Australian and Chilean Reds

So this weekend 'the joy of lidl' kicked off with two reds: an Australian cabernet sauvignon and a Chilean malbec.

We decided to take advantage of the glorious sunshine on Saturday afternoon with some fruit picking in West Lothian. On the way home, laden with berries, we stopped by the Lidl in Leith to pick up supplies for our tasting.

Still taking advantage of the sunshine, we moved the kitchen table outside into Paul and Jo's (very) recently cleared garden. On Saturday morning it was something of a jungle, but by the evening it was identifiable as a patio again! Jo had prepared a sumptuous feast of mostly lidl products; a potato and bean salad, bread, humus and a selection of cured meat to accompany the wine.

Paul couldn't find his camera, so we were unable to document this inaugural event in process. He has now found it in an awkward place, which means we can show you the empty bottles. We decided to begin by taking advantage of one of Lidl's current wine promotions, giving us what we thought might be a better wine for our money. This seemed particularly wise, given that we instinctively fear the cheaper recesses of the Lidl spectrum.

Rosecreek Cabernet Sauvignon (2003)
(normally £3.99, but was on offer at £2.99)

The label claims:

Sharing its home with kangaroos and koalas, this Cabernet Sauvignon has a distinctive flavour of fully reipened berries with a hint of chocolate. Enjoy the balanced play between blackcurrents and refined tannins.

Perhaps surprisingly the description on the label was not a work of fiction. Paul was particularly keen on this one, he would even go so far as to describe it as his favourite Lidl wine ever. Of course, that isn't the bold claim it initial appears to be - not to anyone with much experience of Lidl wine anyway. You would struggle to find a better bottle of wine anywhere for £2.99 though.

The Rosecreek was very quaffable, with a nice distinct upfront taste and a lingering finish. There was certainly no ‘squirm’ factor (the screwing up of the face that often accompanies a glass of cheap wine), and it probably got better the more Paul drank. Jo and Lesley only made it through one glass each, but Paul could quite happily have spent a whole evening drinking a bottle of this while watching a nice spot of bbc four.

Verdict: a great success! If only all lidl wines were like this. Truly a great wine for £2.99. We probably wouldn't trek the length of the city to buy it, but it was more than adequate.

Buoyed up by the success of the Rosecreek we moved on to the Cimarosa Malbec (2004), also reduced from £3.99 to £2.99.

This label promises:

The Malbec's character, with a vibrant crimson colour, is formed by intense aromas and the taste of ripe berries, interspersed with a pleasant, fruity and floral note. Enjoy this wine to all kinds of meat and cheese.

Unfortunately, our troubles began before we had even opened he bottle. The cork broke while we were trying to open it, which gave the wine more than a slight garnish of cork, giving it a lovely gritty texture to compliment the unpleasant flavour. Jo described the wine has beginning with an insipid whack in the face - a pathetically limp-wristed slap if you will - only to round off to nothing at all. Frankly, the lack of after-taste came as something of a relief. The wine lacks body and is very unsatisfying, with a flavour slightly reminiscent of lemon pith. Unlike the Rosecreek this has a high squirm factor, which meant that none of us could face a whole glass of it.

Verdict: just don't! This was a truly vile wine; even with the price tag of £2.99 you expect better than this. The corky garnish did not help things either. If you like a very cheap, corky wine, buy it; if you have any taste-buds whatsoever, steer well clear!