Asda ES French Chardonnay

Got chance to try the Asda EX south of france Chardonnay with dinner last night.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I am generally a white Burgundy fan and lean towards the richer, honeyed, nutty styles.  This wasn't really that, but what it was was a reasonably generous yet composed and refined dry chardonnay.  It showed no overly oaky flavours, no overly nothing really other than a well balanced chardonnay.  A little fruit, a little minerality, a little structure.

I should really go and get a case at this prices (~£4.50) as it has all the hallmarks of a generalist all-rounder, good to drink on it's own or with a wide variety of foods.

Asda EX Gavi

Not really going to waste my breath here, this wine isn't bad and would match nicely against a lot of different foods.

Headline is that this is pretty dull.

Asda ES Australian Reisling

Tonight I am on the the Asda ES Australian Riesling. I am waiting for a curry, and have been waiting long.  A good maker here, Knapstein.  I have drunk their wines before and enjoyed them.

This is dry and a bit oily on the nose as is expected from this style of Riesling.  Nothing much to write home about here if you know what to expect of a Riesling, nor nothing to complain about either, it is a lovely balanced Riesling, plenty of lime acidity with good structure and a little flinty minerality.  Petrol,. diesel, and general floralness.

The headline is the price, I paid less than a fiver for this good bottle, which is a solid Riesling.  If I went to Marks and Sparks, who sell something really similar, I would be paying nearer to a tenner.  Well done Asda.

Independent bubbles

Name           J.M. Gremillet Champagne Brut 

Vintage         NV

Country        France

Region         Champagne

Grape           Champagne Blend

Maker          J.M. Gremillet

% Alc          12%

Price           £20

Source        Hoults

Our Friday tipple, and bubbles as usual. Rob yawned when I reached for the Veuve, and so following him along the shelf, we reached this (passing the Lallier we had a short while ago), which doesn't break the bank, and according to him, the IWC top non-vintage champagne, for the past two years running no less. Well, it didn't win for flair, panache, wildness or unpredictability, that's for sure. But what we do have, is a light, and pretty unrefined champagne, which is non-threatening, your nan would like, and would go down well at a wedding.

Its nose isn't really champagne-y, and could be mistaken for a cremant de loire or cremant d'alsace, having some real floral notes in there. 

It has been suggested that (and maybe this isn't a characteristic champagnes aim for?) as it rests in the glass, mouthfuls move from structured, to a more mellow roundness, but I cannot vouch for this, as mine infrequently sticks around that long!

It's fine - it's nice, but the Lallier kicks its ass for me, as do a couple of cavas, Bob's camel valley gear and cremants. All together now: to the bride and groom!

Asda ES Alsace Gewurtztraminer

Asda ES Alsace Gewurtztraminer, 2008. 13% alc

Made by Cave Du Roi, a really well perfumed, flowery, Gewurtz, typical of Alsace.  Off dry and lovely.

Not overly refined, bought for under a fiver.  Excellent value, and a great introduction to this style.

I had this with Curry, a really good match.

Full price of £6.50 ish still looks reasonable.  Well done Pippa !

Asda Extra Special range

I popped into ASDA yesterday (to buy groceries) and found that they had their Extra Special wine range on 25% off until the end of October.  I didn't want to buy, but I made the sacrifice of walking out with 6 bottles so I could try them for this blog,

I was also a little curious as to how Philippa Carr (MW) was getting on in what is probably one of the hardest jobs in wine.  

Since she took the job at Asda there have been major changes to the wine aisle, and there are now things that I would happily buy on their shelves, keenly priced as you might expect from Asda.

For those who may stumble over this blog from overseas, Asda is known in the UK as the cheapest mainstream supermarket and typically hasn't excited by its wine range. 

If you look closely at the extra special range you will see some well known makers hidden underneath the Asda moniker.  For example their is southern France offerings from Paul Mas, Clare Valley Riesling from Knappstein, Rhone bottlings including Crozes Hermitage from Caves de Tain.  

Looks like Philipa is working some magic here allowing this range to show some benchmark examples that may cost a little more than the sub £5 mark that Asda has typically hit at, only time will tell.

With this offer on get down and bag a bargain, maybe?  Certainly the Crozes for under £6 seemed like good value.

Short reviews to come, as I get through the bottles.

Cornwall Pinot Noir Brut

It's Friday, treat time.  This time it is a bottle of Camel Valley Fizz we picked up when visiting Bob at the Vineyard earlier this year.

Name              Camel Valley Pinot Noir Brut (Cornwall)
Vintage            2008

Country           UK

Region            Cornwall, 

Grape             Pinot Noir
Maker             Bob and Sam Lindo

% Alc             12%

Price               £20ish

Source            Camel Valley

This is a truly salmon coloured wine, as opposed to a rose, or blush, or a pink. It's a joy, and amazing to think that this isn't from France or a top class Australian. 

The nose is attractive, but it really all starts on the palate where there is a sweet and fruity, welcoming, autumnal beginning, with redcurrant, briar, bramble and apples, giving way to a  zippy acid, and a tremendous lingering finish, rounded and moreish. Needless to say I needed another glass to complete this write up!

 

The impression I am left with by this wine is one of a lovingly prepared strawberry shortcake with cream. 

There is no place in this blog for saying that this is a remarkable English wine, because today, this is showing as a remarkable wine full stop.  And to be honest the top UK fizz is up there with the best of them.