4 good red wine buys from Lidl

Lidl’s limited edition releases which come out every couple of months are always worth looking out for - and considerably more interesting than their basic range. Here are four that caught my eye at their recent tasting and which have just gone on sale.

Olas del Sur Reserva Privada Merlot 2017 13% £4.99

The under £5 red has almost become extinct so hurrah for this soft velvety merlot from Chile, a grape variety it always does very well. Perfect bank holiday drinking

Almocreve Tinto Reserva 2015 Alentejano 13.5% £5.99

Portuguese reds are some of the best buys around and those from the Alentejo (of which Alentejano is a sub-classification) some of the most appealing. An easy drinking supple red that works particularly well with Italian food such as spaghetti bolognese and pizza

Cellier de Montrerail Beaumes de Venise 2016 15% £7.99

The Beaumes de Venise region of the Rhône is better known for its sweet wines but also produces hearty reds like this walloping 15% blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre. That said the alcohol isn't overpowering and it's a good generous southern French red that would go well with a Sunday roast or a hearty stew. (So no, not particularly summery but worth stashing away for autumn at this price)

Outlook Bay Pinot Noir 2016, Central Otago 13.5% £8.99

Central Otago pinot noir has become some of the most prized in New Zealand but it doesn’t generally come cheap so discovering this bottle at £8.99 is a win.

Like most Otago pinots it’s got lashings of sweet ripe red berry fruit - maybe too much for some of you but I think it’s well-judged and beautifully in balance. You need to serve it lightly chilled and with something like crispy duck pancakes (duck is always good with pinot) or a barbecue where its big flavours will take on allcomers.

I wasn’t mad about any of the whites to be honest but if you’re in need of a bottle the 2016 Les Aubrières Chardonnay from the Loire - a lighter, fresher style of chardonnay than most - is a decent buy for £5.99

If you’d like be able to check out all the food and wine pairings on the site you can buy a bundle of credits here to access my premium content.

And/or for regular updates on what and where I’ve been eating, drinking and travelling sign up for my weekly newsletter Eat This, Drink That, Live Well.