I am a bit of a knave. I buy my wife a present of wine, then I help her drink it, then I write a review about it!

I was rather impressed with Tescos new strategy of getting high class wineries to produce wines for their own label “Finest” range and then clearly labelling it with the producers name on the label and collar. I think that they are trying to merge two markets – those who want a good quality “Finest” supermarket own label, and those who buy wine bearing the producers name as a mark of quality and originality. Tesco has certainly reduced their wine range recently – a cause of distress to me. Is this part of a plan to “kill two birds with one stone”** and catch both aforementioned buyers with the same bottle of wine?

I have tried several of this range and have to say; whatever their motives, I haven’t been disappointed yet. Congratulations to Tesco, it is a good range.

This is one such wine – a Tesco “Finest” wine which is clearly marked with the name of the well known and respected house of Bouchard Aîne & Fils in Burgundy, and it lived up to expectations.

Producer: Bouchard Aîne & Fils (Under the Tesco “Finest” range)

Winemaker: Laurent Mairet

Country: France

Price: £13.00

Region: Southern Burgundy

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2014

Alcohol Content: 12.5%

Colour: Light bright red showing a slight brown tint at edges

Nose: Strawberry – light fragrances of red fruit – delicate.

Palate: Delicate taste of strawberries.

Finish: pleasant fruity finish and longer than expected.

Tesco Say: 

• Colour: A purplish red. Nose: Fairly fine but with plenty of character. Aromas of fruits steeped in kirsch accompanied by animal and woody notes. Palate: Very well-balanced, combining fine fruity scents with a good structure thanks to the tannins. This wine should age very well. Mercurey red wines are noted for being beautifully balanced, combining body, meatiness, bouquet, subtlety and distinction.
• This medium bodied red has layers of red and black fruits ans savoury spices notes.
• This structured red wine brings out the best from red meats and roast pork.

I really enjoyed this wine – I don’t buy much wine from Burgundy because it tends to have a higher price tag than many on the shelves in supermarkets in the U.K., but it is worth serious consideration if you like a lighter red wine than many from Shiraz/Syrah or Cabernet Sauvingnon/Merlot based wines, or perhaps a bit more substantial than Beaujolais frequently offers – Burgundy wines may be your way forward. You might say that I can get reasonable quality and affordable Pinot Noir from New Zealand or Australia, but this is lighter and more delicate.

I really like it but it would have to be a special occasion before I buy it again at £13.00/bottle. I am going to France later in the year; I’ll look for wine from this region of Burgundy when I am there – wine is so much cheaper in France.

**(No animals were injured during the writing of this blog! No endorsement of throwing stones at birds is intended or implied)