They say one man's trash is another man's treasure but sometimes cheap is not always better, particularly with wine. I just can't see the point in buying wine with virtually no flavour just because it's in the bargain bin.
Yes, there are wine bargains in supermarkets, particularly at present thanks to the toxic twins of recessionary belt-tightening and over-supply, but generally the lowest priced wines tend to be so bland as to be not worth it.
But sometimes you stumble across something you truly think is great value. I'm talking about Cattier Champagne. If you're not convinced that 750ml of fizzy wine in tall flutes could ever be worth anything approaching $80, check out these tasty bubbles free every Saturday from mid-November at La Cantina in St Heliers.
Store-owner and champagne-lover Ben Naden will pop the corks on Cattier every Saturday at free tastings from noon to 4pm. You may not see Cattier in the bargain racks, but these are top-tasting and great-value bubbles from Champagne, France.
Wines of the week:
2010 Bella $23
Here's a new low-calorie, low-alcohol sauvignon blanc. Winemaker Rob Cameron and his old school mate, Tim Lightbourne, picked their grapes at night to preserve their fresh, bright fruit flavours in this light but vibrant white - which has 30 per cent fewer calories than the average sav. www.invivowines.com
Champagne Cattier Blanc de Noirs NV $79.95
There will be 500 bottles of this incredibly fresh, yeasty "white of black" - white bubbly made entirely from pinot noir grapes. Fresh baked bread aromas, lively yeasty flavours and a tasty long finish.
Champagne Cattier Brut Antique NV $79.95
It was "good chaos" when La Cantina's Ben Naden opened this in store recently. Like most champagnes this non-vintage is made with grapes grown in several different years, but tastes more like a vintage bubbly; powerful with big, bready aromas.
* La Cantina Wines, 54a Waimarie St, St Heliers, Auckland.
Good taste: Cheap isn't always best.
Photo / Supplied.
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