Superquinn French Wine Sale – a preview

September 27, 2007 No Comments

The Superquinn ‘Flavours of France’ wine sale starts on September 25th.

I managed to get a sneak preview at what’s on offer and I’m happy to say that I found loads of great wines and many quite brilliant bargains. Just as well cos I’m getting quite a slagging for my ‘be kind to supermarket wine buyers’ piece in the Sindy!

Anyhow, John Wilson and David Orr have managed to get to grips with Superquinn’s list and although some of the old favourites are still on the shelves there are many interesting new additions.

Usual ratings apply: 18-20 Unmissable
16-17 Stylish wine, some excitement; 13-14 decent drinking 11-12 reliable and value for money; 9-10 You might like it, we didn’t; 8 or under: Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

PRICES QUOTED ARE SALE PRICES
WHITES

Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu Prieuré de la Fine 2005 6.99
Fine example of the new, softly, softly Muscadet, full of ripe rich fruit while keeping the taut, acid refreshing quality. Massive bargain.
Rated 14

Haut Poitou Sauvignon Blanc VDQS, Vall de Loire 2006 7.49
Stylish, rounded, mysterious and interesting with intriguing caramel notes at the back end. A ‘session wine’ par excellence
Rated 13

Pouilly-Fumé Les Pierres Blanches 2006 11.99
Lovely flinty, mineral lively appeal pinned down by a great weight of fruit. So enjoyable.
Rated 14

Sancerre Le Chatillet Balland-Chapuis 2006 11.99
Crisp, apple-skin flavours, very well-made
Rated 14

Sancerre Merlin-Cherrier 2006 14.99
As above with a bit more weight and subtlety that fully justifies the extra outlay
rated 15

Domaine Begude ‘Le Petit Ange’ Chardonnay, Vins de Pays d’Oc 7.49
When Bertie Eden had this property the wines were an Oddbins flagwaver for many years. New owners have posished the already shiny coin. Simple, fragrant and tasty, fun wine
Rated 12

La Baume Winemaker’s Selection Blanc Vin de Pays 9.69
Solid, complex wine from Chardonnay, Marsanne and Roussance. I really like this producer, now with a white to match their lovely Syrah
Rated 13

Cuveé Ann Laure Alsace Riesling 7.99
Staggeringly good young, ‘drink me’ Riesling at an amazing price.
One of the bargains of the year so far. Do buy
Rated 15

Trimbach Alsace Pinot Blanc Vintage 2004 9.69
Refreshing uncomplicated wine from a respected producer
Rated 13

Bergerac Sec, Clos des Verdots Blanc 2006 8.49
White Bordeaux is wickedly and unfairly unfashionable. Fragrant delight, amazing nose and smartly blended Sauvignon and Semillon; at this price it’s a steal.
Rated 15

Macon-Lugny Charles Vienot 2006 8.49
Cuddly , soft and fragrant, from the warm end of Burgundy and a snip for the money asked
Rated 13

Chablis Charles Viennot 2006 9.99
Honeyed, spicy, yet restrained. Hefty, weighty and fairly serious for the money, this would make converts of the ‘I don’t like Chardy’ brigade.
Rated 14

Macon-Lugny Louis Latour 2006 Les Genievres 9.99
An old reliable from a house that seems to have come back from the dead in the last three years.
Rated 13

Saint-Veran Fortin 2006 11.99
Stunning. Solid and substantial; complex, mysterious flavours with dark, raisiny fruit coming in at the back end. Loved it.
Rated 14

Pouilly-Fuissé Fortin 2006 17.99
If you can run to it, buy it. You shouldn’t be disappointed this is weighty, serious wine.
Rated 15

SPARKLERS

Crémant de Loire Brut, Pierre 1er 11.99
Smashing bargain! Lovely creamy, apple fruit. Currently Prosecco is sexy as hell but this Crémant de Loire is every buit as tasty as most Proseccos and cheaper.
Rated 16

Champagne H Blin Non-Vintage 21.49
Well priced lively wine, I was unprepared for the sheer weight of fruit and the showerings of redcurrants, pears and apples that rose up in the mouth.
Joyous Champagne, a far cry from some of the niggardly, mean budget fizzers on offer.
Rated 17

Champagne Le Mesnil Brut Blanc de Blancs 2000 37.49
In a style I adore; lean, racy and elegant with that biscuit or toasted brioche finish that makes you point your empty glass in the direction of the bottle. A stunner.
Rated 19

REDS
Didn’t quite have the profusion of stylish bargains that the whites evinced but there was some outstanding wine in the red selection. Many of them, particularly the Bordeaux, would repay keeping.

Château David Cru Bourgeois 2006 9.99
A little bit hard yet but you could sense that this classically-framed Bordeaux will improve with keeping.
rated 13

Château Teyssier, Pesseguin St.Emilion 2005 10.99
Well worth the extra euro, this was dark and serious with a decent whack of fruit.
Rated 14

Ch.Beaumont Cru Bourgeois Haut Médoc 2004 16.99
I’ve found a lot of the ’04s lacking in charm but this one impressed with its hint or white pepper and extended finish.
Rated 15.5

Domaine Cristia Grenache, Vin de Pays des portes des Mediteranéé 2006 7.99
From an unfashionable region this singing-and-dancing grenache is a huge quaffing wine, jubilant and uncomplicated. Ripe fruit, heady spice. Go buy.
Rated 14

Cotes du Rhone Guigal 2004 9.99
Thoughtful wine, rooted in the Rhone tradition made by people who’ve been at it for a long time and know what they are doing. Sound, commercial wine (and that is not a put-down).
Rated 13

Vacqueras, Domaine de Brunely 2004 11.99
Smart winemaking, complex and classy stuff with plenty of ripe fruit and enough backbone to stop it going syrupy. Liked a lot.
Rated 14.5

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée le Blason du Prince 2006 15.99
Excellent value for money in an age where many ‘budget’ Chateauneufs can be shunned with confidence.
Rated 15

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 2005 Domaine Alain Grangeon 18.99
Showstopping wine. Weighty serious and distinguished, my favourite red of the tasting. Drink now or lay down 3-4 years for even more enjoyment. Star.
Rated 18.5

Fleurie Domaine Andre Cologne 2006 11.99
I’m normally no fan of Fleurie but this one was a tad more weighty than the norm and held a decent weight of ripe, rich, red fruit. Uncomplicated, singing wine and one of the best examples I’ve ever had.
Rated 16

La Baume Syrah, Vin de Pays d’Oc 2006 6.89
Who says you can’t get decent cheap wine? Plummy fruit and a hint of spice this is really good wine for that big party.
Rated 13

Mont Tauch Fitou 2006 7.99
Interesting wine, taut and lively, from a caring co-op
Rated 13

La Baume Winemaker’s Selection Vin de Pays d’Oc 2002 9.69
Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre, a big hit of sweet, fleshy fruit that seems increasingly complex as it rolls on to a long, long finish.
The sort of thing the Aussies used to do so well for this sort of money but now they seem to have lost the plot a bit.
Rated 14

There you go – 37 wines tasted, 30 of them recommended. A bloody good average, I reckon.

Tags: wineWine & Drink