It was a small tasting for Lidl yesterday with just a few core wines and the new Wine Tour, which launches at the end of this month. More on those when they’re actually available. For now though, these are my top picks from the core range:
Comte de Senneval Brut Champagne, £13.99
Not a new wine for Lidl but I feel this non-vintage sparkler gets better every year. Easy drinking, rich and fruity, think rhubarb and red apple crumble. Not the most complex of Champagnes but for the price, this is a steal.
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, £7.49
Not all Prosecco is created equal, as you may have seen in my recent post. This one is a DOCG, however, which is why it has more to say than others, with notes of jasmine, white pear and stone fruit. Still sweet as it’s made in the Extra Dry style, but decent.
Mount Ara New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2025, 9.5% ABV £6.99
LOOK! It’s a ‘mid wine’ at 9.5% ABV. Often, these lower alcohol versions taste unbalanced and sour in my opinion, but this one is great. Unsurprisingly, it feels a tad lighter but still has all the zip of a classic Savvy B and is balanced with it.
Jailbird Chardonnay 2025, £5.99
A blatant dupe of the sickly sweet 19 Crimes Chardonnay, this is actually much more palatable than the original. Still bold and ripe with notes of sweet peaches and a touch of caramel, this is a playful wine and a bit of a guilty pleasure. Cheap as chips too!
Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025, £8.49
Here you have a straight-down-the-line, dry, slightly saline Provençal pink that does exactly what it says ‘on the tin’. Crisp and refreshing with a pleasing stony mouthfeel, it’s a good crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for the Indian summer we’re having.
Delxue Coonawarra Australian Cabernet Sauvignon 2025, £7.29
I love showing Coonawarra Cabernets at my tastings as they are so distinctive and show the ‘New World’ style so well. Bold and juicy, this is packed full of spicy blackcurrant notes with a distinctive Coonawarra minty, eucalyptus twang.
Halloween Special - De Bortoli Australian Shiraz Durif, £7.99
A fun choice for Halloween thanks to the redback spider on the label, this is a brooding and concentrated red - quite savoury and firm, with notes of black and red berries, dark plum and black tea from the splash of Durif in there. A foodie red wine.
Primitivo di Manduria 2022, £8.99
Primitivo is often made in quite a jammy style, but this one is drier and more savoury than most. Full-bodied, rich and rustic, think coffee bean and cocoa powder with a hint of grilled meat. One for those autumnal stews or roast lamb.
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Hi Helena, it was a small tasting, with only 31 wines on show. I thought the Cabernet Sauvignons were good, especially the Coonawarra; the Halloween Shiraz Durif was fun and I agree the Jailbird was a 19 Crimes clone, but as you say, better.
Looking forward to sampling the Tour wines when available; liked the Malbec and the Italian reds
I remember the Botanical Gardens, some years back we stayed at Steephill Cove in a cabin, and could hear the waves lapping at night. Wonderful!