Waitrose Cellar No.1 Wines
Quality wines without the price tag
Produced by Castelnau from one of the best vintages (2012) of the century in Champagne, this is a vintage that delivers exceptionally well at the price point.
Chardonnay is the dominant grape, lending citrus fruits, pear and peach. The extended ageing shows in the form of hazelnut, praline, biscuit, honey and brioche flavours. It’s creamy, complex, balanced and flavoursome!
Pairs With: This is versatile! Smoked salmon, oysters, prawns, creamy cheeses, poultry with rich sauces (e.g duck a l'orange).
Was £39, Now with their buy 3, save 25% offer only £29.25!
Ripasso is the approachable, supremely gluggable Amarone alternative, better suited to fun, casual evenings than pomp and circumstance. It is rich and sumptuous displaying dried cherry, cranberry, fresh bramble and all manner of dark fruits. You’ll also get a nice bit of dark chocolate and oak spice!
Pairs With: A rich wine demands rich food. Tomato-ey pasta/beef ragu, mushroom risotto, meatballs, grilled meats, game.
Was £15, Now with their buy 3, save 25% offer only £11.25!
Malbec is always a popular one. A brooding, juicy grape with savoury depths and elegant freshness all in one. Hopefully, just like your partner.
This one is made by the Zuccardi family, who make some truly stellar wines in Argentina's Uco Valley, a superior region for quality Malbec. It is aromatic and floral, with cherry, plum and wild herbs that make it both fruity and complex. Full-bodied, yet expertly balanced giving it a soft, elegant mouthfeel.
Pairs With: It’s another rich one. Lamb, beef, pork and rich pasta dishes again.
Was £15, Now with their buy 3, save 25% offer only £11.25!
Cederberg are a visionary South African team, supporting their environment, education and community with their profits. The wines also taste as good as they feel to drink when you know this.
Expect grapefruit, melon and juicy pear that culimante in a vibrant freshness giving this wine real zip and flavour all at once.
Pairs With: A light, aromatic wine calls for lighter flavours. Seafood, poultry, veggie, spicy dishes.
Was £13.50, Now with their buy 3, save 25% offer only £10.12!
The Unbeatable Brands
Popular for a reason
The exquisite sunset-pink English sparkling wine that answers Rose Champagne with ease. It has a textured, generous palate with a core of bright British summer fruits, floral notes, and shortbread richness. A creamy, silky finish really hammers home the quality with every sip.
Pairs With: Roast Chicken, Guinea Fowl, Scallops, Goat’s cheese salad, strawberry desserts!
Was £46, Now only £34!
If you want something that is of similar style but more affordable, Graham Beck is always your answer. These are South African winemakers who use the Champagne method (in SA called Cap Classique) to make wines exactly the same way, just without the obligatory price-tag.
So, enjoy raspberries, cherries and strawberries with touches of fresh lavender, a lively mousse and bright acidity. The finish is clean, refreshing, and lightly creamy, with a soft red fruit note that makes it both versatile and uplifting.
Pairs With: Prawn cocktail, smoked salmon, tuna, sushi, fresh salads, raspberry pavlova.
Was £17, Now only £14!
Escarpment are a New Zealand producer who make epic wines. This one is from Martinborough, a renowned area on the north island for Pinot Noir. It is soft, bright and fruity, but far more. Complexity comes in a savoury, spicy form thanks to oak ageing.
Whilst this is supposed to encourage you to pick it for Valentine’s, you can lay this down for 5+ years to really bring out the spicy, savoury nature of the wine if you don’t get round to drinking it. Or you can just buy more than one!
Was £21, Now only £16!
You can’t ever do a wine recommendation list without Sauvignon Blanc – people would go mad! But, this one strays from the suual suspects for a good reason. I don’t like them. Peter Yealands on the other hand, makes very good sauvignon that doesn’t blend into all the other numerous New Zealand brands.
This award-winner bursts with passionfruit and citrus as you might expect, but is wonderfully balanced by a mineral backbone and fresh herbs that help dial the overt tropical nature of Marlborough down and allow the wine to shine on many fronts. It’s also carbon neutral making it another wine that tastes as good as it feels to drink.
Was £12, Now only £9!
