Continuing Squidbeak’s Spanish theme (as I wasn’t around to partake of the chilled Manzanilla in Andalucia) Tesco has two delicious modern reds on offer at the moment.
The supermarkets have taken a bit of a bashing in the press recently after their major tastings, but if you know where to look and what to look for, there are some gems on them tha shelves.
I’m quite a fan of the Finest* range in Tesco, where, masquerading under the own label and in the small print, are wines made by some exemplary producers.
Old Vine Temperanillo from Extremadura on the border with Portugal, is a lovely gluggable, raspberry scented vino, with a hint of spice and vanilla from a little oak aging. It’s approachable, soft, and could accompany lamb in particular and also stand up to the British BBQ.
But a notch up in butchness and altogether more powerful is the Old Vines Garnacha, made from old bush vines up to 50 years old by the Bodegas Aragonesas in Campo de Borja.
This one’s a DO (Denominacion de Origen) wine and a good example of the modern styles being made in the area with previously unfashionable gape varieties. Deep, plummy but still soft, this wine has the guts and structure to stand up to full flavoured Spanish dishes.
We drank it with an ad hoc stew of tiny chorizos, peppers, tomatoes, chick peas and courgettes. Yum, close your eyes and you could be in the courtyard of a sun drenched finca rather than our back yard.
They come in around the £7.50 mark, and are probably worth this price, but best to stock up when they are on offer at two for £10, as they are until August 16. If you order six online, the price drops to £4.75 a bottle.