Welcome back to Broke in Bristol, the blog that helps you save money, make money and live life to the full on a budget. On Thursday March 30, Lidl will be launching its Easter Wine Cellar Collection, featuring 38 affordable wines from Europe’s top wine regions, including Italy, France and Spain. Now I like drinking wine, but I’m certainly no expert, so here’s Master of Wine Richard Bampfield’s top picks from the range with the panel’s marks out of 100.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, Chile, 2016 – £4.99. Chile is making some lovely examples of Sauvignon Blanc, often in a drier, more restrained style than New Zealand. With typically cool, white flower aromas, this is dry, well balanced and very easy-drinking.Rating – 86
Salneval Rías Baixas Barrica, 2015 – £7.99. The Albariño grape makes attractive, versatile dry whites in Galicia. Unusually this one is oaked, so the crisp, citrus fruit is rounded and softened by notes of vanilla. Rating – 89
Masseria Metrano Fiano Salento, Puglia, 2015 – £7.99. Fiano is the most delightful grape and thrives in southern Italy where it produces whites of real freshness and finesse. Well worth trying. Rating – 90
Vigneti del Sole, Veneto Rosso, Veneto, 2014 – £6.99. Unusual but increasingly fashionable wine style from beautiful vineyards around Lake Garda. Rich and warming. Rating – 91
Vigneti del Sole, Veneto Bianco, Veneto, 2014 – £6.99. The appassimento style is more associated with reds, but this shows it can also produce generously-flavoured whites. Rating – 91
Cascina Valentino Roero Arneis, Piemonte, 2015 – £8.99.Arneis is a little-known but characterful grape, only grown in the Piemonte region of North-West Italy. A real discovery. Rating – 90
Comte De Senneval Champagne Brut Premium – £9.49.Half bottles of Champagne are so useful, either as a pick-me-up or an aperitif for 2. Always keep one in the fridge… Rating – 88
La Maugellerie Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, 2015 – £5.99.The type of bright, elegant, dry rosé that the south of France produces so successfully. Rating – 87
Château Soleil “Promesse”, Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, 2013 – £9.99.Fine example of Merlot-based Saint Emilion from this little-known village just outside the main town. Rating – 88
Val De Salis Saint-Chinian, Languedoc-Roussillon, 2015 – £7.99.Saint-Chinian is gaining increasing recognition for its excellent reds, which are warming and satisfying. Rating – 90
Monbazillac Château La Birondie, Bordeaux, 2015 – £8.99.Monbazillac uses the same grapes and methods as the famous sweet wines of Bordeaux, but this is much less expensive. Worth trying. Rating – 90
The limited edition range will be available in stores until stocks last. That’s it for this week, don’t forget to like the Broke in Bristol Facebook page to never miss an update.
