Drinks of the Month
The best Jubilee fizz bargains
If you’re planning to celebrate the Jubilee with a glass - or two - of bubbly you’re not alone. According to Majestic the UK is going to be consuming 114 glasses of fizz per minute over the bank holiday weekend (not sure how they calculate this but fair to say it’s likely to be a fair bit!)
A lot of it, they say, will be English sparkling wine which has come down a fair bit in price with brand leader Nyetimber widely on offer at around £28. But there are cheaper places to buy it than Majestic even with their mix six deal - and cheaper English sparkling wines, come to that (some of which are made by the same winemaking team as Nyetimber though under a separate label Rolling Green Hills).
If you’re after a single bottle I would always advocate buying from an indy or direct from the producer if you have one near you but here’s where you’ll find the best supermarket bargains for bigger numbers.
For once Aldi and Lidl are not the place to go for cut-price bubbly although both have their well-priced champagne (Veuve Monsigny, in the case of Aldi, Comte de Senneval at Lidl)
But Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco all have 25% off six bottle deals (in Tesco’s case just for Clubcard members) which gives you more scope.
Asda
As I pointed out in my recent article for Guardian money Asda has the biggest discount at the moment - a half price deal on their newly launched Asquith Gardens which is selling for £9.99 and on which I was considerably keener than the customer who gave it a one star rating! Add the 25% discount if you buy 6 (which can be any six) and that brings the cost down to £7.49. They also have Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top champagne for £14.99 a bottle though not, it seems, on the discount deal (corrected by the reader below) And if you’re willing to drink cava rather than prosecco you can buy the very decent Marques del Norte for £7 (or £5.25 if you buy 6). Good with fish and chips.
Morrisons
Morrisons is obviously trying to steal Asda’s thunder by reducing its 2010 vintage The Best English Sparkling wine which I think has the edge on the Asquith to £15 instead of £25. Other fizz (and other wines) in their The Best range are on a 25% discount if you buy 3 - rather than six - bottles which would bring their basic The Best prosecco down to £5.99.
Sainsbury’s
Given its 25% off six bottles promotion Sainsbury’s has the best price on Nyetimber which is already on offer at £28 which makes it £21 on this deal. I also like their Ellercombe English sparkling wine (normally £22 down to £16.50) and their Taste the Difference Conegliano prosecco which is reduced to £8.50 (making it £6.38 on this offer)
Tesco
Tesco is offering its Clubcard members 25% off six bottles (you really need to be a Clubcard member to shop at Tesco these days). I’m not a massive fan of their English fizz (the rosé is better but it appears to be out of stock at the moment) but would buy their always reliable premier cru champagne, particularly in indulgent half bottles (£12 reduced to £9 for Clubcard members who buy six. The full size bottle is £21 which comes down to £15.75.) If you prefer a slightly fruitier fizz the Graham Beck brut from South Africa (£13 reduced to £9.75) is really nice - good for those who find champagne too dry and prosecco a touch too sweet.
Waitrose
Waitrose has focussed more on Jubilee editions than special offers but it has a good deal on Nyetimber at £27.90 which might be worth getting if you just want a single bottle. And a special limited edition bottle of Moet rosé for £46.
Note, although I’ve given the links it may not be possible to order the wines online in time for the weekend.
That’s it at the time of writing but given the intense competition to get customers through their doors for their main Jubilee shop I wouldn’t be surprised to see more offers in the next couple of days.
The best wines from Waitrose’s Fine Wines for £10 offer
As in previous years Waitrose has 10 'fine wines' on promotion at £10 in the run up to Christmas. All are on substantial discounts but are they a good buy? Some are, others less so in my view. Here are my top picks
Broglia Gavi di Gavi 2020 down from £15.99
Gavi might not be the most exciting of wines but it’s a real crowd pleaser - smooth and creamy, the sot of wine to drink with a risotto or pasta with a creamy sauce.
Pouilly Fumé Les Clos du Matin 2020 down from £15.99
Crisp, elegant and classic although still a bit shy and retiring. Will probably be better in the spring. And bear in mind you can buy decent Pouilly Fumé for quite a bit less than £16. At the Co-op for one.
Mirabeau Pure Rosé 2020 down from £15.49
If you’re a fan of Provencal rosé this should rock your boat and it’s a fair price for this smartly packaged bottle. Majestic for example is charging £14.99 for it on their mix 6 deal and £16.99 full price and Tesco is charging £15
Gaia organic Malbec 2019 Mendoza down from £16.49
The best of the reds IMO, made from organic vines, planted at 4000m above sea level. (That’s HIGH). Simply gorgeous ripe fruit. You’ll love it if you’re a malbec fan.
Hedonist Shiraz 2019 McLaren Vale down from £14.49
Another sumptuously fruity red made from biodynamically cultivated vines. “Enough age to moderate any jamminess I wrote” (by which I meant that it was smooth, elegant and well-integrated). Would work with the turkey.
Kopke reserve tawny port down from £14.99
It’s hard to find a nice tawny at under a tenner and this is spot on. Sweet and nutty - perfect for the cheeseboard.
The offers apply until December 14th while stocks last.
My best buys from Waitrose’s current promotion
I’ve always held that across the board discounts are the best kind of special offer, throwing up some real bargain buys along with the opportunity to get more expensive bottles at a price you can afford.
Here’s my pick from the most recent Waitrose tasting, some of which - especially the wines in the Loved & Found range - appear to be out of stock online but if you’re lucky you might pick them up in store. The promotion applies to bottles bought in store or delivered by next Tuesday November 9th.
Loved & Found
A new range highlighting less familiar grapes at really bargainous prices. I’ve writen about three of them in my Guardian column this week so you may find them out of stock
Fernão Pires 2021 £5.24 down from £6.99
Fresh crisp, aromatic white, normally from Portugal, in this case from South Africa. Would go well with south-east Asian-inspired food.
Marselan 2019 Rhône £5.24 down from £6.99
Bright, juicy, easy-drinking red. Perfect for parties.
Castelão 2019, Lisboa, Portugal £5.24 down from £6.99
Supple, ripe, easy drinking pasta wine from Portugal
Perricone 2020 Sicily £5.99 down from £7.99
Fresh, gulpable Sicilian red that would be perfect with pizza or seafood-based pasta sauces.
Other whites
The Search Grenache Marsanne Roussanne 2021 Voor-Paardeberg £7.49 down from £9.99
Smooth, creamy citrussy South African white which would work well with creamy sauces. (Note this vintage isn’t available online yet and I can’t vouch for how the 2020 is bearing up)
Viña Lareira Albariño Sobre Lias 2020 Rias Baixas £8.99 down from £11.99
Quite a fruity style of albarino that should appeal if you’re into sauvignon blanc. Great with raw shellfish and fishy salads
Waitrose No 1 Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Awatere £8.99 down from £11.99
Given the current shortage of New Zealand Sauvignon blanc it would be well worth snapping up this really good example especially at this price. Gorgeous with salads
Aslina Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Stellenbosch £10.49 down from £13.99 (NB only available in 8 shops)
Good to see recognition for South Africa’s first black woman winemaker Ntsiki Biyela. A lovely pure elegant sauvignon blanc to drink with almost any seafood.
Dr Loosen Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett 2019 Mosel £26.25 a magnum down from £35
A fantastic Christmas buy for riesling lovers - if you can fit it it in your fridge! Would be great with smoked fish.
Orange wine
Macerao Naranjo 2021 Itata Valley, Chile £6.74 down from £8.99
A chance to try an orange wine (that’s a white wine that’s left in contact with the skins, not a wine made from oranges) at a really good price. Tastes - rather gorgeously - of peaches and quince. Try it with aubergine or squash dishes.
Other reds
Palacio de Primavera Tinto Rioja 2019 £6.74 down from £8.99
A delicious young rioja in quite a modern fruity style despite the traditional label. Good all-rounder but particularly for a cheeseboard
Rustenberg Malbec 2020 Stellenbosch £9.74 down from £12.99
Argentina is the more usual place to look for malbec but this is a great example from South Africa. Steak still the obvious pairing
Moss Brothers Moses Rock Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Margaret River £9.74 down from £12.99
A lovely fresh minty cabernet from Western Australia that would be great with roast lamb, especially with a salsa verde.
Yalumba Galway Shiraz 2019 Barossa Valley £9.74 down from £12.99
I’ve tasted some great Aussie shiraz lately and this is one of them. Really lovely, mellow and sweet-fruited. Think beef or venison.
Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato 2020 Piedmont £10.49 down from £13.99 Waitrose Cellar only
Really thrilling Piedmontese red with an exotic taste of pomegranate molasses. Would be great with Lebanese or other middle-eastern food.
Chateau Pey la Tour Réserve Magnum 2016 £18.74 down from £24.99
A really decent mature Bordeaux in magnum at a brilliant price. Perfect for a celebratory Sunday roast.
Mt Difficulty Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2019 Central Otago £19.49 down from £25.99
I love Central Otago pinot noir but it’s normally quite pricey so this discount makes it (just about) affordable. Really lovely sweet ripe fruit - would be great with crispy duck pancakes.
Sparkling
L’Atzar Cava Reserva Brut 2019 £8.99 down from £11.99
I’ve flagged this up before and still really like it. Great party fizz
Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve £22.50 down from £30
Rich and toasty - one of the most consistently reliable English sparklers so take advantage of the discount. Would be fab with fish and chips.
Sweet
Alambre Moscatel de Setubal 2012£5.99 a half bottle down from £7.99 Note, only available in 43 shops.
A lovely rich, orangey fortified wine that would be great with Christmas pudding.
My best buys from Waitrose's June 2021 wine offer
Waitrose has one of its periodic 25% off six bottles discounts until next Tuesday June 29th on all wines over £5 - i.e. most of their range.
It’s a great opportunity to top up your stocks for the summer and buy wines you might not otherwise be able to afford. Note though that some may not be in stock in your local branch or only in Waitrose Cellar
Here are the ones that stood out for me at their spring/summer tasting
Reds
Dominique Piron Beaujolais Villages 2018 £8.99 down from 11.99
If you like Beaujolais (which I do) this is a must buy. Fabulously ripe and fruity. Perfect for charcuterie or grilled chicken
Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nimes 2020 £6.69 down from £8.99
Big gutsy Rhône-ish red to drink with hearty stews.
Celler Capçanes Lasendal Seleccio 2019 Monsant £8.24 down from £10.99. Not in stock online but you might find some in store
Ripe generous modern Spanish red. Would be great with a barbecue
Chateau Musar Aana 2018 £13.49 down from £17.99
For those who can no longer afford Chateau Musar this is the next best option, particularly on offer like this. Slightly more forward and fruity but has some ageing potential. Great with roast or grilled lamb.
Mullineux Great Heart Red 2019, Swartland £11.24 down from £14.99
A gloriously big spicy red - and part of an employee ownership project. Perfect for a good steak.
Waitrose Blueprint Chilean Merlot 2020 £5.24 down from £6.99
If you want an inexpensive everyday red this smooth easy-drinking Chilean merlot is hard to beat.
Domaine Bousquet Finca Lalande Malbec 2020 £7.87 down from £10.49
Classy Bordeaux-like Malbec. A bargain at this price. Perfect for a Sunday roast.
White
Picpoul de Pinet Les Canots 2020 £6.37 down from £8.49
Clean, fresh - the perfect seafood white
Piccozza Pinot Bianco 2020 £8.99 down from £11.99
Really delicious smooth peachy white. Perfect for roast or creamily sauced chicken
Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde 2020 £6.74 down from £8.99
If you like albarino you’ll love this Portuguese white blend. Another great match for fish or shellfish.
Dehesa Las Vinas organic sauvignon blanc 2020 Castilla y Léon £6.74 down from £8.99
From the same region as Rueda, a fresh, crisp citrussy white that would be perfect for salads or seafood.
Waitrose No 1 Astrolabe Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2020 £8.99 down to £11.99
More than you might be used to paying for NZ sauvignon blanc but snap it up - it’s delicious. Drink with almost all and every summer veg
Audrey Wilkinson Winemakers Selection Chardonnay 2018 Hunter Valley, Australia £11.99 selected shops and online
Gorgeous rich creamy Aussie chardonnay. Perfect for seared scallops or grilled lobster
Rosé
Rose de Balthazar 2020 £5.99 down from £7.99
Great value rosé from the Languedoc rather than Provence. For salads and whenever you would drink rosé
Waitrose Blueprint Provence Rosé Côtes de Provence 2020 £6.74 down from £8.99. Out of stock online but might be available in store
Classic pale crisp Provence rosé with the edge on most own label rosés from the region. Salad niçoise or goat cheese
Marsolay Syrah Rosé 2020 £6.74 down to £8.99 Waitrose Cellar only
If you’re one of the few who isn’t a fan of the Provence style. This is fuller and fruitier. One to sit watching Wimbledon
Fizz
Waitrose Leckford Estate Brut 2016 £19.99 down from £26.99
Impressive rich, toasty champagne-like fizz from Waitrose’s own vineyard in Hampshire - the best vintage of this wine I’ve tasted.
Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs £10.49 down from £13.99
Pleasantly soft creamy 100% chardonnay fizz. Just 11.5% A good wedding wine
Mirabeau en Provence La Folie Rosé £10.99 down from £14.99
If you like sparkling rosé but find prosecco too sweet snap up this
Sweet wines
Waitrose Blueprint Moscatel £4.87 down from £6.49
Even at its full price this gorgeously orangey dessert wine is a bargain, at 25% it’s unmissable. Drink with Greek or middle-eastern pastries or a lemon or orange polenta cake.
As it's still (just about) English Wine Week you might also like to look for these bottles which I flagged up in March
3 rose and 2 red wine bargains from Waitrose
Waitrose isn’t perhaps the first place you’d think of looking for wine bargains but at their summer tasting this week I found three rosés which you might want to snap up before the current offer ends on Tuesday June 1st.
Pierrick Harang Le Rosé de Balthazar 2020 Languedoc on offer at £5.99
I find it hard to believe there actually IS someone called Pierrick Harang but this crisp, dry rosé is pretty impressive particularly at this bargainous price. Definitely worth stocking up for the good weather we’re forecast to have next week.
La Bijou de Sophie Valrose 2020 Coteaux de Béziers on offer at £4.49 a half bottle (in 124 shops and online)
Half bottles of rosé are few and far between but ideal if you live on your own or just want to have a glass midweek with your partner. Fruitier than most Provence rosés and verging on the off-dry I’d like to drink this nice and cold.
L’Arene des Anges Costières de Nîmes 2020 on offer at £6.69
Sandwiched between the Languedoc and the Rhône - although it counts as the Rhône - Costières de Nîmes is a name to look out for on wine labels. This is a darker fruiter style than the Balthazar above - a good rosé to drink with food and even a barbecue.
Esprit de Trois Pierres Costières de Nîmes 2020 on offer at £6.69
Another Costières de Nîmes bargain. A good hearty Côte du Rhône-ish red for everyday drinking. Think pub grub like sausage and chips or a steak pie.
Dominique Piron Beaujolais Villages 2018 on offer at £8.99
If you’re a Beaujolais fan you’ll love this gorgeously ripe fruity example from the excellent 2018 vintage which is as good as many Beaujolais ‘crus’
You might also want to pick up a bottle of Waitrose’s 2016 Leckford Estate Brut which is made from grapes in Waitrose’s own vineyard in Hampshire. It’s the best version of the wine I’ve tasted so far - really toasty and champagne-like and is currently on offer at £19.99 instead of the usual £26.99
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