There’s a lovely chap I see by the photocopier at work and I’ll call him Mike because that’s his name.
Mike has been extolling the virtues of a merlot he loves. It’s called Grapevine Merlot, and he buys it from Aldi. So I bobbed up to Aldi to pick up his recommendation and bought more wine while I was there. It would have been rude not to.
Here’s Mike’s fave, along with another red for under a fiver and two Aldi wine whites for under £8.
Grapevine Merlot, (£3.09, in store only). This wine won’t knock you over in a wobbling heap of praise, but for a purse-friendly slurp then why not consider it. Aldi has sourced this wine from Spain and I bet it would be brilliant in a quick-and-easy summertime sangria. Or just allow the flavours of black cherries and plums to comfort you when you need … errrrrm … well, when you need a glass of red.
Estevez Chilean Pinot Noir (£4.79, £28.74 for six at www.aldi.co.uk). I popped this in the fridge for a couple of hours. Pinot noir is lovely with a bit of a chill and Estevez had a chilled-out 2015, scooping three awards, including silver at the International Wine and Spirits Challenge. It is a flimsy, see-through negligee red, with a whimsy of peppery strawberries on the nose and spiky spicy red fruits to taste.
Exquisite Collection Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin (£7.99, £47.94 for six online). Wow said a pal as she dipped her nose in this. That’s nice! (she said). Pauline’s not a huge wine lover but this gold award-winning New Zealand white turned her head, and rightly so. Lime takes centre stage, light, tight, splendidly bright lime, alongside cushion softness and roundness from stone fruit.
Freeman’s Bay New Zealand Pinot Gris (£5.69, £34.14 for a case of six). Say hello to another white from New Zealand. Wine makers have taken the pinot gris grape and created a wine which is soft but plump, with aromas which say honeysuckle and spring flowers, and flavours which say melon, mango and pear.
There you go. Mike drove me to drink.