This month our hosts were Martin and Auriol who looked for good wines under a tenner, this is what they found ...

1. Cremant de Loire Brut 12.5% Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference £9

Origin - Made from vines grown on chalky soils of the Loire Valley at a winery founded in 1851. This sparkling wine is a complex and elegant blend of Chenin and Chardonnay.

Taste - It is rich on the palate yet has a zesty apple freshness.

Enjoy – Perfect with a shellfish platter, smoked salmon or nibbles.

2. Ruppertsberg Linsenbusch Grauburgunder Trocken, 2017 12.5%, Wine Society £8.50

Origin – From the Palatinate region in southwestern Germany.

Taste - Spicy, savoury, full-flavoured dry pinot-gris

Enjoy – On its own with cold meats or a vegetable or mushroom risotto.

3. Feudo Arancio Grillo Sicilia 2017 13% Wine Society £6.50 (bin end)

Origin – Grown on a substantial estate based on the windy south coast of Sicily, being so close to the sea it gives the wine a touch of saltiness.

Taste – Ripe tropical-fruit flavour with explicit notes of jasmine and white flowers.

Enjoy – Ideal with seafood, vegetable dishes, white meats and oven baked fish.

4. Felines-Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet 2018 13.5% Wine Society £8.95

Origin – Grown on the south coast of France, the proximity to the Mediterranean  provides essential cool sea breezes, protecting the health of the vines and helping to keep temperature variation to a minimum. The region has low rainfall which works well with the water-retaining chalky soils.

Taste – Full-flavoured, dry yet with crisp freshness and a beguiling citrus and herb flavour.

Enjoy – On its own or with seafood.

5. California Old-Vine Zinfandel 2017 14.5% Wine Society £7.95

Origin – Crafted for the Wine Society by the Delicato Family Vineyards (founded in 1924) and primarily from the cool-coastal region at Monterey. Delicato have been named U.S. Wine Producer of the Year an unprecedented three times at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Taste – Cherry cola on the nose, fresh strawberry and tart red cherries coning through on the full soft palate, plus a pleasing hint of vanilla on the finish.

Enjoy – A natural partner for Mediterranean-style cooking, grilled meats, dishes where herbs major, as well as posh burgers or even curries.

6. Tenacity Old Vine Shiraz, Australia 2018 13.8% Majestic Wines £9.99

Origin –  A blend of old vine Shiraz from McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley. Australia holds the largest plantings of old vine Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre and Grenache in the world.

Taste - Full of robust and concentrated blackcurrant flavours.

Enjoy – Grilled meats, lasagne and casseroles.

7. Porta 6 Reserva, Portugal  2017 14% Majestic Wines £9.99

 

Origin – Majestic Wines best-ever-selling red wine made even better using reserve stocks and slowly aged in oak barrels.

Taste  - Wild and black berries mingle with exotic spices and hints of chocolate on the palate.

Enjoy – Particularly good paired with red meat dishes, pasta and mature cheeses.