Six times per year Lidl opens its doors on a special selection of wines, many being one-off parcels, in its ‘Wine Tour’. The wines often follow a theme, in this case distinctly European and majoring on Spain, Portugal and Italy.
I tasted a selection of nine wines from the tour which I must say were really quite impressive: possibly the best selection from a number of Wine Tours that I’ve sampled over the past few years.
This Wine Tour kicked off on Thursday 21st May 2020, with the wines below on sale as long as stocks last. Don’t delay if you fancy them.
Sparkling and White Wines
Amorany, Cava Gran Cuvée Brut
Penedès, Spain, Sparkling White, Cork, 11.5% abv(2020) A touch of Chardonnay is blended with the typical grapes of Cava in this wine (Macabeo, Xarel.lo and Parellada), part of Lidl's 'Wine Tour', May 2020. Made by the traditional method, the nose is very inviting with its custardy, creamy and waxy sense of richness, a little biscuit character too. In the mouth the mousse is generous and pillowing, with a crisp lemony fruit, that citrussy freshness clean into the relatively long finish. Really very good value.
Paço do Bispo, Palmela White Wine 2019
Palmela, Portugal, Dry White, Cork, 12.5% abv(2020) From the Setubal peninsula south of Lisbon, this is a blend of Fernão Pires with Verdelho and Arinto and is a delightful little summer white with its 12.5% alcohol and crisp, fruit-filled demeanour. The nose has that definite leafy green herb blast, dill, thyme and rosemary in the pot-pourri, then a crisp apple and lemon palate, lemon jelly freshness, and a cool finish with a hint of mint and lemon thyme. Summer in a glass. Part of Lidl's 'Wine Tour', May 2020.
CEO, Godello 2019
Galicia, Spain, Dry White, Synthetic cork, 12.5% abv(2021) I've actually been able to taste this a number of times now, as it seems to pop up regularly as a special Lidl parcel. From Galicia in the northwest of Spain, it is a wine in a crisp and fresh, dry style. There's a hint of fresh, briney ocean spray on the nose, as well as yellow plum and pear. In the mouth fine, a very light spritz adds to the fresh fruitiness, a tangy oranges and lemons acidity, and again that little hint of salinity to finish. Stylish.
Sassi del Mare, Falanghina 2018
Campania, Italy, Dry White, Synthetic cork, 13.0% abv(2020) One of a number of excellent white grape varieties from Campania in southern Italy, just inland from Napes, this Falanghina has the lightest touch of honey, a hint of almond, but otherwise its herby and apple fruited. The palate is crisp but textured, more ripe apple and a hint of peach, and a very nicely balanced, dry and citrussy finish. Part of Lidl's 'Wine Tour', May 2020.
Adler, Grüner Veltliner 2018
Alto Adige, Italy, Dry White, Synthetic cork, 13.5% abv(2020) A Grüner, not from Austria, but from the far north of Italy in the Alto Adige mountains literally just across the border. It's a zippingly fresh style this, all crunchy hard apples and citrus on the nose, just a little whiff of something green, leafy and herbal, before an equally decisive palate. Lemon, lemon pith and a pink grapefruit blast of keen fruit and acidity is super fresh, and after a suggestion of mid-palate peach sweetness, dry in the finish. Part of Lidl's 'Wine Tour', May 2020.
Salneval, Barrica Rías Baixas 2018
Galicia, Spain, Dry White, Cork, 13.5% abv(2020) I last wrote about the 2015 vintage of this unusual Albariño, making it my Wine of the Week. This 2018 is another cracking little buy as part of Lidl's 'Wine Tour', May 2020. Barrel-fermented Albariño is rare as hen's teeth, but when I taste this I am not sure why: a little nutty, nougat and flinty note is delightful, carrying through the palate where they add a creamy touch of vanilla to the peachy fruit and firm lemony acidity. Intriguing stuff and once again, a definite two thumbs up from me.
Rosé and Red Wines
Lidl, Primitivo Puglia Rosé 2018
Puglia, Italy, Dry Rosé, Synthetic cork, 11.5% abv(2020) From the deep-south of Italy, an 11.5% alcohol rosato that has a moderately deep colour and lightly herbal and slightly cherry-ish aromas. You will not miss the dollop of residual sugar in the mouth, more medium-sweet than off-dry for sure, with plenty of soft, creamy strawberry but just about enough juicy lemon acidity to balance.
Monte Plogar, Cariñena 2018
Cariñena, Spain, Dry Red, Synthetic cork, 13.5% abv(2020) From the Cariñena region in the north of Spain, this is a blend of Tempranillo with Grenache and Syrah. Vibrant and primary in colour, it is vinous and black cherry-scented, with a little bit of balsamic character, leading onto a firm but juicy palate, unoaked so sweet and sour, tight black fruit comes through. A touch lean in the finish but an honest £5.49s worth. Part of the Lidl Wine Tour May 2020, while stocks last.
Carles, Priorat Crianza 2016
Priorat, Spain, Dry Red, Cork, 14.0% abv(2020) From the high quality Priorat region of northeast Spain, close to Barcelona, this is a typical blend of Carignan and Grenache, and at 'Crianza' level, will have seen some barrel ageing. There's a firm cherry fruited character on the nose, definitely a touch of tobacco spice and the whole picture quite taut and serious. In the mouth the cherry fruit becomes more fleshy, softened slightly by silky tannins and a pert but generous acidity. It stays savoury and dry, a really nicely balanced wine that's crying out for a bit of meaty protein to match. Part of Lidl's 'Wine Tour', May 2020.
ceo godello 2019 absolutely beautiful wine from the lidl with a 3fish salad 5star
I hear some people snatched the last few bottles at half price, discounted to clear the shelves just before the new ‘wine tour’ started – now that’s a crazy bargain 😉
Greetings Tom, thanks for researching & recommending these excellent wines, as recommended by my sister Louise.
Glad we’ve helped sort out some wines for you! 🙂
Thanks Tom. I found the Godello and Gruner Veltliner here in Bath. They’ll suite me 👍
Excellent – weather set to be good on bank holiday Monday, so perfect for either.
Will try and pop down, they certainly do have some good wines.
Happy shopping Michael. Seems there’s a bit of stick variation from some reports coming back to me, but generally levels if all the wines are good at the moment.
More good selections from Lidl. Picked up six wines……the Albarinho always been a favourite, thanks Tom…..heavy weekend!!
Glad you’re sorted for this weekend at least Andy. Yes, the Alabarino is a lovely wine.
Thanks Tom, will certainly give some of these a go, they sound great.
Cheers Jo – happy hunting!
Tom, great information as always. Will hopefully venture out for the Portuguese white later.
Many thanks Stewart – face masks ready!
Thank you for your notes Tom. Great white’s selection, however, looking at the reds it reminds me more an Autumn Wine tour than Summer.
Yes, I think white wines are the stars of this current selection – although I did not taste so many reds – maybe there will be some good ‘summery’ reds that I haven’t tasted? Thanks Sebastiano.
Very welcome description of the wines AND the names of the grapes.
Cheers Andrew – hope it is helpful when you hit the shelves!
Thanks for this e mail. Now I can go purchase some of them
Cheers Avril – hope you enjoy them 🙂