RAISE A GLASS
And so the autumn winter reviews continue. Two weeks ago I brought you some wines from Tesco for the new season; now it’s the turn of Aldi.
Josh Heley, wine buyer at Aldi, says it is the retailer’s most premium range of wines yet. There are striking new grape varieties and countries represented from as far as China and Canada.
Aldi has also created a new superpremium brand of wine called Winemaster’s Lot, which sits above the Specially Selected range. These will be in store in time for Christmas.
This week I’m here about wines; but Andy Maxwell, another of Aldi’s wine buyers, gives a shout-out to a new Clementine and Blackberry gin liqueur which has flecks of gold leaf. I’m looking forward to bringing you that one in a few weeks’ time when it’s in store for Christmas!
Aldi’s organic proseccos are my favourite on the market and this Castellore Organic Prosecco Rosé 2020 (£8.49) is up there. It’s crafted from the traditional prosecco grape variety glera, with 10% pinot noir which gives the wine its pink hue.
This dry prosecco has elegant notes of strawberries and raspberries with a nudge of cranberry.
Look out for Specially Selected Sparkling Shiraz (£6.99) which I know one of my friends will be thrilled to see. She loves her sparkling Aussie shiraz, all plummy and black cherries.
I enjoyed this white: Specially Selected Italian Greco Di Tufo 2020 (£7.99). If pinot grigio is your thing then step away and reach out to other Italian whites. This silky wine has lovely notes of citrus and stone fruits. Think lemons, think peaches, think refreshing acidity.Aldi also has some stunning reds this season. Specially selected Lebanese Red 2019 (£7.99) is a snip for a glass of lush red and black fruits. It hails from the Bekaa Valley and is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cinsault, syrah and carignan. Those grapes, which have their homeland in France, have created a wine which is chunky and ripe.
Another one not to miss – and there are lots of good reds – is Specially Selected Minervois 2020 (£8.99) – from the south of France – which has syrah centre stage with cheeky grenache, cinsault and carignan in the blend. It’s a hug for autumn; spicy and warming.
Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.