My best buys from Waitrose's June 2021 wine offer

Waitrose has one of its periodic 25% off six bottles discounts until next Tuesday June 29th on all wines over £5 - i.e. most of their range.

It’s a great opportunity to top up your stocks for the summer and buy wines you might not otherwise be able to afford. Note though that some may not be in stock in your local branch or only in Waitrose Cellar

Here are the ones that stood out for me at their spring/summer tasting

Reds

Dominique Piron Beaujolais Villages 2018 £8.99 down from 11.99

If you like Beaujolais (which I do) this is a must buy. Fabulously ripe and fruity. Perfect for charcuterie or grilled chicken

Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nimes 2020 £6.69 down from £8.99

Big gutsy Rhône-ish red to drink with hearty stews.

Celler Capçanes Lasendal Seleccio 2019 Monsant £8.24 down from £10.99. Not in stock online but you might find some in store

Ripe generous modern Spanish red. Would be great with a barbecue

Chateau Musar Aana 2018 £13.49 down from £17.99

For those who can no longer afford Chateau Musar this is the next best option, particularly on offer like this. Slightly more forward and fruity but has some ageing potential. Great with roast or grilled lamb.

Mullineux Great Heart Red 2019, Swartland £11.24 down from £14.99

A gloriously big spicy red - and part of an employee ownership project. Perfect for a good steak.

Waitrose Blueprint Chilean Merlot 2020 £5.24 down from £6.99

If you want an inexpensive everyday red this smooth easy-drinking Chilean merlot is hard to beat.

Domaine Bousquet Finca Lalande Malbec 2020 £7.87 down from £10.49

Classy Bordeaux-like Malbec. A bargain at this price. Perfect for a Sunday roast.

White

Picpoul de Pinet Les Canots 2020 £6.37 down from £8.49

Clean, fresh - the perfect seafood white

Piccozza Pinot Bianco 2020 £8.99 down from £11.99

Really delicious smooth peachy white. Perfect for roast or creamily sauced chicken

Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde 2020 £6.74 down from £8.99

If you like albarino you’ll love this Portuguese white blend. Another great match for fish or shellfish.

Dehesa Las Vinas organic sauvignon blanc 2020 Castilla y Léon £6.74 down from £8.99

From the same region as Rueda, a fresh, crisp citrussy white that would be perfect for salads or seafood.

Waitrose No 1 Astrolabe Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2020 £8.99 down to £11.99

More than you might be used to paying for NZ sauvignon blanc but snap it up - it’s delicious. Drink with almost all and every summer veg

Audrey Wilkinson Winemakers Selection Chardonnay 2018 Hunter Valley, Australia £11.99 selected shops and online

Gorgeous rich creamy Aussie chardonnay. Perfect for seared scallops or grilled lobster

Rosé

Rose de Balthazar 2020 £5.99 down from £7.99

Great value rosé from the Languedoc rather than Provence. For salads and whenever you would drink rosé

Waitrose Blueprint Provence Rosé Côtes de Provence 2020 £6.74 down from £8.99. Out of stock online but might be available in store

Classic pale crisp Provence rosé with the edge on most own label rosés from the region. Salad niçoise or goat cheese

Marsolay Syrah Rosé 2020 £6.74 down to £8.99 Waitrose Cellar only

If you’re one of the few who isn’t a fan of the Provence style. This is fuller and fruitier. One to sit watching Wimbledon

Fizz

Waitrose Leckford Estate Brut 2016 £19.99 down from £26.99

Impressive rich, toasty champagne-like fizz from Waitrose’s own vineyard in Hampshire - the best vintage of this wine I’ve tasted.

Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs £10.49 down from £13.99

Pleasantly soft creamy 100% chardonnay fizz. Just 11.5% A good wedding wine

Mirabeau en Provence La Folie Rosé £10.99 down from £14.99

If you like sparkling rosé but find prosecco too sweet snap up this

Sweet wines

Waitrose Blueprint Moscatel £4.87 down from £6.49

Even at its full price this gorgeously orangey dessert wine is a bargain, at 25% it’s unmissable. Drink with Greek or middle-eastern pastries or a lemon or orange polenta cake.

As it's still (just about) English Wine Week you might also like to look for these bottles which I flagged up in March

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