8 good wine buys at Sainsbury’s

The season of discounting has started again with supermarkets all announcing or due to announce dramatic money-off deals if you buy six bottles or more.

As I’ve said before I have mixed feelings about this. It does indies no favours but on the other hand the majority DO shop in supermarkets, they ARE good offers and they DO help if you’re on a tight budget.

So here to kick off with are eight from Sainsbury’s whose 25% off six deal starts today and goes on until Sunday November 3rd.( Except in Scotland which doesn’t allow multibuys.) If you miss these offers or don’t find them in a branch near you* don’t panic. There will be plenty more over the coming weeks.

Sainsbury’s Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
(368 stores) Originally £22.49 currently £16.86 (until 5/11/13) but £12.64 per bottle if you’re buying 6 bottles
An old faithful in the Sainsbury’s range this attractive creamy champagne is made for the company by Duval-Leroy. An ideal match for smoked salmon and crisp cheesy biscuits and canapés

Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2013 (395 stores) Originally £9.99 but £7.49 but if you’re buying 6 bottles
South Australian winery Yalumba are Viognier specialists and this is a super vintage of this exotically scented white. Lovely with creamy chicken dishes and korma curries. Check the vintage is 2013 when you're buying. It needs to be fresh.

Taste the Difference Hunter Valley Aged Semillon 2006 (266 stores) Originally £9.99, but £7.49 if you’re buying 6 bottles
With its smoky, almost oily flavours Hunter Valley Semillon is definitely a Marmite wine but if you love it, as I do, this is an amazing deal on a 7 year old wine. (It also won a gold medal from the IWC this year). Locally they drink it with oysters and seafood - I’d go for an Asian-style salads with a sesame dressing or smoked fish.

Winemakers’ Selection Portuguese Red (591 stores) Originally £5.99 but £4.49 if you’re buying 6 bottles
If you’re looking for a basic wine for mulling for Hallowe’en or Bonfire Night this ripe, slightly porty Portuguese red would be ideal. It's also a good bottle to chuck in a beef stew. If you can’t be bothered to mull your own Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mulled Wine (554 stores), originally at £5.79 (on offer at £4.34 and just£3.25 if you're buying six bottles) is actually very good, especially at this price. I like the idea of keeping a thermos of it handy. (see pic))

Winemakers’ Selection Costières de Nîmes 2011 (390 stores) originally £6.99, but £5.24 if you’re buying 6 bottles
If you’re a fan of Côtes du Rhône you’ll love this warm generous red from the neighbouring Costières de Nîmes - a versatile wine that would go with all kinds of hearty wintry dishes from bangers and mash to a slap-up Sunday roast.

Mas de Victor Graciano Rioja 2012 (390 stores) Originally £8.99 but £6.74 if you’re buying 6 bottles
Graciano is a grape variety that's much less frequently used than Tempranillo so this isn’t a typical Rioja but a ripe, exotically scented one (think Mourvèdre if you’re familiar with that). I’d drink it with slow-cooked shoulder of lamb and some Ottolengi-ish salads or venison with a dark fruity compote or sauce.

d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (174 stores) Originally £10.79 but £8.09 if you’re buying 6 bottles)
Another super Aussie buy - a gloriously smooth, blackcurranty (but not jammy) Cabernet from one of the most colourful producers in the McLaren Vale, Chester Osborn. Delicious now but will keep at least another 2-3 years in good storage conditions. A red meat wine, definitely.

And don’t forget the discount brings the excellent range of Taste the Difference sherries, already a risible £7.99 down to £5.99. I’m stocking up with those.

* Note that some of these wines are only available in a comparatively small number of branches. The ones I've linked to are also available online but the Sainsbury's website isn't the easiest to search.

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