The 5 best high-street wines to mark the end of Dry January
If you’re a wine lover who is close to completing dry January then I salute you. Seriously – to give up wine completely through the dark evenings of this long month is quite an achievement, and my ‘damp’ January of merely cutting back looks lame by comparison.
You will certainly be looking forward to that well-deserved first sip of delicious wine in a few days’ time, but what will it be? Perhaps you are aiming to ease back gently with relatively light and fresh whites, mouth-watering and crisp, reflecting, to some extent, your clean-living character of the previous four weeks and three days (I’m sure no one was counting down the hours…). Or you might be planning to plunge back into hearty, robust, no-nonsense reds that suit winter’s big roasts, slow-braised casseroles and rich cheeses.
Above all, at the end of January, most of us want a bargain more than ever. Here is my round-up of the best wine offers at the moment, each of which punches well above its price point. Whether your month has been dry, damp or pretty much the same as usual, do seek these out as we move into a slightly more indulgent February.
Light and whistle-clean whites:
Chapel Down Flint Dry 2020, Kent, England
(12.5%, Morrisons, £14 down to £11 until Feb 15)
A snappy, refreshing, positively Spring-like blend of chardonnay, bacchus, pinot blanc and pinot noir, delivering tangy green apple, citrus and kiwi fruit. If you haven’t yet discovered how good English still white can be, start with this.
Eight Thousand Lakes Riesling 2019, Washington State, USA
(11.5%, Majestic, £12.99 down to £7.99 as part of mixed six bottles until 7 February then £12.99/£9.99 mixed six price)
A perfumed, clean-cut dry riesling with a big slice off its price as part of a multi-buy until the middle of next month. It’s got a whoosh of zesty lime and grapefruit, and relatively low alcohol. Lip-smacking aperitif or try it with lightly spiced seafood dishes.
Louis Jadot Saint-Veran 2018, Burgundy, France
(13%, Tesco, £16 down to £14 until Feb 14)
The Saint-Veran appellation often yields great-value white Burgundy and so it is with this unoaked, fruit-driven example that majors on lemon and lime. It’s a little more rounded out in texture than the two above, so fit to take on fried chicken dishes or fresh salmon.
Hearty winter reds:
Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2019, Morambo Creek, Padthaway, Australia
(14.5%, Waitrose, £11.99 down to £8.99 until Feb 22)
Juicy and packed with ripe blackcurrants, this has a certain sweetness mid-palate but it’s sprinkled with black pepper and finishes dry. Delicious shiraz from one of South Australia’s best regions for reds, part-aged in oak barrels for 13 months. Try it with a beef or venison casserole or chunk of extra mature Cheddar.
Taste the Difference Cune Rioja Gran Reserva 2014, Spain
(14%, Sainsbury’s, £13.50 down to £12 until Feb 8)
Gran reserva Riojas are aged for a minimum of five years before release, and this one shows signs of maturity in its soft, rounded texture and savoury, spicy twists. At its heart lies rich redcurrants and cooked strawberries, ready to take on roast lamb.
