Published at 16:04, Wednesday, 17 September 2008

WHEN you see a wine hailed as one of the “finest of its kind on the planet” then how can you possibly resist especially when you can pick it up at one penny less than a fiver.

Tesco gems

Such is the case with the St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve which is one of two or three stand out reds in the current Tesco wine fair.

Quite a few half price offers but mostly among the usual “brand” suspects, not usually the ones I’d most like to snap up if only they had 50 per cent off.

The Gamekeepers’ Reserve (£4.99) has two pounds off and is an exceptional bargain at the Whitehaven superstore.

An Aussie blockbuster, it could be called a hybrid due to its combination of three different grapes – two of them the classics shiraz/grenache and the little known touriga, which is actually used in port. This is apparently the secret ingredient that makes it so special.

St Hallett has been seducing some of the critics; I was finally tempted when notable wine guru, Matthew Jukes, came up with his “one of the finest of its kind” description. These particularly flavoursome grapes take some beating as a combination. It’s a poacher’s broth from the Barossa valley in South Australia, dark, full bodied but at the same time velvety smooth packed with (cherry, raspberry fruit and just a hint of black pepper, quite delicious and a lovely long finish leaving you wanting more.

There are obviously better wines on the planet and certainly a lot more expensive, but the Gamekeepers’ Reserve, nicely mature, represents fabulous value for money.

The description I love most comes, not from a master of wine, but a tippler/blogger: a wine you can introduce to mother but still party hard – powerful but never overpowering.

For me, Gamekeeper’s Reserve is down to earth with class, so buy while you can at such a knock down price.

Another gem in the Tesco fair, and more to my own personal taste because of its delicacy, is a half price pinot noir described as a premium fine wine – a Kendermanns special edition 2006.

No clue on the front label as to country of origin, but it’s actually German, which makes it a rarity.

Not often will you see a German red on the supermarket shelves. The country is renowned for its whites, some of the best in the world. By all accounts the German people love red wine but they appear to keep most of it to themselves. I can see why.

This German special edition is a gorgeous snip at £4.99.

Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk