SOME exciting new wines began to arrive on the shelves of Aldi this week as part of their spring and summer wine selection.
In all, 21 new additions to the range will be rolled out, with the remaining newbies arriving in store on April 4, and May 13.
Wine lovers are in for a treat with the new selections in Aldi[/caption]
Five of them are viewed below, and there will be more bottles appearing here over the next two months, as the other 17 new lines arrive.
Besides the half-dozen bottles reviewed below, I was also impressed by the Cremant de Loire €14.99 (a blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc), a spine-tingling Verdejo from Rueda, and a white Rioja, both €8.99.
And for those of you who are fans of the Specially selected Costieres de Nimes Rouge, there is now a Blanc at €9.99 to go with it – a blend of no less than six grapes: Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Roussanne, Marsanne, Bourboulenc and Viognier. Enjoy them all.
NB: I fell out of love with New World Sauvignon Blanc some years back.
I can happily drink it, but it would not be my first (or second) choice.
However, the two New World Sauv Blancs reviewed below were a joy to taste and had many of the characteristics, like those traditional aromas of fresh cut grass and asparagus. Wonderful.
Specially Selected Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (ABV 13.5 per cent)
€10.99 @ Aldi Outlets (NEW)
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, with 5 per cent Semillon
LIKE many Sauv Blancs emerging from western Australia, this one has a drop of Semillon in the bottle, which adds body, texture and allows the development of a little complexity.
With a light straw lemon colour, the herbaceous and floral nose has more than a wisp of fresh cut grass, along with a nice citrus note.
The palate is crisp, fresh and bright, with balanced acidity, and lingering hints of melon and citrus.
Enjoy with: Fish and chips.
Star rating: ***
Specially Selected Organic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (ABV 13 per cent)
€9.99 @ Aldi Outlets (NEW)
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, with 3 per cent Pinot Gris, and 3 per cent others
A MARLBOROUGH Sauv Blanc with that unmistakable, and signature, asparagus nose.
Pure and bright in the glass with a pale green hue, there is also citrus and passion fruit aromas.
The palate is quite generous, mouth filling and nicely balanced. It has zesty acidity, a touch of minerality with plenty of ripe tropical notes and a pleasant finish.
Enjoy with: Thai fish cakes.
Star rating: ***
Le Petit Poulet Rosé 2024 (ABV 12.5%)
€9.99 @ Aldi Outlets (NEW)
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Merlot, Cinsault, Syrah, Caladoc
ALDI’S answer to the extremely popular Perrin family pale pink Rosé from the southern Rhone with a couple of chickens on the label.
A light, dry and fresh wine made with a quintet of grapes, it is a dangerously enticing tipple, with citrus and summer red fruit flavours on the palate.
A little bit too early for sipping Rosé? Not at all. And Easter is just around the corner.
Enjoy with: Smoked chicken salad.
Star rating: ***
Specially Selected Lebanese Red 2022 (ABV 13.5 per cent)
€9.99 @ Lidl outlets from April 4
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan
BRILLIANT brambly flavoured blend from the Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, the nation’s main wine producing area. The heat-resistant Cinsault grape plays a big part here.
A deep red colour when poured, the nose has alluring notes of cherry and blackcurrant, along with a little muskiness.
The pleasing palate is rich and fruity with plenty of ripe soft black summer fruits, grainy tannins and good acidity. Good length.
Enjoy with: Red meat roasts.
Star rating: ***
Macedonian Primitivo Kratosija 2023 (ABV 13.5 per cent)
€8.99 @ Aldi Outlets (NEW)
Grapes: Kratosija & Primitivo
NORTH Macedonia is a burgeoning wine producing region, with its vineyards beginning to get international media traction – and Aldi have now introduced this very flavourful, easy drinking red.
A blend of the Balkan grape Kratosija and Italy’s Primitivo – with very many similarities – has aromas of ripe redcurrants and cherries.
The palate is rich and soft, with plum and blackcurrant notes and supple tannins. Deliciously satisfying finish.
Enjoy with: Pasta.
Star rating: ***
Selected Caladoc Rouge 2024 (ABV 14 per cent)
€11.99 @ Aldi outlets (NEW)
Grape: Caladoc
ONE of the joys of my life is tasting, and then writing about a new wine grape varietal.
In this case its Caladoc, a cross between Grenache and Malbec, created in 1958 in France.
Here it produces a deep red wine, with complexity, and a little rusticity. The fruit, grown in the Languedoc, delivers blackcurrant and plum flavours, along with wild herb notes.
The palate is juicy and fruit forward with grainy tannins. Nice length and a satisfying finish.
Enjoy with: Grilled lamb chops.
Star rating: ****
