I’ve tasted my way through more Lidl wines than I can remember… or care to. What can I say? I’m a professional.
And through my extensive research, I’ve witnessed Lidl’s range go from strength to strength, not just in terms of quality, but also by leaning into trends and tastes.
Some bottles are better than others, but searching for wines that are the equivalent of the golden ticket in a Willy Wonka chocolate bar is half the fun of the process.
What intrigues me about Lidl is that they do things a little differently from other supermarkets. They have a core range of around 150 wines, give or take.
Then, there’s a revolving door of Wine Tour wines that change on a monthly basis. They have around 16 per month, though not all are available in every store.
The Wine Tours are parcels of interesting wines from unique places, or classic varietals from renowned regions. The only downside is, when they’re gone, they’re gone, and though some make a reappearance in subsequent months, it’s never guaranteed. So, I’d advise stocking up when you come across one you particularly like.
They find them by scouring the globe for stock from reputable cooperatives or boutique wine producers, negotiating a decent price and passing that onto the shopper in return.
In doing so, they’re democratising wine discovery with something for everyone; from seasoned sipper to newfound wine fans.
Unlike other supermarkets, who work with third party wholesalers and distributors, Lidl are dedicated to direct sourcing, which further knocks down the price. So, if you’re dropping into store, it’s the Wine Tour wines you should be making a beeline for, but don’t be disheartened if they aren’t in your local branch, or sold out. It’s the nature of the beast, unfortunately.
Aside from their buying team, they employ a consultant who sense checks the wines and scores them out of 100. Richard Bampfield MW is his name, and as well as being highly qualified, he is extremely honest in his scoring, so you can genuinely trust what he has to say.
I recently tasted 65 wines from their new autumn/winter range, 20 of those were from their core range, while the rest were from their October, November and December Wine Tours.
Here are some of the best ones under £10 that you should be looking out for in November and December…
November
Côtes du Rhône Villages, France, £6.99 (save £1 with Lidl Plus)
Finding the word ‘Villages’ on a Côtes du Rhône label means you’re onto a winner, as it’s a step up in quality than the generic Côtes du Rhône bottles. The fruit comes from a select number of villages within the region, each with tighter winemaking regulations for an uptick in quality. This is a smooth, juicy and floral example, with a delightful hedgerow fruity finish.
Cuvée de Brieu Sauvignon Pays d’Oc, France, £7.99
Richard scored this one 88 out of 100, which I fully agree with. I’m sure knowing that will make him sleep easier. Fresh and nettley, it’s a Loire-like, herbaceous style of Sauvignon Blanc with a creamy, lemon-sherbet finish. He recommends it with fish and chips, which I’d say is absolutely bang-on for a truly banging combo.
Laus Tinto Barrica, Spain, £7.99
Somontano is a great region to get acquainted with, located at the foothills of the Pyrenees in northeasterly Spain, where it produces fresh, international-style wines for a decent price. This one has a perfumed nose, a palate of soft, bitter cherries and violets and a delightfully bitter-chocolatey finish.
Entre Quintas DOC Douro, Portugal, £8.99
Again, this bottle is a fixture in Lidl’s Wine Tour circuit, thank goodness. Portuguese reds are incredibly reliable, cost effective and suit a gamut of tastes; they’re soft-textured, juicy with attractive intensity. This is from the Douro, land of fortified wines, and has unctuous smoothness, a savoury streak, hedgerow fruit infusion and a deep, pillowy finish.
Médoc Cru Bourgeois Château Plagnac, France, £8.99
Anything with the description ‘Cru Bourgeois’ on the label deserves your time. It’s a designation of higher quality, set up to recognise chateaux not included in the 1855 classification (which includes big names like Mouton Rothschild), generally commanding a price premium. With spiced black cherry and pencil led flavours, this bottle is a cracking example of the genre.
Encostas de Caiz Vinho Verde Avesso, Portugal, £8.99
I told you, some of these limited edition Tour wines pop up again and again. Like this one, which was part of July’s tour. Portuguese Vinho Verde is one of the freshest styles of white you’ll ever encounter, though sometimes, I find supermarkets chuck in a load of sugar to make it more crowd-pleasing. Not this time, thankfully, you’ll find the Avesso grape full of fresh orchard apple and pear flavours and a ripe, dry and delicious, honey-nut finish.
December
Codorniu Cuvee 150th Anniversary Brut Ecologico, £9.99
I’m a sucker for Cava, and Spain’s oldest Cava house (over 450 years old) never disappoints. Under £10 for a Cava that honours the original 1872 bottle signed by Josep Raventos, the founder, is completely loco. Made in the same way as Champagne, it’s fruity, creamy and dry with layers of nougat, green apple and honey-on-toast notes.
Signature Famille Beynaguet Cabardes, £7.99
A juicy southern French red with an incredibly aromatic nose, a palate rich with concentrated black cherry flavours and pomegranate notes on the finish. I’ve given this wine a score of 3 out of 3 stars and written, ‘V. V. Good’ in my notes, so you might want to give it a mid-week whirl.
Lirac Reserve Des Centurions, £9.99
If you like a good Rhône red, you’ll love this one. Mainly because it is a Rhône red. Lirac is one of the crus of the Rhône Valley, just over the river from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It’s known for producing full-bodied reds from grapes including Grenache and Mourvèdre, and this is earthy with incredible blackberry and mulberry concentration.
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