Movies and Booze
With thanks to O’Brien’s Wines
Martin Moran
www.twitter.com/winerepublic
January is a harsh month, not just weather wise but financially too with a mountain of bills to pay including the new household charge. It’s enough to drive you to drink but is there much to spare in your budget for a bottle of wine? If ever there was a need for bargain bottle it’s now.
Sadly just when we need cheap prices most the majority of the Christmas offers have finished and bottles are back at normal or nominal prices but surprisingly there are still a number of drinkable bottles for €5-7. For even cheaper than that step forward Lidl.
This week, until Saturday, Lidl are selling their generic Bordeaux Rouge for just €3, reduced from its usual, not exactly expensive €4.99. That’s great or is it? When you take away 56c VAT and €2.05 that leaves just 39c for the wine, its packaging, transport and profit margin. That’s simply not viable unless producer or retailer are supplying below cost. There’s no law against that, as there used to be but it begs the question should it be illegal? Should a supermarket be offering artificially cheap alcohol to get you to do your weekly shop? I ask as it’s not like cheap beans or vegetables, it’s a product with mind altering qualities when consumed in large quantities. Decide for yourself. Giveaways aside at Lidl if looking for drinkable bargains in their €5.49 Cimbarosa range I’d suggest the Chilean Cabernet for red drinkers and the Chilean Pedro Ximenez or Sauvignon Blanc for white drinkers.
Rivals Aldi have their share of bargain buys too. The red and rosé Toro Loco pair are good everyday drinking at €4.99, while their €5 Pinot Grigio is from Sicily which should make it a bit tastier than those from the Veneto. The Tierra del Sol Chilean Merlot is probably the best of their cheap Chileans. There’s also a €7 Barossa Shiraz that looks interesting although I haven’t tried it yet.
Tesco makes a point of matching the lowest prices in Lidl and Aldi, so for example this week I tried a Cotes du Rhone villages at €5.49, which tasted like a more expensive wine. Aldi have one at that price too but I haven’t tried it. Tesco Simply Chianti is only €4.99 and better than most cheap Chianti I’ve tried while their Finest Chianti is on offer at only €7 anyway.
At Dunnes I’m a fan of their Portuguese and Spanish wines in particular with plenty from €5-7 worth drinking and the French Le 6 Sens range by Gerard Bertrand at €6.99.
Meanwhile at Superquinn the Rare Vineyards Vielles Vignes (old Vines) range at €6 is hard to beat while the Classic Collection Cotes du Rhone at €7 is a consistent recommended good value buy.
If you’re still looking for ways to save money remember you have until March to pay the household charge.
Wines Tasted on the Show
Lidl Bordeaux Rouge 2010 €3 today and tomorrow. Usually €4.99.
2010 was a good vintage in Bordeaux so even if buying the very cheapest available you get something perfectly drinkable, as this is. It shows some attractive dark fruit flavours and has a bit of tannin, which softens after exposure to air. Yes, I’m suggesting you decant your €3 Lidl wine! That just means tipping it into a jug and then back into the bottle.
Grao Vasco Douro 2010, Portugal. Dunnes, €5.99 reduced from €6.99.
Douro is where Port comes from and it is establishing itself as a great place to make unfortified red wines too. This is refreshingly only 12.5% a.b.v. and has attractive red fruit with floral notes. A bargain.
www.twitter.com/thegargleguru for my recommendations on drink.
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