peachy and floral then pithy and appley, leading to a long, dry finish. JB Alc 13%
López de Haro, Classica Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2005
£36 The Wine Society
What a treat! A mature Rioja, displaying all the complexity that you’d expect from a gran reserva at nearly 20 years of age: elegant and classic in style, with fresh and chewy dark berry fruit, and tertiary notes of tobacco and cedar. AW Alc 14%
Grosset, Rockwood Wild Shiraz, Watervale, Clare Valley, South Australia 2022 B
£27.99 Liberty Wines, Oz Wines, The Fine Wine Co Unrestrained in its vibrancy. Grapes from the Rockwood vineyard spontaneously ferment and the resulting wine is bottled unoaked, without fining, delivering a pure Shiraz expression. Blossoms in the glass and over a few days in bottle. Blackberry and blueberry pulp, thirst-quenching acidity, hints of liquorice and cherry, and a wet concrete-like minerality. TG Alc 13.8% D