Aldi Exquisite Collection Limestone Coast Chardonnay

Aldi wine range sets standards at prices hard to ignore

Well knock me over with a wet tea towel and force me to drink  lager and black.

Sometimes I come across some corkers of wines; and they’re even better when they’re not only cheerful, but cheap too.  I’m talking the Aldi wine range which is setting  some really good standards and if you haven’t already picked up on that by word of mouth – or glass to lips – then where have you been?

I know I’m not always enthusiastic about chardonnay  but one sip of Limestone Coast Chardonnay (Aldi, £5.99) and I was texting friends. The Australian wine is unoaked, is full of tropical fruit but has  slight creaminess because of some lees aging. It had the same kind of fresh zinginess you might expect from a sauvignon blanc.Aldi Exquisite Collection Limestone Coast Chardonnay wine

Limestone Coast – commended in both the Decanter awards and the International Wine Challenge this year  – is part of Aldi’s Exquisite Collection which was  launched last  November. It has sold over two million bottles  since then.

So far in 2013,  Aldi’s beers, wines and spirits range has received 100 accolades, including 33 awards at the International Wine Challenge and 35  at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

A couple of fizzies to definitely look out for include   Aldi Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore  (£7.29). My notes say:  This fizzed, and  fizzed again. Lemons and  freshly-cut apples and pears on the nose led to  a   long-lasting taste of   pears and apples. Mouth-watering to the last.

Aldi Champagne Philizot Brut NV (£12,99) has won three silvers this year which isn’t to be sniffed at. If you do,  don’t get the bubbles up your nose. It’s a party wine to brag  “Champers” to guests    without raiding the piggy bank.

Violets and bilberries ooze from Aldi’s Malbec (£5.99)  from the Uco Valley in  Argentina  – another wine  in the Exquisite Collection  and one of the best-selling.   It’s a very pleasant red with integrated tannins and  spicy  fruits.

The Exquisite Collection  Shiraz   (£5.99) went well with a cupboard/fridge/forgot-to-shop meal  I made this week with sauteed peppers, chillis, mushrooms, bacon, red pesto and tumbled spaghetti. I looked at the shiraz – it looked at me. Shiraz and an  Italian plate?

Plums, black fruits, chocolate and liquorice layers have brought this Australian wine    commended and  silver awards in 2013. And deservedly so.

Published in the saturday extra magazine September 14, 2013

Liverpool Echo – South Wales Echo – Daily Post Wales – Huddersfield Examiner – The Chronicle, Newcastle – Teesside Evening Gazette – Birmingham  Mail – Coventry Telegraph – Paisley Daily Express

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