Wine of the week: Louis Pommery England Brut

The standard of English sparkling wine is already high but I can’t remember being as impressed by a homegrown sparkling wine for a while as I am by this bottle. Of course you could argue that it’s not really English at all as it’s made by the team at Vranken Pommery in collaboration with Hattingley Valley in Hampshire.

Pommery is the first champagne house to release an English wine. They have already planted a vineyard in Hampshire but it won’t be productive until 2024 so they have had to source the grapes for this cuvée from vineyards in Hampshire, Essex and Sussex.

It has an elegance depth and finesse that some English sparkling wines lack with a lovely fine stream of bubbles. I’d be amazed if most people could tell it from champagne which is just as well as it’s in the champagne price bracket (£40 normally). However it’s on offer currently at Ocado at £26.66, and at Lea & Sandeman for £34.95 a bottle.

The only thing it lacks is a more stylish label but at least they’re not using the ghastly WineGB logo. It’s made in England so that’s what it says on the label.

Lovely as an aperitif or with some elegant seafood like langoustine ravioli. And a lovely wine to serve at a wedding.

4 good red wine buys from Lidl

Lidl’s limited edition releases which come out every couple of months are always worth looking out for - and considerably more interesting than their basic range. Here are four that caught my eye at their recent tasting and which have just gone on sale.

Olas del Sur Reserva Privada Merlot 2017 13% £4.99

The under £5 red has almost become extinct so hurrah for this soft velvety merlot from Chile, a grape variety it always does very well. Perfect bank holiday drinking

Almocreve Tinto Reserva 2015 Alentejano 13.5% £5.99

Portuguese reds are some of the best buys around and those from the Alentejo (of which Alentejano is a sub-classification) some of the most appealing. An easy drinking supple red that works particularly well with Italian food such as spaghetti bolognese and pizza

Cellier de Montrerail Beaumes de Venise 2016 15% £7.99

The Beaumes de Venise region of the Rhône is better known for its sweet wines but also produces hearty reds like this walloping 15% blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre. That said the alcohol isn't overpowering and it's a good generous southern French red that would go well with a Sunday roast or a hearty stew. (So no, not particularly summery but worth stashing away for autumn at this price)

Outlook Bay Pinot Noir 2016, Central Otago 13.5% £8.99

Central Otago pinot noir has become some of the most prized in New Zealand but it doesn’t generally come cheap so discovering this bottle at £8.99 is a win.

Like most Otago pinots it’s got lashings of sweet ripe red berry fruit - maybe too much for some of you but I think it’s well-judged and beautifully in balance. You need to serve it lightly chilled and with something like crispy duck pancakes (duck is always good with pinot) or a barbecue where its big flavours will take on allcomers.

I wasn’t mad about any of the whites to be honest but if you’re in need of a bottle the 2016 Les Aubrières Chardonnay from the Loire - a lighter, fresher style of chardonnay than most - is a decent buy for £5.99

7 good wine buys from Waitrose

I was going to recommend an English sparkling wine this weekend (what else with THE wedding of the year?) but came across some other good deals at the Waitrose tasting this week I thought you might want to pick up as well

First of all, the fizz:

There’s 25% off the Leckford Estate Brut 2013 which brings it down to £19.99 - a decent price for English sparkling wine these days. It’s made from the classic champagne blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier but, intriguingly, comes from grapes grown on Waitrose's own farm in Hampshire and is made at Sussex sparkling wine specialists Ridgeview. I wouldn’t say it was quite as good as the Ridgeview wines - yet - but it’s a classy sip and perfect for watching the royal wedding (with a few smoked salmon sandwiches I suggest)

6 other good wine buys from the current Waitrose promotion (which runs until June 5th.

Reds

Chateau Pey La Tour 2015 14.5% on offer at £7.49 until 05/06

A lush, posh-looking claret from an excellent vintage. Well worth snapping up if you’re a Bordeaux fan

Remy Ferbras 2016 Ventoux 14% on offer at £5.99

Simple, gluggable Côte du Rhône-ish red from neighbouring Ventoux. Good midweek glugging or with a charcuterie plate.

Santa Julia Malbec 2017 Valle de Uco 13% on offer at £6.99

Another bright, breezy glugger - slightly lighter than your usual Argie malbec but gutsy enough to stand up to a barbecue. Wouldn’t pay the full price for it though (£9.39)

The Cubist Garnacha 2017 Catalayud 14.5% on offer at £7.99

Big rich lush porty red that you’ll like if you’re a fan of passito wines or off-dry Californian reds like Apothic (though it's not as sweet as that). Would be good with barbecued ribs. Handsome bottle too. Note website is still showing the 2016 which I can't vouch for not having tasted it recently.

Whites

Les Andides Chenin Blanc 2017, Saumur 12.5% on offer at £6.99

A crisp, fresh dry Loire chenin - think muscadet or picpoul rather than South African chenin blanc. Perfect for seafood like fresh crab or prawns. Note website is still showing the 2016 vintage.

Laurent Miquel Vendanges Nocturnes Viognier 2017 Pays d’Oc 13% on offer at £6.99

Classic rich apricotty fruit from one of the best viognier producers outside the Rhone. Try it with a korma

And - of course - gin!

There's also a gin promotion on at Waitrose with several top gins discounted from their usual prices. But take care to check the prices elsewhere. With £8 off Gin Mare is a good buy £31.50 and Daffy's at £29 but Silent Pool at £35 isn't much cheaper than other retailers are charging despite the claimed £4.50 saving. I'm also a big fan of the Audemer Pink Pepper Gin (on offer at £36) which is a bit cheaper than elsewhere.

Wine of the week: Zarper malbec

I was going to recommend a rosé this week having got the misguided impression from the heatwave last weekend that summer was on its way. But today in my home town of Bristol it’s cold, windy and about to rain so I think malbec is more the order of the day.

This Zarper Malbec from Indomita is one I came across at the Morrisons tasting earlier in the week. It comes from Chile rather than Argentina - which is more common these days than it was a couple of years ago.

It shares the bold spicy character of its neighbour over the Andes with maybe a touch softer, riper fruit. It ain’t subtle but if you’re a fan of big reds it’s a handsome bottle at a decent price - £8 - that would be great with a barbecue or, given the weather, a chilli con carne.

What food to match with malbec

I’ve been assured the 2017 vintage, which is the one I tasted is in stock, so make sure that’s the one you buy.

The sauvignon blanc from the same producer at the same price is decent too.