Page 35 - PIC e-newsletter Spring Issue 8

BARGAIN
Bottles
Professor Dominic Regan returns to share his top tips for a bargain wine that you’ll say ‘cheers’ with more times than you’d expect!
he aim of this note is to
point readers in the direction
of decent wine that is not indecently priced. Bargains are still to be had if you know what to look for and where to buy.
The red that is a screaming bargain for me is Beaujolais. People still think of the Nouveau races long ago. The real stuff
is lovely. Fresh and fruity; at the lower end and ne is Beaujolais Villages. In ascending price there are then speci c Cru Beaujolais, speci c areas each with their own style. I love Brouilly. Others to look for are Fleurie and Chiroubles. 2016 was a beautiful vintage.
Also underpriced is Spanish Rioja. Some white is produced but the bulk is red.
A good Rioja ought to have a hint of vanilla in the flavour and should not
be over oaked. It is still possible to nd bottles from 2004 and 2005, both brilliant years. Majestic get supplies of even older bottles and last Christmas
I saw a 1981 on the shelf. If French, the cost would be dramatically more. Sainsbury’s has a decent range and
its £5.75 (or thereabouts) number is exquisite. Incidentally, it can be
drunk by itself or as a companion
to food.
Morrisons supermarkets are randomly dispersed. You
are in luck if you have
one nearby. Its Cape Red and White numbers
from South Africa at about £8, on promotion
at £6.50, are classy. Master of Wine Jancis Robinson picked the Chardonnay as one of
her best buys in a list that ran up to £50.
ASDA is very strong on its own label wines. Its wine buyers are smart. It is
a gamble buying a bottle with a pretty label but their range, priced at about £6, is safe.
Waitrose sell good wine in ugly bottles with generic names akin to Spanish Red. They come in at a ver. What is in the bottle is utterly palatable. Pay a pound more for its French Sous Soleil, fresh and so fruity.
I have recommended Sainsbury’s own label wines before. All have a black label and a simple one wine label e.g. Shiraz or Sauvignon Blanc. They look cheap
– and at under £5, they are cheap, but they are okay; for a Monday evening snifter, you are in luck.
The Coop Fairtrade array is lovingly made. Pinot Noir was lovely, I thought. Aldi is best, paradoxically, with the cheapest bottles. The Loco from Spain is under £4 and you should not nd
fault with it.
Marks and Spencer is always pricey but its deals can make bottles affordable. The big shops now stock wine at £50 and Champagne at £125. Don’t bother. Instead, look for exotic wines from Argentina, Bolivia and Canada.
Tesco Finest Malbec and Rioja are seriously good. I would run from their cheap Italian red and whites though.
Across the board in all shops I regard wines from Chile as well made and good value. The climate is suitable for developing elegant drinks.
Beware South African reds. The
climate is hot and recent tastings have consistently given an aftertaste of burnt material. The expensive exception is anything made by Hamilton Russell.
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