The best out there at good value are as follows.
1. On the fizzy front the Aldi £6-99 Loire is utterly decent. 'The Times ' today wrongly asserts that the £9-99 Champagne won awards. It did not and isn't good.It was their £16-99 number which did well.For the same money i strongly recommend from the Coop Les Pionniers ( secretly made by Heidsieck for them ) and the best which is Tesco own label finest.
2. A lovely classical red is Les Gillets Bordeaux , a snip at £6-99 from M and S. Going upmarket Waitrose has fine Rioja for £9-99 on promotion.Majestic have magnums of 2004/5 for about £36 , cheap for the quality/quantity. For general value i swear by Cotes Du Rhones , particularly made by Les Dauphins , found in many supermarkets at about £7.
3. I did not think much of Wolf Blass chardonnay in the past but it has moved decisively in the direction of Burgundy and is now very good .Full price is about £10 but it is widely promoted and you may well get if for under £7. The best white steal if you are fast is at Marks and Spencer which is selling for £9-99 (down from £15 a week ago) 2011 Borgogne Blanc Les Femelottes , a bottle rated as one of the best of the year by Jancis Robinson. The 2011 M and S Californian from Schug at £16 is one i have not tasted but the reputation is high. Aldi Limoux at £6-99 is delicious .
1. On the fizzy front the Aldi £6-99 Loire is utterly decent. 'The Times ' today wrongly asserts that the £9-99 Champagne won awards. It did not and isn't good.It was their £16-99 number which did well.For the same money i strongly recommend from the Coop Les Pionniers ( secretly made by Heidsieck for them ) and the best which is Tesco own label finest.
2. A lovely classical red is Les Gillets Bordeaux , a snip at £6-99 from M and S. Going upmarket Waitrose has fine Rioja for £9-99 on promotion.Majestic have magnums of 2004/5 for about £36 , cheap for the quality/quantity. For general value i swear by Cotes Du Rhones , particularly made by Les Dauphins , found in many supermarkets at about £7.
3. I did not think much of Wolf Blass chardonnay in the past but it has moved decisively in the direction of Burgundy and is now very good .Full price is about £10 but it is widely promoted and you may well get if for under £7. The best white steal if you are fast is at Marks and Spencer which is selling for £9-99 (down from £15 a week ago) 2011 Borgogne Blanc Les Femelottes , a bottle rated as one of the best of the year by Jancis Robinson. The 2011 M and S Californian from Schug at £16 is one i have not tasted but the reputation is high. Aldi Limoux at £6-99 is delicious .
