Luke's Monthly Wine Recommendations | September

Your supermarket sommelier

Hello,

Wine is bottled poetry
- Robert Louis Stevenson

On to this month’s selections:

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Whites

Sainsbury’s - Jurançon Sec, Taste the Difference, France: £5.63 (25% off mix six)

Jurançon is a wine-growing region in the rolling landscape of the Pyrenees foothills, France. It is renowned for its sweet and dry white wines (Jurançon and Jurançon Sec). This represents an excellent opportunity to explore the region at a fantastic price and broaden your tastebuds.

Waitrose - Tabalí, Encantado Reserva, Viognier, Chile: £8.24 (25% off mix six)

Since my time at Majestic, I've always had a soft spot for the Tabalí wines. This one is an expressive example of the increasingly popular Viognier grape, think stone fruits.

Marks & Spencers - Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Found, Germany: £9.50

I love Pinot Blanc and believe it's underrated, so I was delighted to find it in M&S's selection. It truly showcases the grape's character, at under £10 I think it's excellent value. Peachy goodness, backed up by minerality. I'm not surprised it's sold out online, but it's still available in-store.

Waitrose - Chafor, Estate Bacchus, England £12.74: (25% off mix six)

If you want to dip your toe into English wine, then check this out. It's available at an accessible price and provides a full representation of the Bacchus grape.

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Rosé

Pink isn’t just for the summer as highlighted by an article in the Guardian this week. I don't know about you, but I'm becoming more curious about wines that have a little more substance to them, and that's the thought behind these selections.

Majestic Wine - Tutiac 'Lion & The Lily' Rosé, Bordeaux: £12.99 (mix six)

I tried this not long ago and found it to have a good balance. It's nicely rounded, providing a bit more oomph.

Marks & Spencers - Vara, Romanian Rosé, Romania: £7.50

Romania is on the rise! We keep seeing more wines emerging from a country that offers great value for money. Here's a popular rosé with attitude.

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Sparkling

Majestic Wine - Villiera Cap Classique Brut, Stellenbosch, South Africa: £10.99 (mix six (save £6!))

South African sparkling wines offer exceptional quality without a hefty price tag, and Villiera is an example of that. You're getting a wine that demonstrates high-level craftsmanship with 18 months of ageing in the bottle.

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Reds

Lidl - Corte Alle Mura Chianti Riserva, Tuscany, Italy: £6.99

Still one of the best red wine options out there. Well-balanced, it combines enticing cherry notes with savoury oak and is a great representation of the region.

Coop- Vanita, Negroamaro, Italy: £8.95

A good expression of the Negroamaro grape from Puglia. Plenty going on at a cracking price! Puglia still offers superb value.

Sainsbury’s - Côtes Du Ventoux, Taste the Difference, France: £7.88 (25% off mix six)

A cracking option for Autumn from the Rhone. Not as full-bodied as Châteauneuf-du-Pape for instance, but it's a well-balanced wine with dark fruits.

Majestic Wine - Capaia One, Tygerberg, South Africa: £12.99 (mix six)

I’m always asked what’s a good alternative to the Chocolate Block and this is my answer. It’s a complex and rich wine that punches above its price point.

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Fortified

Morrisons - Wm Morrison, Palo Cortado, Sherry: £7.25

I’ll keep on driving home my love for Sherry, and this wine maker’s Morrisons wine is well worth a punt.

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Stay Corked - Luke

P.S. Just to confirm, I am not sponsored by any of these retailers!