… with these interesting brand new wines at Tesco. Peter Morrell tastes a delicious St Nicolas de Bourgueil

Tesco has introduced 50 new bottles to their wine aisle, just in time for summer. Whether you are hosting a barbecue for friends or enjoying dinner al fresco, there’s something for all palates and budgets, from delicious fruit-forward reds to crisp whites and refreshing bubbles.

A few of these new wines include:

Barigny Blanc de Blancs – £4.99

With delicate aromas of white fruits and a fine bubble, this great value French sparkling is perfect alongside a raspberry tart or as an apéritif while watching the sunset.

Condesa de Flores Cava – £6

Elegant citrus and apple flavours characterise this Spanish sparkler, making it delicious alongside seared tuna steaks or some creamy spinach croquettes.

Tesco Finest Rioja Blanco – £9

With exotic notes of tropical fruit, this is the perfect pairing for garlic marinated prawns or a light gazpacho.

Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – £12

Intense tangerine notes with a crisp mineral finish, perfect to go alongside a goat’s cheese and asparagus salad or Thai fish cakes.

The Bolney Estate Lychgate Bacchus – £17

A crisp English white bursting with notes of jasmine, elderflower and grapefruit. Serve alongside steamed sea bass or a vegetable Pad Thai.

Italiano Rosso – £3.89

With aromas of violets and roses, and strong blackcurrant and berry flavours on the palate, this is the perfect accompaniment to an earthy aubergine dish or flame grilled steaks.

Bergerac Eglise Saint Jacques – £6.50

A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this sumptuous red has fruity aromas with a hint of blackberry. Delicious served alongside portobello mushroom burgers or barbecued chicken.

Wakefield The Promised Land Shiraz Cabernet – £9

Medium bodied with fruity notes of cassis, this is perfect for a luxurious cheeseboard at the end of the evening.

Les Terrasses St Nicolas de Bourgueil – £9.50

Peter Morrell, Editor comments, “In an earlier life my IT business took me around the world, and from each trip I returned with a fond culinary memory. I worked in Tours and was introduced by my oenophile French host to St Nicolas de Bourgueil wine, it had a uniqueness that I will always remember. This wine is not widely available in the UK, so it’s pleasing to see it stocked at Tesco.

“Les Terrasses St Nicolas de Bourgueil wine is made with the Cabernet Franc grape, which thrives in the soil of the area it’s grown, about an hour’s drive to the East of Tours. The wine pours a dark garnet colour. There are a lot of fruit aromas in the bouquet including cherries, raspberries, blackcurrents, and dried fruit all laced through with hints of floral violets.

“The wines sits between medium and full bodied. As it moves to the palate these fruit flavours remain, and are joined by an earthiness which makes this wine so unique, and gives it depth. The tannins are muted but the wine is pleasantly dry, which, combined with a touch of acidity, makes it ideal to drink with food.

“The finish is fruity and persistent, with a suggestion of smokiness. This wine, which rekindled a very fond memory, pairs well with roast lamb and barbequed meats.”

D’Arenberg ‘The Innocent Weed’ Organic GSM – £12

With generous berry fruit flavours including blueberry and cassis with hints of spice, serve alongside an antipasto platter.