THE DRINKER
EAT - DRINK - BE MERRY
PAST DRINKS OF THE WEEK
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013 JUL TO DEC
2013 JAN TO JUN
2012 JULY TO DEC
2012 JAN TO JUNE
2011 JAN TO JUNE
2010 JULY TO DEC
2010 JAN TO JUNE
2009
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013 JUL TO DEC
2013 JAN TO JUN
2012 JULY TO DEC
2012 JAN TO JUNE
2011 JAN TO JUNE
2010 JULY TO DEC
2010 JAN TO JUNE
2009
2025 Past Drinks of The Week
DRINK OF THE WEEK
24th February 2025
Parad'isula Ile de Beaute Rosé
Tesco £9.00
Drinker Rating 89
I'm of a mind that we can crack open the rosé even when we're in the middle of what appears to be an endless dreary winter. What we need right now is a little drop of sunshine in our glass and this wine is just the ticket.
It's part of what appears to be a push for more and more wine from Corsica, this lovely little Mediterranean islend that lies halfway between Marsaille and Rome that has been strangely absent from our shelves. This very welcome addition brings a wonderful redcurrant and dry tinned strawberry freshness. Zippy and just the ticket in the midst of winter storms.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
17th February 2025
Blueprint Vedejo
Waitrose £7.00
Drinker Rating 90
I'm still able to find decent wines at affordable prices and at the moment the stuff coming out of Rueda in north central Spain is alarming value.
Regions come and go and Rueda is deff on the up - the main wines is white and produced with the Verdejo grape providing fresh, fruit driven, on-oaked deliciousness.
This one from the ever reliable Blueprint range at Waitrose is astonishing value at £7.00, a perfect candidate for your house white for the half term.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
3rd February 2025
Finest Rueda Verdejo
Tesco £7.50
Drinker Rating 90
Welcome back to the land of the living Dry Janners - have you been on a massive bender since early Saturday morning? No, of course not, we all drink responsibly here don't we?
Well what you'll definitely need is a lovely glass of something summery to remind you that the days are getting longer and springtime is in sight.
This verdejo is just the ticket, beautiful grassy citrus character and a light hint of basil - sunshine in a glass from northern Spain, perfect for a responsible drinking Feb.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
27th January 2025
Loved and Found Sousao
Waitrose £8.99
Drinker Rating 90
Blimey, these storms keep on rolling in don't they? And tis bitter cold. So what we need is a full on hearty red to warm our battered souls.
Big, powerful wines are just what;s called for here but so often a 'big wine' can be a blunt instrument - all sugary, jammy fruit and a lump of alcohol to boot. This sousao is a belter, sure it does have a big black fruit character but there's some lovely peppery spice in there too.
It's a new grape on me but apparently one of the key ingredients in Port and you really get that with its 145 alcohol supporting the bold fruit.
If you're not keen on it you can rub it on your chest!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
20th January 2025
Wine Atlas Ile de Beauté Rosé
Asda £7.00
Drinker Rating 90
There appears to be a new kid on the block and it comes in the form of wines labeled as Ile de Beauté. These are wines from what sounds like the perfect Mediterranean idyll, Corsica.
Why wouldn't this lovely little island plonked halway between Marsaille and Rome produce fabulous wines? Owned and occupied for three thousand years by the Greeks, Romans and now the French there's a lot of history here.
But more recently the wines from this little jewel have been hitting our shelves. A perfect location for growing international grape varieties such as those used in this rosé, grenache and syrah in particular. Perfectly balanced and really well priced this is a super wine from asn interesting new region.
In the words of the great Tim Vine:
Q: Can you tell me what a person from Corsica is called?
A: Corsican!
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
13th January 2025
Deluxe Australian Cabernet Sauvignon
Lidl £6.79
Drinker Rating 90
It's tat time fo the year when we're all shagged out and skint from Christmas, there's only one thing for it - a glass of wine I'd say!
And what better than a well priced glass of wine, full on fruit and a proper winter pick me up - a glass of Aussie sunshine at the time we need it most.
The Deluxe range at Lidl is pretty good across the board and this little Coonawarra number hits all the right notes for under seven quid.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
6th January 2025
Vitis Nostra Pinot Noir
Morrisons £7.25
Drinker Rating 89
With the new year upon us we're all feeling the cold and we're all feeling the pinch so we need something to bring us into the pink - yep, you're one step ahead of me it's rosé time!
It's not just for the summer time you know - lovely pink wines should be enjoed all year around, especially if like this one they have a little bit of red grape grippiness.
This has all the hallmarks of a Provence style wine but a light touch of pinot noir tannin, which is delicate even in red wines made from the grape.
Oh yes, and this one is down in price at Morrisons to only £7.25!
HNY all.
DRINK OF THE WEEK
24th February 2025
Parad'isula Ile de Beaute Rosé
Tesco £9.00
Drinker Rating 89
I'm of a mind that we can crack open the rosé even when we're in the middle of what appears to be an endless dreary winter. What we need right now is a little drop of sunshine in our glass and this wine is just the ticket.
It's part of what appears to be a push for more and more wine from Corsica, this lovely little Mediterranean islend that lies halfway between Marsaille and Rome that has been strangely absent from our shelves. This very welcome addition brings a wonderful redcurrant and dry tinned strawberry freshness. Zippy and just the ticket in the midst of winter storms.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
17th February 2025
Blueprint Vedejo
Waitrose £7.00
Drinker Rating 90
I'm still able to find decent wines at affordable prices and at the moment the stuff coming out of Rueda in north central Spain is alarming value.
Regions come and go and Rueda is deff on the up - the main wines is white and produced with the Verdejo grape providing fresh, fruit driven, on-oaked deliciousness.
This one from the ever reliable Blueprint range at Waitrose is astonishing value at £7.00, a perfect candidate for your house white for the half term.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
3rd February 2025
Finest Rueda Verdejo
Tesco £7.50
Drinker Rating 90
Welcome back to the land of the living Dry Janners - have you been on a massive bender since early Saturday morning? No, of course not, we all drink responsibly here don't we?
Well what you'll definitely need is a lovely glass of something summery to remind you that the days are getting longer and springtime is in sight.
This verdejo is just the ticket, beautiful grassy citrus character and a light hint of basil - sunshine in a glass from northern Spain, perfect for a responsible drinking Feb.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
27th January 2025
Loved and Found Sousao
Waitrose £8.99
Drinker Rating 90
Blimey, these storms keep on rolling in don't they? And tis bitter cold. So what we need is a full on hearty red to warm our battered souls.
Big, powerful wines are just what;s called for here but so often a 'big wine' can be a blunt instrument - all sugary, jammy fruit and a lump of alcohol to boot. This sousao is a belter, sure it does have a big black fruit character but there's some lovely peppery spice in there too.
It's a new grape on me but apparently one of the key ingredients in Port and you really get that with its 145 alcohol supporting the bold fruit.
If you're not keen on it you can rub it on your chest!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
20th January 2025
Wine Atlas Ile de Beauté Rosé
Asda £7.00
Drinker Rating 90
There appears to be a new kid on the block and it comes in the form of wines labeled as Ile de Beauté. These are wines from what sounds like the perfect Mediterranean idyll, Corsica.
Why wouldn't this lovely little island plonked halway between Marsaille and Rome produce fabulous wines? Owned and occupied for three thousand years by the Greeks, Romans and now the French there's a lot of history here.
But more recently the wines from this little jewel have been hitting our shelves. A perfect location for growing international grape varieties such as those used in this rosé, grenache and syrah in particular. Perfectly balanced and really well priced this is a super wine from asn interesting new region.
In the words of the great Tim Vine:
Q: Can you tell me what a person from Corsica is called?
A: Corsican!
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
13th January 2025
Deluxe Australian Cabernet Sauvignon
Lidl £6.79
Drinker Rating 90
It's tat time fo the year when we're all shagged out and skint from Christmas, there's only one thing for it - a glass of wine I'd say!
And what better than a well priced glass of wine, full on fruit and a proper winter pick me up - a glass of Aussie sunshine at the time we need it most.
The Deluxe range at Lidl is pretty good across the board and this little Coonawarra number hits all the right notes for under seven quid.
Cheers!
DRINK OF THE WEEK
6th January 2025
Vitis Nostra Pinot Noir
Morrisons £7.25
Drinker Rating 89
With the new year upon us we're all feeling the cold and we're all feeling the pinch so we need something to bring us into the pink - yep, you're one step ahead of me it's rosé time!
It's not just for the summer time you know - lovely pink wines should be enjoed all year around, especially if like this one they have a little bit of red grape grippiness.
This has all the hallmarks of a Provence style wine but a light touch of pinot noir tannin, which is delicate even in red wines made from the grape.
Oh yes, and this one is down in price at Morrisons to only £7.25!
HNY all.