This wine was an interesting find at Aldi, picked up on promotion as their Wine of the Week. An 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah blend from France, the Rhône, although the bottle gives absolutely nothing away about its exact producer. Vaucluse, is however, the IGP appellation.
What did catch my eye was the importer, Boutinot Ltd, a name more commonly associated with supplying higher-quality wines to independent wine merchants, restaurants, hospitality businesses and specialist distributors rather than supermarket shelves. I’ve increasingly spotted their name on bottles in Morrisons and Sainsbury’s too, several of which I’ve rather admired. Boutinot’s French subsidiary, Domaine Boutinot, has its own vineyard and winery in the Vaucluse department of the southern Rhône, so it’s quite possible that this wine comes from that very area.
This is a 2025 vintage and vegan-friendly, with a lovely, very slight purple tinge to the colour. It is thoroughly enjoyable straight after opening, but another half an hour in the glass makes a noticeable difference, allowing the fruit and spice to become more expressive. The aromas are inviting, with ripe red and black berries, damsons and cherries, followed by a lovely suggestion of cherry almond, herbs and gentle warming spice. The first sip is generous with its fruit. A subtle herbal character runs through the wine, with the peppery spice adding a little lift and keeping everything lively. It’s dry, medium-bodied, with low to medium tannins that give it just enough structure without getting in the way of the fruit. The finish brings the herbs and spice back into focus that invites another sip.
I paid just £4.99, reduced from the usual £8.99 as Aldi’s Wine of the Week. At that price, this feels less like an ordinary supermarket promotion and more like a quality wine being practically given away to encourage shoppers through the doors. Even at its full price, it’s a good deal.
