5 STAR PRIMITIVO

PEUCETA 2016 PUGLIA PRIMITIVO


This is a delicious, delightful fruit bomb backed up with tannins and a firm acid spine. It even has flash packaging that can be deceptive. Not here. The wine is probably even better. Very highly recommended as I've grabbed a few.





5/5 rating from me  
£4.99 from Lidl  

This is probably the best budget white EVER!

COTES DU GASCOGNE 2015 EXOTIQUE
In the 40 [yes I started young] odd years I've been raving about wine I can't recall a better budget white than this. 
It's from the south west of France not too far from Portugal's Vinho Verde. It's probably a Lidl controlled brand and it's probably mostly colombard.  And if it was VV it would be as good as I've tasted. It has a crisp dry lifted vibrancy that absolutely dazzles - you'd think it was bottled yesterday. A truly outstanding wine that I would recommend to anyone.
NB This is one that Lidl regularly feature as one of their £2.99 weekend promotions. Which means it's usually sold out very quickly on a Saturday morning

5/5 rating from me
£2.99 from Lidl on promotion
£4.29 the rest of the time

A really difficult wine to score

MARKS AND SPENCER 2016 CLARE VALLEY RIESLING
With a minimalist front label that had the three magic words of clare, valley and riesling we were drawn to the back label for more information. Made by Pikes!! Oh happy day. You don't see many OZ rieslings in the UK and this has been one of my favourites for many years. 

Sadly it was a disappointment and the back label description was way off. It was one of those glycerol laden rieslings that have never enjoyed much of a market that I could find. Of its style it's a perfect example. It may be flavoursome but it's certainly not crisp and fresh. And where the back label author got the idea of "an uplifting hint of sweetness" is beyond me.


2.5/5 rating from me  
£13  from Marks and Spencer

The Beer of the Year ... So far

SADLER'S HOP BOMB
How could I resist a beer with a name like this. It's been brewed using five different hops and combined outstandingly with some serious malt. A beautifully balanced beer that is nudging perfection.

5/5 rating from me
500ml bottle


4.6% a/v
£1.49 from Home Bargains