It's three months since I identified some cracking reductions on a few of my favourite Waitrose wines and here we are post Christmas and Waitrose once again have got some great offers on a range of decent wines running until 24 January. I thought I'd highlight a couple of hefty reds from southern Italy and then, by way of contrast, three fruity, crisp whites from elsewhere in Europe. Four of the five are currently reduced by 25% and the first red wine below is still excellent value with a £2 discount.
REDS
Borgo del Trulli Salice Salentino 13% - £6.99 reduced from £8.99
This wine comes from a broad wine production area in Puglia at the SE tip of Italy north of Lecce. Typically, it is made from 90% negroamaro grapes which produces fairly full bodied deep red wines which tend to be spicy and earthy. This example is dark and rich with a hint of oak and a slight sweetness which adds to its appeal.
Pazzia Primitivo di Manduria 14% - £8.99 reduced from £11.99
Also from Puglia but this wine is made from 100% primitivo, the most well-known red grape variety from the region, also know as zinfandel in the US and beyond. The town of Manduria is recognised as a centre for quality primitivo wines and this example demonstrates all the best characteristics. It is full-bodied, inky dark in the glass and full of ripe black cherry and plum flavours. If this sounds not dissimilar to the wine above consider how the blazing sun in southern Italy ripens grapes to maximum intensity so its not surprising wines are bold and high in alcohol. Perhaps you could buy both bottles here to compare and contrast and see which you prefer?
WHITES
Although undoubtedly the cold winter months draw us to big bold red wines there is always a place for a crisp white wine at any time of year. But it's nice to ring the changes now and again from the ever-popular sauvignon blancs from New Zealand.
Cōtes de Gascogne Les collines de Luza Sauvignon Blanc 11% - £5.99 reduced from £7.99
This wine is labelled Sauvignon Blanc but the detail on the website indicates it is a blend of Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc. The winemakers in Gascony in the southwest of France have had a fair amount of success in recent years producing fresh white wines combining local varieties like Colombard, Gros Manseng, Ugni Blanc with Sauvignon Blanc and this is a good example. Crucially, not only are they good, they tend to be excellent value. In fact there is another example from the large Plaimont cooperative in Sainsbury's at the moment reduced from £8 to £6.50
Grey Slate Dr L Riesling Private Reserve 10.5% - £7.49 reduced from £9.99
Riesling is the most widely planted grape variety in Germany and this is an easy drinking example from the Mosel. Floral and relatively light in alcohol it has a good balance between fruit, acidity and residual sugar. Great value at this price.
Domaine Huber Grüner Veltliner 12.5% - £8.09 reduced from £10.79
Whereas Riesling is king in Germany 75% of the world's Grüner Veltliner is grown in neighbouring Austria. They are both high acidity wines that go well with food. This wine has citrus flavours with a slight pepperiness that makes it feel a little drier than the Riesling. Nevertheless it's a fresh quaffable wines worth a try if it's not a familiar grape.
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