#WOTW: this bargain Bonarda punches above its price
I’ve been off the wine for a couple of weeks, thanks to our new friend, the Corona virus, so it has been lovely to get back on it, not least as one of the side effects of the illness is a complete loss of smell and taste.
It’s incredibly rare that I am able to recommend a wine of the week for a fiver. The excise tax and VAT accounts for just over £3 of the price, so there’s not much left for the juice. As a result, a lot of ‘cheap’ wine is pretty dreary (so a loss of smell and taste might actually be an advantage), but full credit is due to Aldi and its team of buyers for finding us this gem.
Think Argentina, and you probably think Malbec? Bonarda is less well known, but it’s the country’s second grape, in terms of plantings. I have always loved it for its cheery, cherry character and Buenas Vides Bonarda (£4.99 at Aldi stores – not currently online) is a good example, with its bright, accessible red berries, notes of damson jelly and subtle spice. If I hadn’t already known the price, I’d have guessed £7, so it’s definitely a bargain to bag.