Every month our wine shelves expand to accommodate new bottles, but it’s hard to know which to try.
To assist I have selected my favourites from the latest list of “new finds” to come onto the market, all £15 or less.
Burgundy, France:
Macon Villages Vieilles Vignes 2015 Potel Aviron - STAR BUY
This excellent new white Burgundy is from Nicolas Potel and Stephane Aviron, who joined forces 15 years ago. There are white flowers and peach notes, and a rich, zesty, citric palate with a great depth of fruit concentration for the price; Potel Aviron use traditional fermentation methods, reflected in the complexity and length of flavour. One of the best Macon Villages I have tasted recently.
£12.50, Oddbins
Burgenland, Austria:
Estoras Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Esterhazy
This is a juicy, fresh, curranty sauvignon blanc described as sancerre without the price tag. It is certainly sleek and gooseberry-toned, but it doesn’t quite have the acidity and minerality you get in the Loire. Instead, think riper and more exotic fruit.
£9.95, www.fromvineyardsdirect.com
Barossa, Australia:
Peter Lehmann Layers 2014 - STAR BUY
Our tasters picked this for star status because of its suitability for summer garden quaffing (with a moderate alcohol content of 11 per cent), exotic aromas and a creamy, honeyed palate. It’s an unusual Barossa blend of semillon, gewurztraminer, moscato and pinot gris.
£10.99, Henderson Wines; Fine Wine Company, Edinburgh
Clare Valley, Australia:
Axis Clare Valley Riesling 2015
I have often written about Aldi’s Clare riesling, but now Lidl has picked a winning bargain with its limey, blossomy aromas, just off-dryness, succulent ripeness and tangy acidity.
£5.99, Lidl
Gisborne, New Zealand:
Left Field Albarino 2015 Te Awa - STAR BUY
Our tasters loved this impressive new effort from Te Awa. Spain’s highly acidic albarino grape has been tamed and ripened in New Zealand’s most easterly vineyards with good success. Expect zesty citric fruits, firm acidity and textural mouthfilling flavours.
£10.99-£14, Ellies Cellar, Dollar/Auchterarder/Crieff/Perth/Helensburgh
Rhône, France:
Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun Blanc 2015 Pierre Henri Morel
Pierre Henri Morel went into partnership with well-known vigneron Michel Chapoutier back in 2008, purchasing a new domaine. Our tasters loved their weighty white Rhône with its peachy, apricot, aniseed and white pepper notes in this blend dominated by the grenache blanc grape.
£9.99, Majestic Wine
Marlborough, New Zealand:
Gibson Bridge Pinot Gris Reserve 2014
Growers Howard and Julie Simmonds focus on red grapes such as pinot noir, merlot and syrah at their boutique vineyard, but their passion for rich, spicy whites is obvious with this delicious Alsatian-style spicy, creamy pinot gris. With ripe fruit and vibrant, fresh, tangy acidity, it’s a refreshing take on pinot gris.
£15, Berry Bros & Rudd
Burgundy, France:
Bourgogne Laforet Pinot Noir 2013 Joseph Drouhin - STAR BUY
Another new Oddbins listing comes from reputable negociants Joseph Drouhin, made by daughter Veronique who blends fruit from Côte Chalonnaise for ripeness with Côte d’Or adding depth, part aged in old barriques to enhance complexity. With redcurrant and raspberry notes, succulent fruit ripeness and light soft tannins it’s easy to drink on its own.
£13, Oddbins
Bordeaux, France:
Chateau Jean De Gue, Lalande De Pomerol 2012
Quite a price for Lidl, but it is making efforts to draw in Francophiles in search of bargains. This is a sweetly fruited plummy merlot, a touch too oaky, but a decent price for this appellation.
£14.99, Lidl
Anatolia, Turkey:
Kayra Kalecik Karasi 2014
This reminded tasters of Beaujolais with its cherry fruit, soft tannins and bright acidity; made from kalecik karasi by Californian winemaker Daniel O’Donnell who has been experimenting with macerating techniques to tame Turkey’s native grape.
£12.39, Strictly Wine; Great Wines Direct
Colchagua, Chile:
‘Root 1’ Carmenere 2014 Ventisquero - STAR BUY
Our tasters loved this robust, spicy, peppery carmenere (with 15 per cent syrah) grown from ungrafted European vines. It’s full bodied, juicy and plummy with baked fruit and a warm spicy finish. A good value barbecue red.
£8, Morrisons
Lisbon, Portugal:
Artolas 2014 Adegas Galegas
Local grapes castelao, tinta roriz and trincadeira preta grown 30km from the Atlantic make up this earthy, spicy red blend.
£9, Vino Wine Shops, Edinburgh
