How do you feel about supermarket wines?
Myself… I’m optimistic. With a bit of searching, I’ve found that you can turn up a few gems… and like any addict, I’m always looking for my next big score.
So, that said, someone came up with the idea of doing some themed supermarket wine roundups – and one of the things that first came to mind wasthe mighty ASDA.
As you probably know ASDA are part of the Walmart empire (‘family’) and possess economies of scale so immense and so well organised that they can often (though not always) deliver quality at a price that seems impossible…until you try it for yourself.
(Though they’re obviously not the only supermarket who do.)
With that in mind, I was originally going to pick out a collection of Pinot Noirs (since it is such a notoriously fickle grape to grow, I figured it’d be a good test). Then I got derailed and now you have some Pinot Noir and a few of ASDA’s own Extra Special/own brand as well.
I guess it just brings up the one question, when wines come this cheap – where exactly are these savings coming from? How much are the producers getting in the deal? It’s not a rhetorical question, but I can’t answer it for you.
Anyway, on with the show…
#1 Bradshaw – ‘The Illustration Series’ Pinot Noir (£4)
Rating
Nose
Nose is quite low tone / subtle but suggests red fruit and some velvet.
Palette
Turns out said nose is a bit deceptive and too light from what the nose should be promising. On the palette – Red berries, Cranberries, dryness, bitterness. I wouldn’t say tangy but going that way
Light – kinda thin and earthy and a bit sharp. Mild on the tannins, so rather drinkable but not much character
Finish
Slightly velvety finish that doesn’t stick around for too long. It starts good, delivering a subdued amount of fruit and sweetness, but finish is short and tails off speedily.
Verdict
It’s pretty unmemorable – I suppose inoffensive is the word. It’s not bad at all, just a little boring. Easy drinking, all the same. For £4 this wine is a pretty good deal, but don’t expect theatrics in your mouth. I guess the label is as eyecatching as the price!
#2 Extra Special 2012 Dao (£5)
Rating
Nose
A fair amount of weight on the nose that seems to promise some richness and body – black fruits and bitter spices, mainly.
Palette
Reasonably velvety, somewhat fruity though not particularly distinguished or exciting. Still some tannins in there stopping this thing being too easy drinking for its/your own good. Maybe some liquorice as well?
A friend describes it as just a little too sharp and I’d agree (I’d rather have sharp or velvety, not both at once).
Finish
Good – it sits on/warms your tongue for quite a pleasing amount of time.
Verdict
Pretty noticeable, but somewhat lacking character. Would/did happily drink, but would not really say that it was a memorable wine
Good value for £5 though! Unanimously agreed upon as a bargain, would pair with lots of meat dishes. I’d call it a versatile/’workhorse’ wine.
#3 Extra Special Pinot Noir 2012 Yarra Valley (£8)
Rating
Nose
Very promising. Oddly fresh and ‘clean’ (can’t say I’ve ever had a red wine I could describe this way). Spices, berries and I swear there’s a little talcum powder in there.
Palette
Sweeter red berries – strawberries, raspberries, with maybe a little citrus too. It’s quite characteristic but with some quite sharp notes that seem to work. Rather tannic but not in a way that clashes with the rest of it.
There’s a lot happening on your tongue, whilst also feeling somewhat light and fruity. For me, this creates the mental impression of a medium weighted wine, but my brain is full of nonsense and self deception so you must draw your own inferences…
Finish
Reasonably long, the spicy citrus sticks around for a bit and certainly leaves an impression.
Verdict
Unlike most of the wines before, this one has some character, memorability and presents some new flavour combinations to entertain the palette. It is somewhat easy drinking but is probably too characteristic to be a ‘crowd pleaser’ – try it on friends who already enjoy red wines. For £8 it’s a pretty good deal and is certainly one I’d get again.
#4 Extra Special Old Vines Garnacha 2013 (£5)
Rating
Nose
Slightly floral, with a rather big nose suggesting lots of dark fruits, cherries, plums and the like. Can I call it ‘brooding and fruity’ or is that just too much? OK…
Palette
On the fatter side of medium bodied – mostly delivers on what the nose is promising – cherries, plums, dark fruits with some vanilla and spice. 14% ABV so also has a bit of a kick, though it is nicely rounded. Can’t really say anything about the tannins, they’re just there…being tannic.
Finish
Medium length, nothing unusual here – just a continuation of what you get on the palette, gradually fading away to a happy afterthought/aftertaste and then a little autosuggestion… is there more in the glass? I hope so…
Verdict
For £5 this is a goddamn steal. It reminds me a little of the big Californian reds that I love so much, though it’s a little lighter and a bit less bodacious. But still, £5 though! Worth a ‘punt’ at the very least.
#5 Barolo 2010 (£12)
Rating
Nose
Huge on the nose. Very promising and complex – lots of green fruit and smoky aromas.
Palette
Green fruits again – ripe pear, but hard to discern, really knocked down by the tannins. 14% too so quite weighty and full bodied on the palette. There’s also some smoke, maybe leather.
About that: the tannins don’t feel balanced – perhaps my palette isn’t refined enough to appreciate them but it seems like there’s not enough acidity to put said tannins in their place.
Thus it is dry, but not in a good way. I heard it described by a wine blogger as “not for the faint hearted” – I tend to agree. Big and dry? Like a desert.
So you have dessert wines and now you have desert wines *ducks a projectile*
Finish
Lengthy, as you would expect – but it’s just more of that tobacco tinged Sahara thing lingering on the tongue. Kinda rough.
Verdict
So yes, this is going towards full bodied but in my opinion is not really balanced. That said the last Barolo I tried was particularly good and so I may have had my expectations set highly
For the results this one delivers (or doesn’t deliver), I’d say it’s much too pricey. No, it’s not terrible at all, but as a Barolo it should just be better.