White wine - try this one

[winebuyer]

The sun has dropped out of sight here in deepest Hertfordshire, and I'm well into a blinding little Pinot Grigio. It's very jolly, and I feel an urge to recommend it. It's from that shop from which we just don't like to buy wine - M&S. It feels so unimaginative, like a bit of a kop out. But there's no point recommending something which you can't just go out and find in your local High Street. So if you like Pinot Grogio (and it has taken over from Chardonnay as the "grape of the moment", so you probably do) then give this a whirl. It's young, it has a delightful sunny, straw colour; it smells fresh and flowery; and it tastes like a clean, sharp alcoholic fruit salad with a subtle, dry sherry after taste. It's yummy. Look for the label, and try it. It's this ... Variety: Pinot Grigio Region: Friuli, Italy Producer: Arrigo Bidoli Year: 2007 Seller: M&S Price: �5.99 ABV: 13% It has a cream coloured label with grey and orange writing, and a little picture of a winery. The year (2007) is in the top left hand corner. BUT ... It has a screw top (naturally) so, if you're a bottle snob, don't buy it. And it's from M&S so, if you're a label snob, don't buy it. However ... if you fancy a cracking little wine to guzzle down, chilled in the evening as the sun goes down, then DO buy it. Now I need a question. How about ... did you enjoy this wine?

[ethandron]

have just returned from a wineless trip to asda. that california ladybird tree juicy red wine is sold out completely, they're expecting a new delivery on monday so i'll try again then. must be appealing in taste and price to be completely sold out.
i would agree about oddbins, their staff are terrific. we have a new one opened up very near to us and are hoping they're going to start tasting evenings shortly.

[Kleiber]

I'm a bit of a wine fan myself (maybe more than a bit, actually...!!). For value and a nice wee drop for everyday drinking, I can seriously recommend "Canti" Pinot Grigio Rose, from Morrisons (on offer this week, 3 for �10).

[winebuyer]

ethandron.

Me too. And ... our nearest Asda had also sold out !!! Is this the beanebabe factor? Did we all descend on Asda in search beanebabe's "california ladybird tree juicy red wine"? beanebabe should ask Asda for an introducer's fee.

Having claimed earlier that you can go into a supermarket with a budget, and come out with something that's good value, I looked for something at the same price, and found:

a Marques del Norte Rioja
a nondescript looking Bordeaux (labelled as "Claret")
a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

I plumped for the Montepulciano. It's a great, easy drinking wine if you enjoy those light, clear wines which remind you of warm holidays. I do. You might want something more robust for a dinner party, but for sloshing back in the garden (watching the rain clear tonight), it's very drinkable, and good value with change from three quid. It's a 2006, with a grey label with pictures of knights on it.

I also picked up an ineresting little dessert wine for �3.45 (!) which I tried with some ice cream this evening, and it's surprisingly good.

In the meantime, it's back to Asda next week in search of beanebabe's ladybird juicy red.

[winebuyer]

Kleiber, thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like a good deal. I'll grab some of those for the weekend if our local Morrisons has any in tomorrow.

[ethandron]

another lovely dessert wine is sainsbury's own lable 'moscatel de valencia' from spain. it's in a frosted glass, slim bottle. really, really nice. i'd be interested to hear your views. there's a sainsbury's wine and beer shop at coquelles, near calais, for anyone who might be crossing the channel, and we always stock up on our way home from our hols.

[winebuyer]

ethandron

The way home from your hols via Calais doesn't involve the ferry does it?

Just the thought of the cross Channel ferry makes me feel queasy.