Paula's Wines of the Week (July 21st 2008)

By Paula Goddard - 21/07/2008

Welcome to our new wine column by Paula Goddard, writer, speaker, wine-tasting tutor and long-time champion of the greatest grapes on the planet. In between writing for national magazines and websites and tending her allotment, she downs the occasional goblet of wine, pot of Ceylon tea and slice of home-made cake, she will cut through wine's mystery and jargon to bring you the best wine tips each week, and is available to answer your questions and listen to any offers you may have spotted in your local supermarket ...

 

"Finding and recommending tasty wines is what this new column is all about. And if these have been marked down by a couple of pounds a bottle, even better, because good wine needn't be an expensive business - but working your way through the bland and disappointing can be. That's where I come in. I'll sort out the bargains from the 'you've-got-to-be-kidding' bottles for you. Only wines that pass the taste test and are easily available will get recommended here.

 

Try these six wines - available at supermarkets and High Street off- licences - as a starter.

 

£3.99 and under

 

Despite the recent duty increase on wine there are still some good bottles to be found that cost the same as a couple of National Lottery tickets.

 

Sainsbury's Neirsteiner Gutes Domtal, £2.99 Sainsbury's:

The three pounds and under market is dominated by German wines. Many taste overly sweet and unbalanced without the necessary citrusy and floral flavours that make a white wine refreshing. But this low alcohol (only 9.5% alcohol by volume) blend of German grape varieties tastes smoothly of lemon and orange blossom. A good match with Chinese food.

 

Fairhills Mendoza Vineyards Shiraz Tempranillo 2007, £3.69 Tesco (down from £4.99 until July 29):

This high-class pizza wine tastes and smells of jam, and pots of it. 

Blackcurrant, plum and strawberry all mingle nicely in this Argentinian red wine. There's really nothing to dislike.

 

£5.99 and under

 

This is where the bulk of wines are priced. Here you'll find a lot of forgettable  wines but there a few fruity, slurpable ones among the 
masses.

 

Chileno Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc 2007, £4.29 Somerfield:
This Chilean white is a real bargain. Why not get in a couple of 
bottles of mouth-watering gooseberry, melon and pineapple tasting 
white wine to go with, well almost anything really.

 

Yellow Tail Verdelho 2006, £5.49 Morrisons:
Aussie white wines can be rather bland. But this unusual grape 
variety packs so many aromas and flavours into the glass there's no 
chance of getting bored. If you like nibbling on nuts or munching on 
sponge pudding and custard, then this is the wine for you.

 

Costs a bit more, but tastes great

Sometimes, just occasionally, a bottle of wine tastes so fab it's 
still a bargain - whatever it costs.

 

Villa Maria New Zealand Riesling 2007, £7.99 Majestic, £8.99 Threshers:
Riesling wines from their native Germany can smell and taste rather 
unappealingly of petrol. But grow the grape in the warmer climates of 
New Zealand and the resulting wine tastes of melon and limes with a 
hint of runny honey. If you hadn't read the label you'd think this 
was a creamy Chardonnay - this is not your usual Riesling. Try 
drinking this with a Sainsbury's Taste the Difference quiche Lorraine 
or a bacon sarnie.

 

Codorníu Reserva Raventos Cava Brut, £9.99 for one Majestic or buy 2 
or more bottles and pay £6.66 a bottle.
The best sparkling wine around. Once you've tasted the magnificent 
combination of apples, pears, satsumas and lemonade with a zingy 
sherbet finish you'll wish you'd bought more. This wine makes a trip 
out to Majestic worth while."

 

If you want to tell Paula about a bargain bottle spotted at the 
supermarket or off-licence then contact her via 
jayne.warren@maturetimes.co.uk or directly through her website link below.