The Lidl November wine sale is kicking off on Monday November 5th 2018. The focus is on French and Italian wines, but they also have a range of new wines from Australian, Portugal, South Africa and the US hitting the shelves too. I missed the official tasting so picked two sample bottles to try out at home compliments of the Lidl team. Wine prices range from €6.99 up to €18.99 for the more high-end Chablis Premier Cru. The sparkling wines range in price from €7.99 to €22.99 for the French Champagne Brut.
Duca di Sasseta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva 2013
The first to try is the Italian premium looking, but reasonably priced (€14.99) Duca di Sasseta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva 2013. Made from the Sangiovese grape which naturally tends to be more acidic with a higher tannin and a lighter colour.
This one comes across a darker purple or ruby colour and has fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant, plum and black cherry on the nose. There is also a hint of vanilla and some smokiness.
Its dry with medium acidity and body. Taste wise it doesn’t quite hit the promise of the nose and while there is a taste of black cherry, blackberry and some spice on the finish it’s not as pronounced as I had hoped. That said it’s a reasonably drinking wine but may fair better with food such as a tomato based pasta dish. 
Australian Shiraz Barossa Valley 2017
The second I tried is from the new Australian wines hitting the Lidl shelves this November. This Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is priced at just €8.99. Personally I am a fan of Australian wines and it’s where I drank wine for the first time. I’m also quite taken with Shiraz, or Syrah if you are in France as its two different names for the same grape.
I quite like this wine. Dry, medium body and a vibrant colour. On the nose its subtle blackcurrant and blackberry with some plum when it takes a few minutes to breath and open up. Taste wise its much stronger than that of the nose. Its black fruits with hints of vanilla, chocolate and a little tobacco. Some oak and spice give it a medium finish and overall a very pleasant balanced wine that I’d be happy to pay €8.99 for.
