Supervalu Christmas Wine Sale Features Bordeaux and Burgundy. And So Much More.

Supervalu Christmas Wine Sale Features Bordeaux and Burgundy. And So Much More.

Château Haut Breton Larigaudiere, near Margaux

A huge selection in the annual Christmas Wine Offering at Supervalu. Their wine expert Kevin O’Callaghan: “There is something for every wine lover and curious customer alike. Whether pairing with fish, meats, or a delicious cheese, the selection of excellent offers this season ticks every box.”

And, speaking of boxes, they have two case deals on offer. The first (on now until December 30th) features Barão de Vilar Reserva (2018), velvety and fruity with an elegant finish and will cost you €50 euro, down from the RRP of €89.00. Believe it or not, you can save another tenner by buying between November 26th and December 9th and taking advantage of the “buy any six bottles and save an additional €10.00” offer.

Later in the month, watch out for the second case offer. Here the temptation is the Italian Vivaldi Ripasso (2018), aromatic, full bodied, soft and warm, the temptation enhanced by the asking price of €40.00 instead of €94. You just gotta love Signore O’Callaghan. You’ll have to be on your toes for this one - it is short lived: from December 17th to 20th.

Faced with a sample of what’s on offer, I went for a couple of classic areas for the reds, two from Bordeaux and one from Beaujolais. Very happy indeed with the trio below. See the post on the best of their white wines here.

Lady De Mour Margaux (AOC) 2018, 13.5%, €25.00 (34.42).

Deep ruby colour. Red Berries on the nose, touch of vanilla too. Super-smooth blackcurrant,  elegant palate, terrific body and texture, harmony reigns between fruit and smooth tannin, persisting all the way to the impressive finalé. Impressive all round actually.

Margaux is, of course, one of the prime areas of Bordeaux and it is nearby in Soussans that you’ll find Chateau Haut Breton Larigaudiére, the producers of this blend where the lead player Cabernet Sauvignon is supported by Merlot with a little Cabernet Franc. It has been aged in oak for 10-15 months. This one may be kept for 5 to 10 years according to the advice on the label.

Lacombe-Cadiot Bordeaux Supérieur (AOC) 2018, 14%, €13.00 (15.73)

Dark ruby colour. Ripe black fruits lead the aromatics. The fruit more than holds its own on the palate, a touch of spice too, fresh, clean and elegant, smooth tannins and a persistent finish.  Pretty much the perfect Supérieur, underlined by the fact that this very vintage was recently awarded 97 points by Decanter.

A Bordeaux Supérieur of exceptional quality according to Supervalu, echoing the “remarkable Bordeaux Supérieur” from the producers who come under the De Mour wing, the same group responsible for our very fine Margaux above.

The grapes, again Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, come from Macau, also in the Medoc and just a few minutes drive from Larigaudiére where the Lady de Mour fruit is grown. From Supervalu’s Signature Range, their food pairing suggestions are red meats and rich white meats, also great with cheese

Andre Goichot Fleurie (AOC) 2018, 13%, €12.00 (14.66) 

Fleurie is perhaps the best loved and also one of the very best of the Beaujolais area’s ten crus.  I’m quite a Fleurie fan and always look forward to opening a bottle and this was no exception.

It is mid to dark ruby in colour. Cherry scents are prominent when you nose it and on the palate it is deliciously fruity with a hint of spice and, importantly, a refreshing acidity that helps create harmony, right through to the finish. 

Medium bodied, it is soft and easy drinking, not a blockbuster or anywhere close to blockbusting, but it has character enough to pair well with a wide range of lighter dishes. The label recommends hard and soft cheeses and classic roasts, be it red or white meat. Worth a try also with spicy food.

In Cork in 2018, Jamie Goode said there is lots of excitement worldwide about Gamay. He maintained the trend towards lighter wines is also helping as Beaujolais can come up with lighter styles that are still complex and he would use the masterclass to demonstrate that and also the diversity within the region.

Fleurie, like all ten crus, is in the north east of the Beaujolais region. Here, the Gamay grape thrives on the granite soil. The crus that produce the flagship wines are: Chiroubles, Saint Amour, Fleurie, Régnié, Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly, Juliénas, Chénas, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent. Not everyday, you can try out a cru for 12 euro!

More Reds For You

We wrote about the whites here last week. Aside from the case offers above, there are some other noteworthy reds too by the way, from Spain, France and Portugal.

There are a couple of serious contenders from Rioja and both have been favourites in Supervalu for a few years. You’ll enjoy the warm cherry flavours of the superb Pago De Labarca AEX, a 100% Tempranillo, made from “exceptional” grapes. 

Kevin describes the Finca Labarca Gran Reserva as “one of the most serious wines in our collection”. Rich and smooth on the palate, it is indeed something of a blockbuster. The AEX is €20.00 (22.62) while the Reserva is €15.00 (19.66).

More superb fruits feature in the Vacqueyras Remy Ferbras €14.00 (20.65). From the Rhone, “this little brother to Chateauneuf du Pape” has “all that great taste”, lovely and lush in the mouth.

Some terrific wines, and very well priced, are coming out of Portugal these years. The Fado Friendship 2018, down from €13.76 to €10.00, is one very good example. If you like your reds a bit lighter the Rioja, then this, with its soft texture and its smooth fruitiness, is well worth a try.

Have you enough to be going on with? And by the way, don’t forget those case offers, especially that time limited Italian one. And do check out the post on the best of their white wines here. Actually, I;ve just made it easier for you by adding it below....

Part 1:

Supervalu's Wine Santa has been busy, blending quality and value in the run-up to Christmas.

Kevin O’Callaghan, Supervalu’s wine expert, has wines galore “from across the globe” reduced in their Christmas offering. “A harmonious blend of classic and modern wines with some household names and unmissable prices”. Offers are available from November 26th to December 30th or until stocks last.

It was wines from the classic areas that caught my eye, Sancerre and Chablis in the whites, Bordeaux and Beaujolais in the reds. Let us start with the whites (reds next week!). The Sancerre got the biggest thumbs up around here!

Guy Saget Sancerre (AOC) 2018, 13.5%, €15.00 (19.66)

From the Ambassadeur de Loire, this Sancerre has a very light straw colour, clean and bright. Aromas are the regular suspects of grass and herbs, and nettles which seem to led the charge here. This is of course 100% Sauvignon Blanc and this Loire version is precise and refreshing, less pungent than its New Zealand counterpart (none the worse for that), a very satisfactory drink right to the dry finish.

Food pairings suggested are: grilled fish, Crottins de Chavignol (goats cheese), tandoori chicken skewers, sushi and sashimi. More than likely you won’t get the Chavignol around here but Ardsallagh or St Tola will do just as well.

Supervalu say: The mission of the Guy Saget brand is to demonstrate to the highest level Saget Le Perrière’s intention to unravel the extreme complexity associated with the Loire Valley vineyards. A complete collection of the finest Loire will seduce you, thanks to their authenticity and accessibility.

It’s a mission that they take seriously.  The Guy Saget portfolio embraces around thirty appellations, all of them showing hallmark Loire features. These include Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Chinon, Vouvray and Muscadet : 

- Dry whites : Muscadet, Muscadet-sur-lie,... 

- Medium sweet whites : Vouvray… 

- Sweet whites : Coteaux du Layon, Quarts-de-Chaume... 

- Dry rosés : Rosé de Loire, Touraine Rosé... 

- Medium sweet rosés : Cabernet d'Anjou, Rosé d'Anjou... 

- Reds : Chinon, Anjou, Saumur Champigny... 

- Sparkling wines : Crémant de Loire, Touraine sparkling wines...

No wonder he claims the title of Ambassadeur de Loire on the label of this excellent Sauvignon.

I made a superb Kir with this and the Wexford Cassis from the Blackwater Distillery in West Waterford, the ratio about six to one.

Andre Goichot Chablis (AOC) 2018, 12.5%, €15.00 (19.66)

Always a frisson of excitement when a glass of Chablis is offered.

This 2018 doesn’t let the side down. Far from it. A light gold colour, pristine. Apple and pear feature in the pleasant aromas. It is, of course, made from nothing but Chardonnay grapes and it is strikingly crisp from first taste, carrying some lovely white fruit flavours, maybe a touch of lime as well, as it spreads across the palate, clean, precise and harmonious, like a Bach partita, right through to the finalé.

No wonder Supervalu declare that it is “the classic partner to seafood and white meat dishes”. It is indeed but this characterful wine, rich and elegant, can effortlessly stand on its own.

Founded in 1947, Andre Goichot, headquartered near Beaune, are both negociant and producer, meaning that they buy wines from different areas and producers and also make wine from their own vineyards.

Abellio Albariño Rias Baixas (DO) 2019, 12.5%, €10.00 (13.76).

Made entirely from hand-harvested Albarino grapes, this Spanish wine, from the Rias Baixas area, has a mid-gold colour. Quite rich aromas of white fruit, apple and pear, and also peach. There is a striking refreshing minerality on the palate where the same fruit flavours shine through fresh and crisp.

The Albarino grape is a distinctive Northern Spanish variety. Its refreshing characteristics make it very versatile with fish and particularly with seafood. Often recommended for Asian also.

Albarino, more modern than classic in terms of its history in Ireland, is most readily associated with the Rias Baixas region which is named after the long-ish Atlantic coastal inlets (or rías) that characterise the landscape here in Galicia in north-western Spain. The grape is also prominent in nearby northern Portugal where it is known as Alvarinho. This Abellio is a favourite of mine. And also a favourite of Supervalu’s wine-buyer Kevin O’Callaghan who was involved in the attractive label design.

Don’t forget your case offers!

We will feature the reds in the next post on this sale but do note that they have two case deals (both red) on offer. The first (on now until December 30th) features Barão de Vilar Reserva (2018), velvety and fruity with an elegant finish and will cost you €50 euro, down from the RRP of €89.00. Believe it or not, you can save another tenner by buying between November 26th and December 9th and taking advantage of the “buy any six bottles and save an additional €10.00 offer”.

Later in the month, watch out for the second case offer. Here the temptation is the Italian Vivaldi Ripasso (2018), aromatic, full bodied, soft and warm, the temptation enhanced by the asking price of €40.00 instead of €94. You just gotta love Signore O’Callaghan. You’ll have to be on your toes for this one - it is short lived: from December 17th to 20th.