Blog: Supermarket wines under £10

Without any consideration for the state of my tooth enamel, I have slooshed and spat my way through hundreds of wines in the last few weeks as the major supermarkets and stores unveiled their new ranges. Wherever you choose to shop, and whatever you choose to buy, I have probably tasted it. With £10 as my top price, taking in special offers and mixed deals, here are my best buys from the Co-op, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Majestic.
Co-op
Berton Metal Label Vermentino 2015, Australia, £7.49: Pick this wine off the shelf for its stylish metal label, but then enjoy its equally stylish orange peel and tangy flavours. Vermentino is a grape normally found in Sardinia but it has been transplanted to Australia where it thrives.
Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett 2014, Kesselstatt, Mosel, Germany, £9.99: This is a glorious wine, perfect for summer drinking. It comes from the steep, slate slopes of the Mosel valley and it is thrillingly fresh, with pure, floral fruit backed by clean, pink grapefruit acidity. There is an edge of grape sweetness remaining, but this is more than balanced by the crisp finish.
Gran Vista Garnacha 2015, Campo de Borja, Spain, £4.99: Fantastic value in this bright, juicy, spice-sprinkled fruity wine. Great on its own, but it can be chilled down to drink in sunshine.
Mount Rozier Beekeeper Merlot 2014, South Africa, £7.99: I spotted this wine in January when I visited the spectacular Journey’s End winery. At that time they couldn’t tell me who was planning to sell it, but here it is, exclusively in the Co-op, and full of bright, red, crunchy fruit flavours with a soft, slightly oak-edged finish. Perfect with lamb.
Vinsobres “Les Cornuds” 2013, Famille Perrin, Rhône, France, £8.99: The Perrin family own Ch. de Beaucastel, one of the best properties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and they bring their expertise to this blend of Syrah and Grenache, giving it fabulous layers of dark plummy fruit and spice. While you are at that section of the shelves, pick up a couple of bottles of the Co-op Châteauneuf 2014 (£15.99), also from Perrin. It is a sensational wine and will probably sell out quickly. Tuck it away and drink in autumn or winter.
Waitrose
Viña Taboexa Albariño 2015, Rías Baixas, Spain, £7.99: From the cool, breezy, coastal-influenced part of north-west Spain, this is a soft, lemon-tinged, floral, almost peachy wine that accompanies summer food to perfection.
Hen-Pecked 2015, Picpoul de Pinet, France, £7.99: Apparently named after the chickens that wander through the vineyards, this is a lip-smacking, citrus-driven, herb-sprinkled wine from the south of France. It is perfect with oysters, shellfish and crisp, green salads.
Bardolino 2015, Recchia, Veneto, Italy, £7.99: Just the name Bardolino transports me to a cafe by the side of Lake Garda and a lunch under the trees many years ago. This wine brings those memories back perfectly, with its bright crushed cherry fruit and refreshing style. On offer until June 28 at just £5.99.
Carmenère Reserva 2015, MontGras, Colchagua Valley, Chile, £8.99: Carmenère is a French grape that now resides quite happily in the warm sunshine of Chile. A plummy, bramble-filled wine, with soft tannins and a great affinity for red meat.
Réserve des Hospitaliers 2014, Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône Villages, France, £9.99: Full of dark-berried fruit with good structure and enough chewy flavours to stand up to a meaty barbecue, this is on offer at £7.49 until June 28.

Grapes for Mount Rozier Merlot grow overlooking the sea at Cape Bay

Sainsbury’s
Taste the Difference Godello 2015, Bierzo, Spain, £8: Brought back from the brink of extinction, Godello is now almost mainstream for its crisp, lemon curd and apricot flavours, with a clear minerals tang. Perfect for summertime drinking.
Winemaker’s Selection Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2015, £6: When everyone is moving to pale Provence rosé it is good to find one that has positive, crunchy redcurrant and raspberry fruit. Crisp and flavourful, this is a garden party wine.
Ch. David 2014, Bordeaux Supérieur, France, £6.50: One of the best value Bordeaux wines I found in this round of tastings, it has terrific cassis fruit, with enough structure to accompany food and the finish is soft and friendly. Sunday
lunch wines don’t have to be budget-breakers.
Taste the Difference Douro 2014, Portugal, £8: From one of the Douro’s top producers, Quinto do Crasto, this is a blend of a handful of traditional Portuguese grapes such as Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. Think spiced bramble fruit and team it with spicy sausages straight off the grill.
Taste the Difference Fairtrade Morador Malbec 2015, £8: On offer at £7 until June 28, this is a wine packed with gutsy, chewy, damson and chocolate flavours. Perfect lined up against a steak.
Majestic
Krasno Sauvignon Blanc Ribolla 2015, Slovenia, £7.99, mix-six £6.99: Just 16 per cent of Ribolla Gialla grape transforms this clean, grassy Sauvignon into a wine with softer edges and a rounder palate. Team it with a herby summer salad.
Tasca Regaleali 2015, Bianco di Sicilia, £8.99, mix-six £7.99: A fabulous blend of local Sicilian grapes – Inzolia, Greciano and Catarratto – with just a splash of Chardonnay to round out the edges. Bright and crisp, with ripe apple fruit and orange peel on the nose and a lime and lemon palate. Pair this with fish.
Bosman Adama Fairtrade 2015, Wellington, South Africa, £11.99, mix-six £9.99: I am delighted to see this splendid wine on our shelves. Made on a totally Fairtrade estate, Chenin, Chardonnay and a handful of Rhône varieties are blended into a rounded, balanced, spiced apple and apricot wine.
Nero d’Avola 2013, Sicily, £7.99, mix-six £6.99: Deep cassis fruit with black pepper and supple tannins. Perfect with meaty pasta.
Domaine de l‘Aigle Pinot Noir 2012, Bertrand, Pays d’Oc, £12.99, mix-six £9.99: Classy, elegant Pinot with more than a hint of good Burgundian savoury complexity. Tastes like it costs at least £5 more than its price tag.

About The Author

Christine Austin

Christine is a wine writer, broadcaster and a wine judge for several international wine competitions. She has a technical background and spent five years as a buyer for a major supermarket before moving to wine writing.She writes for The Yorkshire Post Magazine and organises the York Festival of Food and Drink. She has won both the Lanson and the Roederer prizes for wine writing.

Let us know what you think

comments