Three high-quality wines from less-appreciated regions of Europe
Castello ColleMassari Montecucco Riserva, Italy 2017 (£11.99, Waitrose) Having vineyards in a famous appellation can be a huge advantage for a wine producer. Before anyone has tried a sip of your product, the name on the label gives you an edge over lesser-known regions in terms of prestige, attracting buyers and, of course, the prices you can possibly charge. But no matter how justified the cachet of this region may be - no matter how consistent their wines have been over the years - there will always be second-rate producers working under its name who would struggle to sell their wines to comparable prices if they weren't lucky enough to have vines in a famous location. Far better - and far more economical - as a wine buyer to seek out a good producer in an area without celebrity baggage, but with an aptitude for similar wines, like the oregano and cherry flavored alternative. from Castello ColleMassari to Brunello di Montalcino, from nearby southern Tuscany DOC Montecucco.
Further north, the quality available in alternatives to another of the star names in Italy, Barolo, has risen enormously - good news for lovers of a style that has become, like Brunello di Montalcino, much more attractive to wealthy wine collectors, and therefore much more expensive, in recent years. Wines made from the same grape variety as Barolo, Nebbiolo, and sometimes from the same vineyards, but bottled with the broader Langhe Nebbiolo appellation (or DOC in Italian wine terminology) are less expensive while retaining, in the case of the 2019 Reverdito Simane Langhe Nebbiolo (from £17.50, bcfw.co.uk; standrewswine.co.uk), much of the blend of floral beauty and red fruit and tannic power of Barolo. In France's southern Rhône, spicy red alternatives to local celebrity Châteauneuf-du-Pape abound, especially in Cairanne, home to Aldi's concentrated example of a multi-varietal blend, like Châteauneuf-du-Pape , led by Grenache and perfectly suited to rich stews.
In the northern Rhône, where spicy Syrah-based red wine predominates, Crozes-Hermitage remains an alternative to more affordable than its famous neighbour, the Hermitage. High-performing local co-op Cave de Tain has a bright and edgy version, Grande Classique 2019 (£15.99, Waitrose), which offers savory tones of smoked meat and black pepper laced with blackberry. On the other side of France, few regions exemplify the idea of lack of notoriety providing better value than Bordeaux's neighbour, Bergerac. A region still associated in the minds of many British wine drinkers with the TV cop of the 1980s, but which is the source of very useful red, white and sweet wines (as Montbazillac) using the same grape varieties than Bordeaux, and in a similar style: Chateau Bel Air cedar, cassis red is a fine example.
Specially selected Cairanne, France 2020 (£8.99, Aldi) Further north, the quality available in alternatives to Barolo has increased enormously - good news for lovers of a style which, like Brunello di Montalcino, has become much more expensive. Wines made from the same grape variety as Barolo, Nebbiolo, but bottled with the broader Langhe Nebbiolo appellation (or DOC in Italian wine terminology) are less expensive while retaining, in the case of Reverdito Simane Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 (from £17.50, bcfw.co.uk), much of Barolo's blend of florals and red fruits. In France's southern Rhône, spicy red alternatives to local celebrity Châteauneuf-du-Pape abound, especially in Cairanne, home to Aldi's multi-varietal blend, like Grenache-led Châteauneuf-du-Pape and perfectly suited to rich stews.
Bergerac Rouge, France 2020 (£8.99, or £7.99 as part of a 6-bottle mixed case, majestic.co.uk) In the north of the Rhone, where spicy red Syrah-based wine predominates, Crozes-Hermitage remains a more affordable alternative to its famous neighbor, Hermitage. High-performing local co-op Cave de Tain has a bright and edgy version, Grande Classique 2019 (£15.99, Waitrose), which offers savory tones of smoked meat and black pepper laced with blackberry. On the other side of France, few regions exemplify the idea of lack of notoriety providing better value than Bordeaux's neighbour, Bergerac. A region still associated with...
Castello ColleMassari Montecucco Riserva, Italy 2017 (£11.99, Waitrose) Having vineyards in a famous appellation can be a huge advantage for a wine producer. Before anyone has tried a sip of your product, the name on the label gives you an edge over lesser-known regions in terms of prestige, attracting buyers and, of course, the prices you can possibly charge. But no matter how justified the cachet of this region may be - no matter how consistent their wines have been over the years - there will always be second-rate producers working under its name who would struggle to sell their wines to comparable prices if they weren't lucky enough to have vines in a famous location. Far better - and far more economical - as a wine buyer to seek out a good producer in an area without celebrity baggage, but with an aptitude for similar wines, like the oregano and cherry flavored alternative. from Castello ColleMassari to Brunello di Montalcino, from nearby southern Tuscany DOC Montecucco.
Further north, the quality available in alternatives to another of the star names in Italy, Barolo, has risen enormously - good news for lovers of a style that has become, like Brunello di Montalcino, much more attractive to wealthy wine collectors, and therefore much more expensive, in recent years. Wines made from the same grape variety as Barolo, Nebbiolo, and sometimes from the same vineyards, but bottled with the broader Langhe Nebbiolo appellation (or DOC in Italian wine terminology) are less expensive while retaining, in the case of the 2019 Reverdito Simane Langhe Nebbiolo (from £17.50, bcfw.co.uk; standrewswine.co.uk), much of the blend of floral beauty and red fruit and tannic power of Barolo. In France's southern Rhône, spicy red alternatives to local celebrity Châteauneuf-du-Pape abound, especially in Cairanne, home to Aldi's concentrated example of a multi-varietal blend, like Châteauneuf-du-Pape , led by Grenache and perfectly suited to rich stews.
In the northern Rhône, where spicy Syrah-based red wine predominates, Crozes-Hermitage remains an alternative to more affordable than its famous neighbour, the Hermitage. High-performing local co-op Cave de Tain has a bright and edgy version, Grande Classique 2019 (£15.99, Waitrose), which offers savory tones of smoked meat and black pepper laced with blackberry. On the other side of France, few regions exemplify the idea of lack of notoriety providing better value than Bordeaux's neighbour, Bergerac. A region still associated in the minds of many British wine drinkers with the TV cop of the 1980s, but which is the source of very useful red, white and sweet wines (as Montbazillac) using the same grape varieties than Bordeaux, and in a similar style: Chateau Bel Air cedar, cassis red is a fine example.
Specially selected Cairanne, France 2020 (£8.99, Aldi) Further north, the quality available in alternatives to Barolo has increased enormously - good news for lovers of a style which, like Brunello di Montalcino, has become much more expensive. Wines made from the same grape variety as Barolo, Nebbiolo, but bottled with the broader Langhe Nebbiolo appellation (or DOC in Italian wine terminology) are less expensive while retaining, in the case of Reverdito Simane Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 (from £17.50, bcfw.co.uk), much of Barolo's blend of florals and red fruits. In France's southern Rhône, spicy red alternatives to local celebrity Châteauneuf-du-Pape abound, especially in Cairanne, home to Aldi's multi-varietal blend, like Grenache-led Châteauneuf-du-Pape and perfectly suited to rich stews.
Bergerac Rouge, France 2020 (£8.99, or £7.99 as part of a 6-bottle mixed case, majestic.co.uk) In the north of the Rhone, where spicy red Syrah-based wine predominates, Crozes-Hermitage remains a more affordable alternative to its famous neighbor, Hermitage. High-performing local co-op Cave de Tain has a bright and edgy version, Grande Classique 2019 (£15.99, Waitrose), which offers savory tones of smoked meat and black pepper laced with blackberry. On the other side of France, few regions exemplify the idea of lack of notoriety providing better value than Bordeaux's neighbour, Bergerac. A region still associated with...
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