Everyone loves a bargain, and consumers’ lasting infatuation with the wine ranges of discounters Lidl and Aldi is now well established.
Lidl’s next Wine Tour – a “when it’s gone it’s gone” selection of wines that will be available for just a couple of months – features wines for Christmas. And Christmas, of course, means fizz. These wines should be in stores from 24th November.
Comte de Senneval Champagne Rosé NV – £16.99
Rosé Champagne carries a price premium, so to see one for under £20 is a rarity. Is it any good? I found it had an appealing strawberries and cream nose, a certain briskness on the palate and lingering sweet red fruits. It’s not the most elegant rosé Champagne – but it is around half the price of the UK’s best-selling Champagne Lanson rosé. I would be very happy with this as a party fizz, or as a glass to go with smoked salmon.
Comte de Senneval Champagne 2014 – £19.99
A vintage Champagne, with fruit from a single year. As usual with Lidl, there is no information available about how long the Champagne might have spent on the lees, or when it was disgorged. No matter, just focus on what’s in the glass. There are inviting aromas of apricot and a hint of creamy marzipan. The palate brings more toasty aromas, baked apple and a whiff of tobacco. I particularly enjoyed the dry, savoury finish, which makes this a food friendly style.
Honorable mentions from Lidl’s core range, available all year round
Arestel Cava Brut NV – £5.49 – at this price, don’t expect complexity, but it is bright, lemony and fresh. Great for a party, and one I recommend to students on the hunt for decent, cheap fizz.
Prosecco DOC Alini Extra Dry 2021 – £6.49 – discounters, like most supermarkets, have a slew of apparently almost identical-looking Proseccos. It’s tempting, almost unavoidable, to buy on appearance. This has a rather basic-looking label, but is my pick of Lidl’s Proseccos, with nice pear and almond fruit in the classic Extra Dry style.
What I’ll be buying – not fizz, but I couldn’t resist this dessert wine: Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos 2014 – £9.99 (50cl bottle) – amazing value for this distinctive, rich but fresh wine that combines flavours of spiced apricot, lemon curd and cold tea. It’s much nicer than I’ve made it sound!
Fizzicality 