THE DRINKER
EAT - DRINK - BE MERRY
DRINK OF THE WEEK
6th January 2014
Toro Loco Rosé
Aldi £3.69
Drinker Rating 88
Yes, I know it's not the right time of year or rosé and that sales of the pink stuff drop right off in the winter. However it is the right time of year for a bargain and this is just the ticket.
Aldi continue to offer some really interesting wines and at great prices, this is one such and while you're in there have a look at their range of drinks. I always use their vodka and gin for sloe infusions.
Great stuff.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
16th December 2013
Sainsbury's Blanc de Noirs Champagne
Sainsbury's £21.99
Drinker Rating 91
Probably time to recommend a Christmas fizz. Sadly we've just missed out on the 25% off offer at Sainsbury's, but this is a cracker even at full price.
Blanc de noirs is made from the black Champagne grapes, pinots meunier and noir and this gives the wine fruit, body, backbone and length. This has great red apple notes with hints of toasty brioche and it looks classy too.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
9th December 2013
Waitrose Amontillado Sherry
Waitrose £6.99
Drinker Rating 91
This is very definitely the time for a glass of sherry. Something dark and interesting, maybe a hint of sweetness and with all the nutty notes of Christmas.
This one from Waitrose is brilliant, intense and concentrated - and just look at the price. This is world class wine, and ok, it's not a session ale, but a glass every evening before your dinner is just the ticket.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
2nd December 2013
Martinez Marsala Superiore Riserva
Marks and Spencer £6.49 (half bottle)
Drinker Rating 93
OK so it's December now and you'll be wanting to know what to drink at every possible juncture. Let's start with a mince pie, you'll need a sweet rich and figgy wine and this little belter is just the ticket.
Marsala is so often used as an ingredient rather than a tipple and this is such a shame. This wine is at 115 M&S stores and even when they stock it the half bottle is sometimes hard to find. But it's well worth it. Ripe sweet raisin, cinamon, appleand cloves, will easily suit mince pies and Christmas Pud.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
25th November 2013
Les Estivales Rosé
ASDA £4.50
Drinker Rating 88
So I suppose I have to start talking about Christmas - although if you look at the ads it started about three weeks ago.
This is a wine for the store cupboard for the forthcoming festivities and although rosé sales really drop off in the winter this is a great one to have in. Brilliant party wine at only £4.50, dry bit with just enough fruity character to be interesting.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
18th November 2013
Old Man Creek Shiraz 2012
Marks and Spencer £6.49
Drinker Rating 89
Well it really is beginning to get cold and there will be snow by the end of the week so therefore it's time to roll out the big guns, the big hearty, meaty, warming reds that we love in the winter.
This is a belter at only £6.49, all pepper and cinnamon with bags of black fruit. Light for an Aussie shiraz at only 13% and quite light in body it's a late autumn wine. Well made and a bargain to boot.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
11th November 2013
Villa Taurini Verdicchio di Matelica
Tesco £5.49
Drinker Rating 89
Had enough of Pinot Grigio? Like all wine fashions it's coming to an end, it got big and then every bloke and his uncle started growing it, far too much cheap stuff flooded the market and we all got bored very quickly.
So what's next? Well it's clearly verdicchio, like pinot grigio mainly grown in Italy and also like PG it sounds wonderfully sophisticated. There's still little enough of it grown for there to be some good stuff around, and this is one such from Tesco. Body, fruit, minerality and priced really well.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
28th October 2013
Chateau David Bordeaux Superieur 2011
Sainsbury's £6.99
Drinker Rating 89
It's amazing to me that anyone ever buys Bordeaux as there's soooo much bad stuff out there at the 'entry level' (or cheap end).
But get this, I tasted this little cracker at a recent Sainsbury's tasting. It's a proper little claret, good forward black fruit, some nice tannins and a lovely undercurrent of tobacco and cedar, all at under seven quid. Brilliant autumnal wine.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
21st October 2013
Exquisite Collection Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
ALDI £6.99
Drinker Rating 90
Oh yes, Aldi are at it again, please don't be dismissive of the discount supermarkets, we all know that they are really good for some stuff, we just have to overcome our dislike of the layout of the shop.
And ALDI have done it again with this brilliant bold, forward fruit driven red, lovely soft tannins and a generous finish, top stuff.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
14th October 2013
Finest Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012
Tesco £10.99
Drinker Rating 89
I was checking out some wines for Christmas lunch and came across this little Kiwi beaut.
It's a bit too good to wait or Christmas day and has really interesting autumnal forest floor aromas. It is beautifully savoury with bags of redcurrant and cranberry - hence the Christmas lunch match.
A lovely wine at a fantastic price.
Cheers.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
7th October 2013
Loosen Bros Grey Slate Dr L Private Reserve Riesling 2012
Waitrose £9.99
Drinker Rating 89
It's National Curry Week and to wash it down why not make a change from your usual gassy lager with this classy riesling from the Mosel in Germany.
It has enough aromatic sweetness and acidity to stand up to the robust spices of any good curry, trust me on this one riesling and spicy food is the way to go.
Cheers.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
30th September 2013
Balvenie 12 Year Old Double Wood
The Whisky Exchange £32.26
Drinker Rating 92
As we slip into autumn it's the time to slow down and enjoy some quality drinks to warm your soul. One such is this brilliant malt from Balvenie.
This was recommended to me by a bloke propping up the bar at Edinburgh Airport, I was going for Balvenie Signature, a very good Scotch in itself and he encouraged me to try this little beauty.
Cheers random Scots bloke!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
23rd September 2013
The Wine Selection Pinot Grigio
ASDA £4.50
Drinker Rating 89
As we seem to be having a bit of an Indian summer it's not quite yet the time to turn our backs on fresh zesty zippy whites, so why not try this great value pinot grigio?
Peachy and tropical and just right to sip in the open air enjoying the last of the year's sun - the last of the summer wine.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
16th September 2013
Rioja Crianza 2009 Gran Vendema
Majestic £7.49(£5.99 each if buying 2+)
Drinker Rating 89
A proper autumnal wine, all the fruit is ripe, with bags of cherry and raspberry rally well judged oak giving a warm vanilla finish and good tannins providing beautiful structure.
I really don't know how this wine can sell at this price, it's an absolute bargain.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
2nd September 2013
Champagne Veuve Monsigny
Aldi £12.99
Drinker Rating 90
I feel like a little drop of good old fashioned fizz and this little cracker really fits the bill. Vibrant green apples and brioche on the nose, really refreshing acidity and look at the price. Aldi are really doing it at the moment.
I'd be tempted to buy a case of these, you should always have a bottle of the good stuff in the fridge, you never know when you'll have a celebration.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
19th August 2013
Fishhoek Sauvignon Blanc
Morrisons £5.29
Drinker Rating 88
This is a belter of a Bank Holiday drinker. Good fresh gooseberry, understated sauvignon blanc character but with really refreshing acidity. And look at the price!
This is a cracker if you're having a few friends round for a barbie, so stock up now. And when you do have a really good look at the Morrison's wine selection, I think this will be one to watch in the coming months.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
12th August 2013
Vinchio Vaglio 'I Tre Vescovi' Barbera D'Asti
Waitrose £8.99
Drinker Rating 90
This is a crackerjack of a Sunday lunch wine. All the power of Jimmy Anderson, the complexity if Greame Swann, the brilliance of Stuart Broad and the endurance of Ian Bell.
Raise a glass to the Ashes winning team of 2013.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
5th August 2013
Vedett Extra Blond
£1.60 - £1.95per bottle numerous retailers
Drinker Rating 89
You'll know this beer, you just won't know why. It's the iconic bottle shape, fat and dumpy with a ridged neck, I once went out with a girl like that, and she was from Belgium too!
I think the ridged neck has a lot to do with why I like this beer, it sort of stirs it up as you pour it releasing a lovely yeasty aroma. This is an exceptional lager, and yes a true lager as it's matured for over a month to give it depth of flavour. Oh, and it's also available on draught too - but you have to seek it out - very well worth it mind.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
29th July 2013
Winemakers' Selection Chianti DOCG 2012
Sainsbury's £5.40
Drinker Rating 89
Sainsbury's now divide their own label wines into three tiers, their entry level wines are labeled 'Sainsbury's House', the mid-range are called 'winemakers' Selection' and their top end wines are under the 'Taste the Difference' brand. And they all live up to their billing.
Their Winemakers' Selection Chianti is a belter, I think even better that their Chianti Reserva 2010 (but both are good), lovely soft ripe black fruit and well judged oak give this wine intensity and complexity - and look at the price - oh yes, there's also 25% off when you buy six until 4th Aug 2013.
No Drink of the Week 22nd July - I'm on holiday!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
15th July 2013
Finest 1531 Blanquette de Limoux
Tesco £9.99
Drinker Rating 89
So with a recession on but with things to celebrate (the weather, Murray, the Ashes) what to do?
Well get this brilliant little touch, lovely lively bubbles, good refreshing acidity and a light peachy nose, hints of delicate brioche. Great value at a tenner.
Get the sun-block on!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
8th July 2013
The Exquisite Collection Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc
ALDI £4.99
Drinker Rating 89
So summer's here at last and what you'll be needing is a crisp, bright, fresh white, something good, but affordable as your house white for the season.
Well look no further, this is an absolute belter, hints of melon, apple and blossom, good lively acidity, really well balanced. And look a the price, all this under a fiver. Go and buy a case, quick, before the sun goes.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
1st July 2013
Sainsbury's Cotes du Rhone Rose
Sainsbury's £5.99
Drinker Rating 87
With Wimbledon in full swing it's strawberry time, and what would go better with them than a lovely fruity rose?
This is a great example, dry but with bags of red fruit and nice refreshing acidity, perfect for watching Murray storm his way to the final. Get this in and drink it Sunday afternoon with the tennis.