Sainsbury’s hosted their press wine tasting event in May 2024 in London, offering a selection of 70 wines. The focus was primarily on white, sparkling, and rosé wines, along with a limited number of mainly lighter reds, curated to complement the Spring and Summer seasons.
The event also highlighted some of Sainsbury’s mid-strength wine range, which the supermarket says is leading the market. This range is part of a growing trend towards lower alcohol by volume (ABV) wines, reflecting increased consumer interest in this category.
These are the wines that stood out for me:
(Prices are obviously subject to change and not all wines are in all stores)
Taste the Difference Mid-Strength Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 9.5% £7.50
Sainsbury’s has introduced a new lower alcohol version of the popular Coolwater Bay, produced by Yealands, a favourite producer of mine. Meticulous winemaking practices and early harvesting reduce the sugar levels and subsequently, the alcohol content. Despite its lower alcohol, this Sauvignon Blanc impressively retains the classic characteristics of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, showcasing tropical notes, intensity and a long finish.
Elia Côtes De Gascogne 2022 9% £8.00
This wine is made from 100% Colombard grapes and comes from the Gascony region of France. The vines, aged 20 years, contribute to the depth and character of the wine as does ageing on lees. It’s off dry and features refreshing notes of citrus, lemon and grapefruit, balanced by crisp acidity. Again, impressive taste for low alcohol wine.
Heartland Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 12.5% £12.50
A new vintage of this wine that’s a collaboration between the Marlborough Grape Growers co-operative and one of the region’s pioneers, Dave Hohnen. Sourced from the lower valleys of the Wairau, Awatere and Waihopai, this wine exemplifies the distinctive characteristics for which Marlborough is renowned. It delivers an intense burst of classic gooseberry and lime flavours. The profile is clean and unambiguous, avoiding any confused or muddled tastes I find in some New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It features a very strong middle taste and has good acidity.
Taste the Difference Muscadet de Sevre et Maine £10.50
Made by Pierre Lieubeau who is regarded as one of Muscadet’s foremost producers. The Melon de Bourgogne grapes are grown on the granite slopes of the western Loire Valley, an area that imparts distinctive mineral and flinty notes to the wine. It is matured for six months on lees. The result is a wine bursting with crisp lemon zest, apple and melon flavours. Bright and refreshing, it also features a pronounced flinty, mineral quality.
Taste the Difference, Champagne Brut NV 12% £22.00
This Champagne from Louis Kremer Champagne House combines 15% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Meunier and 50% Pinot Noir grapes, sourced from the most esteemed vineyards. The result is a champagne that offers strong enticing floral aromas complemented by significant fresh peach and buttered toast on the palate. This champagne stands out for providing exceptional flavour at a great price.
Charles Dauteuil Vintage Champagne Brut 2018 12.5% £25.00
This champagne, produced by the Tribaut Schlosser Family in the Vallée de la Marne, presents a beautiful gold colour, crafted from an equal blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay. This champagne has been aged on lees for eight years. The prolonged aging imparts pronounced brioche notes and contributes to the long, satisfying finish. Given it’s a vintage Champagne with a remarkable depth of flavour, it offers outstanding value.
Pinot Grigio Dolomiti Blush 2023 12.5% £8.00
Despite my initial expectations, on picking this up, due to Pinot Grigio’s reputation for being overly produced and often mediocre, this wine from the Cavit winery in Trentino turned out to be a delightful surprise. It is one of my favourites and is certainly the one with the best taste to price ratio, among a strong lineup of fifteen other Rosés in the tasting. Located in the scenic Dolomite Alps in northeast Italy, the winery produces this wine from a blend of 85% Pinot Grigio and 15% Chardonnay. Strong floral aromas give way to crisp, refreshing peach flavours complemented by hints of strawberry. This wine is also now available in a new 2.2L box format which stays fresh for up to six weeks.
Amandla Our Freedom Blush 2022 12.5% £9.50
This rosé comes from the Worcester region of South Africa and made by Praisy Dlamini, who is one of the brightest stars in the wine industry. The blend consists of 97% Chenin Blanc and 3% Pinotage, matured on lees to enhance its complexity and body. This wine represents a fuller style of Rosé, offering more body and flavour, as well as a deeper colour. It exhibits a raspberry nose and a palate of watermelon, raspberries and strawberries, with a subtle hint of what I thought was apricot flavour. This Rosé is appealing due to its uniqueness, making it a perfect choice not only for traditional Rosé drinkers but also for those who typically prefer red wines, due to its more robust profile.
In summary, some great wines for Spring and Summer. Trend wise, there seems to be a noticeable shift towards high-quality, yet affordable Champagnes, countering what was the initial post-pandemic fright in Champagne prices. Also, the emergence of excellent lower alcohol options like Coolwater Bay might be a sign of things to come.
