The M&S press tasting happened this week and here are a few wines that really stood out to me, all available now. They also have a fantastic new range of non-alcoholic drinks, liqueurs and to-die-for Irish creams that had me making inappropriate noises. More on those soon but until then, wine…
Sparkling Wines
Ribolla Gialla, Friuli, Italy, NV 10.5%, £8
Incredible value, this is a wonderful, dry Prosecco alternative in a very funky looking bottle. Ribolla Gialla is the grape, hailing from Italy’s far northeastern corner and here, the fizz is an easy-going and fruity fizz with notes of pear, herbs and bitter almonds.
Drink with: On its own aperitif style or salty snacks.
M&S Blanquette de Limoux, NV France, £12
Blanquette is an ancient method of making sparkling wines that predates Champagne using the local Mauzac grape and a splash of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Concentrated and tangy with notes of baked rhubarb in a sea-salt crumble, this is wonderfully quirky.
Drink with: Smoked salmon, seafood and fried chicken.
White Wines
M&S Juanico Albariño, Uruguay, 2026, £10
Yes! Albariño (and Tannat for that matter) is a THING in Uruguay. Didn’t you know?! This one is lovely too. It has the peachiness the grape is known for but is rounder and riper, with more apricot notes and less salinity than the Spanish versions from Rías Baixas. Fabulous.
Drink with: Roast chicken, white fish and nutty cheeses.
M&S Collection Organic Chablis, 2024, £25
Ok this is expensive but at least it does what Chablis is meant to do, perhaps with a tad more fruit. Classic, concentrated, subtle marzipan, chalk and lemon with a moreish mineral core. It’s organic, made by a well-respected producer (Brocard) from old vines too. A great gifting wine.
Drink with: shellfish, delicate white fish, subtle cow cheese. A great gift wine.
Orange Wine
M&S Qvevris Kisi, Kakheti, Georgia, 2023 £12
From the original home of Orange wine, this Georgian sipper is made with 100% Kisi grapes, which are soaked with their skins for extra colour flavour and texture. This is a wonderful, super dry and textural wine with flavours of Earl Grey tea and ginger nuts! A proper foodie wine.
Drink with: Anything nutty, roast chicken, hard cheeses like comté.
Red Wines
M&S Palatia Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany, 2024, £10
A proper, cool climate Pinot that’s elegant, lean and very silky with notes of crunchy red cherry, raspberry and earth. With lots of fruit but dry with it, this really is a fabulous, very well-priced wine that can also take a slight chill.
Drink with: Cold cuts, duck and lamb.
M&S Yarri Karri Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023, £14
From the ‘Bordeaux of Australia’, this western region produces some of the country’s finest wines and it’s very well suited to Bordeaux blends. This is full-bodied, silky and elegant with a gravelly minerality, tobacco and lots of cassis. A pro rugby player in black tie!
Drink with: Steak, beef… all the protein. Also, dark chocolate!
M&S Collection Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bertrand Gonnet, 2022 (NEW SUPPLIER)
I often feel that Châteauneuf-du-Pape is overrated but thanks to Del Boy, it’s still seen as a shortcut to fine wine. This one, however, is a fantastic example of what a good version looks like. Think Christmas cake vibes with spirity currants, cinnamon spice and candied peel. Note that this picture shows the old supplier as this is brand new!
Drink with: Lamb roasts, turkey and all the trimmings, comté.
Like this? Try these:
10 Top Cabernet Sauvignon Wines from Around the World
10 Wines for Organic September
I do like that M&S orange; a hint of natural cider and I'm sold!