(2021) While searching online for clues to the producer I found a few reviews mentioning the classic descriptors for Pouilly Fumé, like 'flint' and 'smoke'. I have to say I found very little of that character in a wine that majors much more on its succulent fruit, with plenty of ripe pear and apple, maybe just a touch of green herbs. Zippy acidity offsets quite sweet, quite concentrated white fruits in the mouth, for a very pleasing white with good fruit, body and balance. Part of Lidl's summer 'Wine Tour'.
(2021) One of the stars of this selection, as it should be given it is also the most expensive. Gigondas is close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône Valley and makes broadly similar wines from the same grape varieties like Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. This is all dark, rich bambles and black forest gateau on the nose, spice and meaty, velvety black fruits the order of the day. In the mouth it carries a fair clout: 14% abv is typical for this appellation, here adding a touch of heat to the smooth, sweet, black-fruit flavours of the palate. Robust tannins and acidity kick in towards the finish.
(2021) Producer Leroy Chevalier appears to be a négociant bottling wines from various appellations, and the grape varieties here are unstated buy most be local varieties such as Mauzac and Muscadelle. Pale green in colour, the nose is pretty and attractive with the floral and leafy, soft green herbal notes, a touch of elderflower typical of this region's dry whites. The palate is bright, softly-fruity and the epitome of easy-drinking, with a nice juicy tangerine core of acidity for a very pleasant summery mouthful of wine. Part of Lidl's summer wine tour 2021.
(2021) The nose is rather neutral on this Alsace Riesling, apple and lemon, maybe the vaguest suggestion of honey. On the palate there's some residual sweetness, and good clarity, lemon being the predominant note to fruit and acidity. If you are an Alsace fan looking for incisive character of the best Rieslings it may disappoint, but it falls into the category of 'very pleasant' rather neatly. Part of the Lidl summer 2021 wine tour.
(2021) Pouring a pure garnet colour of medium density, this has fresh raspberry and red liquorice aromas with a touch of twiggy briar wood. In the mouth it is fruity, with plenty of sweet summer berries. The acidity is good, giving a cleansing finish to an easy-drinking lighter red. Part of the wine tour summer 2021.
(2021) I was sent a preview list of wines to be featured in the Wine Tour which listed this simply as 'Mâcon', and ordered it assuming it was a Chardonnay - as the Mâcon appellation produces 10 times more white than red. In fact it is a red Mâcon, which means it could be either Pinot Noir or Gamay, or indeed a blend of both. Bold ruby in colour, there's a forward creaminess of red berry fruit, feels like a little of vanilla too? In the mouth super sweet fruit, with more density than the Bourgogne red also tasted, more spice and a bit more stuffing all round.
(2021) The red partner to the excellent Godello in the same range, this also comes from Galicia and is made from Mencia, the traditional grape of the Bierzo denomination. Unoaked, it's a smooth and vinous style, with cherry and black vine fruits, really nice bold flavours, firm cherry acidity and a stripe of tannin give it some energy and depth, finishing tangy and lip-smacking.
(2021) A Pinot Blanc from the Baden region, where the variety is known as the Weisser Burgunder, there's a photo of the winemaker on the bottle which is something we don't always get from Lidl whose wines are often presented rather anonymously. The back label also rates it as a '1', the driest of their five-step sweetness scale, and yet I detect a fair bit of residual sugar here. Other than that it is a fairly vivacious style for a Pinot Blanc, crunchy apple and pear, but quite a sparky, sherbetty liveliness to it too. Might work with spicy Szechuan or Thai cuisine.
(2021) A relatively unusual style this, a semi-sweet Gewürz, which has the hallmark florals, honeysuckle and a touch of exotic spices, but is not too flamboyant into the Turkish delight spectrum. The definite sweetness on the palate means that for me this does have to be carefully matched to food really, and I think a tarte tatin or apple strudel, maybe something like a peach cobbler, could hit the spot.
(2021) Though Lambrusco's reputation has been poor in the UK since some very rough 70s examples, here's a low cost opportunity to give it a chance - and if you like the sound of it you should. It's a deep red, foamy wine with a touch of pink to the mousse, and offers scents and flavours that are basically Black forest gateau in a glass, all cherry and chocolate. Don't come looking for anything profound here, but with its sweetness nicely balanced by acidity, and just 8% alcohol, a lovely summer garden sipper, or with dark chocolate desserts that are not too sweet.
