A GLASS or two of wine does not have to cost a bundle.
But how can you make sure you get a corker for your money, rather than a cheap tipple that falls flat?
Helena Nicklin has tested the best bottles of reds, whites and rosés – that are all under £5[/caption]
To help you make the right choice, drinks expert Helena Nicklin selects some of the best bottles of reds, whites and rosés – all costing less than a fiver – and selects the winners for each category.
Chevalier de Fauvert Chardonnay Pays d’Oc, £4.48, Lidl
Lidl’s Chardonnay offering was the best white for under a fiver[/caption]
IT is a perk of my job that I get my pick of many pricey wines to try.
So I’ll confess that while I’m no vino snob, it is not often I actually choose to drink wine as cheap as this.
However, this gem from Lidl was so impressive I really did open it for myself.
A great example of Southern French Chardonnay with its “just right” melon and peach notes plus a kiss of savoury oak for backbone.
Not remotely sickly or sweet, this is better than many wines that are double the price.
Fabulous for a under a fiver.
Rating: 5/5
Cape Kyala Chenin Blanc, £3.99, Tesco
This Tesco offering is crisp and refreshing[/caption]
I WLL admit that as white wines go, cheap Chenin Blanc rarely fares very well, especially at this “loss-leading” price point.
But this one, which incredibly comes in at less than £4, is definitely drinkable.
It is produced in South Africa and is zingy on the acidity – and super-dry.
Although there is not too much going flavour-wise, when you take a sip it is crisp and refreshing.
Drink it very well-chilled and spend the extra quid on some salty snacks to nibble alongside.
Rating: 3/5
Wollemi Shiraz-Merlot, £4.15, Sainsbury’s
This Sainsbury’s red is full of flavour and comes in an expensive-looking bottle[/caption]
ANOTHER 11 per cent ABV wonder, this South-East Australian vineyard wine used to pack more of a boozy punch.
However, it is still pretty silky and easy drinking plus there are lots of rich and ripe full flavours here.
Think bags of blackcurrant and peppery, damson jam.
It’s fruity but quite savoury with it.
This is named after one of Australia’s oldest trees, and will go well with a good steak.
The bottle looks more expensive than it is, too.
Rating: 3/5
Nice Drop Tempranillo, £4.09, Asda
This Asda red is good but not among the best[/caption]
NICE Drop is a good name for this budget range from Asda, as they are all pretty decent drinks for around £4.
There is no vintage on the bottle as the wines are a blend from various years.
This Tempranillo is from Murcia in Spain and has had its ABV lowered to 11 per cent.
But that seems to smooth out the more rustic notes, so it does the wine a favour.
Better with food so a good one to crack into with a burger.
Also excellent to make Sangria.
Rating: 2/5
Pierre Jaurant Bordeaux, £4.99, Aldi
Our red winner is from Aldi and is great with a Sunday roast[/caption]
FOR my money, this cheeky little claret is one of Aldi’s absolutely fantastic red wine buys.
A French heritage sip from Bordeaux but made in a modern style – which means it has a tad more fruit than normal.
This is lush and velvety with a decent dollop of blackcurrant and cedar flavours.
It will be lovely with your Sunday roast or just kicking back and relaxing in front of a fire.
It nails it for a fiver.
Rating: 5/5
Specially Selected Margaret River Rosé, £3.21, Aldi
This rosé is a punchy blend, very savoury and a tad smoky, so it won’t be for everyone[/caption]
AT just over £3 a bottle, you won’t find grapes much cheaper.
Despite that, this is still a proper pink from what wine buffs consider to be the “Bordeaux” of Australia, Margaret River, so called thanks to its similar soils and grapes.
This is a punchy blend, very savoury and a tad smoky, so it won’t be for everyone.
But, for the price, I reckon it is worth giving it a go.
With some cold meat it will soften right up – and it looks the part, too.
Rating: 2/5
Kingsland Portuguese Rosé, £5, Morrisons
Our rosé winner from Morrisons looks as good as it tastes[/caption]
THIS rather rotund rosé bottle looks – and tastes – suspiciously like its more famous Portuguese friend Mateus.
That one can be far pricier – around £7 – so this is no bad thing at £2 cheaper.
There is a reason this style of wine from the Med has endured. It is crisp and fruity with a refreshing spritz.
Simple but so gluggable, especially if you favour the sweeter side of rosé.
Also makes a great- looking gift.
Rating: 3/5
Penguin Sands Rosé, £4.15, Sainsbury’s
This Sainsbury’s rosé is fine for the price[/caption]
STICK a penguin on the label and it will sell, they said!
Good advice here, with this popular and fun-looking South African tipple.
With a new lower alcohol content of 11 per cent ABV, this is a pleasant option for a lighter, easy-drinking drop.
A blend of various bold red grapes, this new-world rosé gives good flavour without being overblown.
If you are pairing it with a meal, it will go well with more spicier Asian dishes.
And at just over four quid, it is decent value.
Rating: 2/5
La Manoir du Baron Sauvignon Blanc, £4.95, Asda
Asda’s Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect option for the price point[/caption]
THIS bargain looks and sounds twice the price.
And if you turned up at a party carrying this bottle, its posh label and fancy wine-list worthy name alone would suggest you had spent far more on it.
To be honest, it is pretty hard to mess up Sauvignon because it is so distinctive with its grassy, citrus notes.
This French version shows great character in a much more elegant way than many New Zealand styles.
A perfect option for the price point.
Rating: 4/5
Castellore Italian Fiano, £4.99, Aldi
This Fiano from Aldi is decent enough for the price and is a very useful standby to keep in the fridge[/caption]
OPT for varieties of wines that you may not be so familiar with in the supermarket, and you can find yourself pouring some super value-for-money choices into your glass.
Fiano is a lesser known Italian grape that usually makes cracking, crowd-pleaser whites packed full of tropical flavours.
This version from Aldi is decent enough for the price and is a very useful standby to keep in the fridge.
It is perhaps a tad thin and acidic owing to its lower ABV of 11 per cent but still pretty good for the price.
Rating: 3/5
