HOT TIPS FOR ALDI'S WINES...

It’s time for a round-up of my top picks from ALDI Ireland, both seasonal and core range. The value, as always, is exceptional. Here goes…

Specially Selected Crémant du Jura

Fans of this outstanding sparkler - and they are legion – will be thrilled to know that this seasonal wine is back and it’s better than ever. It’s 100% Chardonnay grown in a relatively cool climate between Burgundy and Switzerland. Made in essentially the same way as Champagne, you could compare it to a blanc de blancs from that hallowed place, but it tastes rather different: dry, certainly, and deliciously fresh and fully, exuberantly fizzy. It's a shame to adulterate it, but I’ll admit that it makes a cracking kir royale. The price has gone up but it still offers incredible value for money at €17.99.

Specially Selected Austrian Riesling

This is the very definition of one of the world’s greatest but sometimes misunderstood grapes: Riesling. This is half the price, at the very least of similar Austrian wines: crisp as a frosty morning with the crisp tartness of a Granny Smith apple with just a touch of honey and citrus, but absolutely bone dry. The ideal partner for smoked salmon and a snip at a tenner.

Petit Chablis

Petit Chablis comes from vineyards just outside the straight Chablis AOC and is a brilliant choice when Chablis itself is in very short supply and getting dearer. This is a lovely example: absolutely bone dry with a real mineral backbone, fresh and decidedly grown-up. Great with oysters, seafood and smoked salmon.

Specially Selected Marsanne

Marsanne makes amazing white wines in the Northern Rhône and it makes a refreshing change from the usual suspects. This version is from a bit further South, in the Languedoc and it’s all about juicy white peach, melon, with a touch of orange zest. Quite rich but with perfectly balanced acidity, it’s great with seafood or butter-basted chicken. It’s €8.99; I had to pinch myself.

Specially Selected Chilean Chardonnay

A cool climate Chardonnay from Chile’s Casablanca Valley and no ordinary Chilean wine. There’s no oak so the lively fruit gets to speak for itself. Think green apples with honey. A remarkably poised, elegant white wine for very little money. Impeccable as an aperitif or with grilled white fish, pulled pork or prawn risotto. An amazing €9.49.

Château Billeron-Bouquey Saint-Émillion Grand Cru

An extraordinary price for a very fine and classic Bordeaux from the Right Bank where Merlot is king. Merlot delivers a fleshy, soft character while a little Cabernet adds tannin for classic Bordeaux structure. So much so that while it’s lovely to drink now, it will get even better over the next 3 to 5 years. Sunday roast partner par excellence for €14.99.

Specially Selected Douro

A chunky, full-bodied and utterly delicious red from native Portuguese grapes varieties grown on terraces on the steep slopes of the Douro River. Smooth, dark and surprisingly rich for the price, it’s got ripe black plums with a seasoning of spices, underpinned by round tannins. A red that cries out for a well-aged steak cooked medium-rare.

Specially Selected Vinsobres

Vinsobres got its own AOC in 2006 having originally been a Côtes du Rhône Villages. The promotion reflects the richness of these wines, a dark, plummy, spicy combination of mainly Grenache with some Syrah and Mourvèdre. Not a million miles, in every sense, from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Great at tackling really robust dishes, especially where garlic and herbs feature. An outstanding buy for a tenner.

Les Trois Manoirs Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois

The cru bourgeois level on Bordeaux’s Left Bank comes just below the fabulously expensive grands crus and this Médoc wine is a snip at €10.99. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon it has blackcurrant fruit and a touch of spice. Ideal with roast lamb or confit duck legs.

Chassaux et Fils Costières de Nīmes

This fruity, deep and dark red comes from the most Southerly part of France’s Rhône region where Grenache rules but there’s also some Mourvèdre and Syrah in the mix. It knocks spots of your average Côtes du Rhône and is a great partner for cold weather casseroles.

Specially Selected Ribera del Duero

A bargain at €9.99 from Spain’s most exclusive red wine region, this is 100% Tempranillo or Tinto Fino as they call it in that part of the country. Medium-bodied with deliciously soft and luscious blackberry fruit and a gentle seasoning of spice that comes from oak. Versatile with food but simply perfect with lamb.