Bibendum Wine sale starts today and runs until the 14th February. They are to offer over 250 wines with 50% off the original price. For the third year running they are also holding a Fine Wine Price Drop sale covering a different selection of wines. From the 7th they will gradually reduce the price of a selection of fine wines – from Bordeaux and Burgundy mainly – until they are sold. A fun, if incredibly tense moment, if you are after a specific wine!
In the regular sale you could do worse than pick up a few bottles of the following…

D’Arenberg The Stump Jump Riesling/Marsanne/Sauvignon Blanc 2009, McLaren Vale, Australia. (Down 29% to £7.28) [Adegga / Snooth] With most Australian wines at under a tenner failing to impress at the moment (drinkable but sorta all the same) discovering one with a bit of a punch, and a dollop of personality was a delight. With its weighty mouthfeel and a crisp, citrus driven palate it certainly gets those taste buds a-tingling. Add an Authentic Thai Curry and bliss is assured! (The exact mix, for all us grape-nerds, is 55% Riesling, 17% Sauvignon Blanc and 12% Marsanne).

Agustinos Privada Reserve Vieilles Vignes Syrah 2008, Cachapoal, Chile. [Adegga / Snooth] At just £5.28 (that’s 28% off) this is a real find with a full kit bag of black fruits wrapped up in a soft, rich, rounded whole.

It’s always nice to have a bottle or two of Zinfandel in the rack. With the Dry Creek Heritage Zinfandel, 2007, Sonoma County, California down to £8.69 (down 42%) [Adegga / Snooth] this is a fine example for something deep, concentrated with blueberry flavours giving way to a savoury finish. There is a little hint of chocolate and plenty of creamy oak too. Not overly alcoholic, as some Zins can be, at 13.5%.

Etim Negre 2007, Montsant, Spain. [Adegga / Snooth] Take prime Carignan fruit from outside of Barcelona, add a dash of sun-drenched Spanish syrah for “extra depth and complexity” and it results in this little beaut. For £6.04 (down 28%) there is plenty of warming, modern, Spanishness in the bottle – nicely balanced spicy fruit, juicy acidity and lovely depth of blackberry flavours. Very moreish. Bring on the lamb!

A dry Moscatel? How interesting! The Quinta do Vallado Moscatel Galego, 2009, from Portugal’s Douro [Adegga / Snooth] is crisp, squeaky clean and very lemony. It is indeed dry with a lovely citrus complexity with the Moscatel grape giving a wonderful floral edge to the aroma (reminiscent of a week Gewurztraminer with honeysuckle and musk). As an indication of quality the length is very impressive. Am wondering if those (poorly photographed) Goats Cheese Crostini would make a good match? Or maybe those Carrot and Cheddar Muffins I made earlier (and yet to blog about)? Party nibbles certainly or something fish based a pie perhaps or simply baked trout… The wine is now at £7.28 (down 29%).

Finally Chateau Saint-Eugène Vieilles Vignes Blanc, 2008 Corbières, France. [Adegga / Snooth] This is a fine mix of Grenache (35%), Bourboulenc (25%), Roussanne (25%) and Macabeu (15%). At £5.55 (down 32%) it is a fine, clean, crisp French white. It is a decent, straight forward, ready-to-drink, easy-to-drink, mid-weight, mid-alcohol (12.5%) tasty wine. Yeh, not terribly exciting really… Down 32% at £5.55.