Aldi €19.99 Champagne beats big brands at International Wine Challenge
Aldi launches ‘super premium' Christmas wine range offering outstanding value
Print29 October 2013
Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut was awarded a silver medal at the prestigious International Wine Challenge 2013
Aldi today announced it is selling a €19.99 bottle of Champagne this Christmas that leading international wine experts rated better in a blind taste test than some of the world’s most renowned Champagnes that cost nearly nine times as much.
Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut, which retails at just €19.99 / 75cl, was awarded a silver medal at the prestigious International Wine Challenge 2013, trumping contenders including Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2004 (€169.95*) and Möet & Chandon Imperial NV (€46.60**), both of which received bronze awards.
The bubbly, which is available at Aldi’s 103 Irish stores, was described as ‘classy and complex’ by the judges and offers an intense nose of baked apple, brioche and stone fruits, with gorgeous flavours of apples, red fruit and minerality on the palate.
Rob Farrell, Aldi Stores (Ireland’s) group buying director said: "At Aldi we believe Irish consumers don’t need to pay superstar prices for super quality drinks. Our expert team of buyers work closely with some of the world’s leading wineries to enable us to deliver high quality own-label bottles at unbeatable prices. Retailing for just €19.99 a bottle, our Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut is an absolute corker, and we are delighted that the experts agree."
The announcement was made as Aldi unveiled a ‘super premium’ wine collection which will go on sale at Aldi’s stores for a limited time only in the lead up to Christmas. Aldi will offer its largest and most competitive Christmas wine range ever this year, boasting a selection of premium wines to rival the most expensive bottles.
Consisting of 20 wines, Aldi’s extensive collection for the festive season features a number of rare and award-winning wines and has been carefully selected to suit every taste and budget, from the hugely popular Aldi’s Alsace Gewurztraminer (€9.99/75cl) to premium wines such as Aldi’s Haut Medoc (€13.99/75cl) and super premium wines such as Aldi’s Gevrey-Chambertin (€29.99/75cl).
To ensure that even the most discerning palate is catered for, Aldi has this year introduced a collection of ‘super-premium’ wines. Not only will the quality of the range appeal to luxury shoppers, the price will too with the high end choices being sold for approximately 30% less than the usual market price for wines sourced from the same prestigious wine regions.
Considered one of the world’s finest white wines, Aldi’s Meursault retails at €24.99 / 75cl, compared to €46.00 for a comparable bottle at a high-end wine merchant. Rare champagnes usually come with a hefty price tag but Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Champagne Blanc de Noirs is corking-good value at €24.99 / 75cl, 20% less than a comparable bottle elsewhere.
For more than four centuries, the Chateaux Margaux vineyard in the Medoc region of Bordeaux has been making some of the most elegant and distinctive wines and wine lovers can normally expect to pay upwards of €45.00 per bottle. Offering exceptional value, Aldi’s Margaux Grand Cru Classe is €29.99 / 75cl, a 30% discount to a similar style available elsewhere.
Also joining the range is Aldi’s Tokaji Aszu Six Puttonyos (€24.99 / 50cl), a rare and celebrated Hungarian dessert wine which stunned wine critics when it won a gold medal at the 2012 International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Speaking at the launch of the Christmas wine range, Rob Farrell said: "We have noticed that Irish wine drinkers have become increasingly more discerning in their tastes and our wine range has expanded in accordance with the Irish palate. However, price is still the most influential factor for wine consumers and we are committed to working closely with certain wineries and producers so our customers can enjoy the best wines from across the globe without paying premium prices. With a wide range of styles and price points, Aldi has an exceptional wine offering for Christmas 2013 including some superior wines which punch well above their weight. As always, our emphasis is on delivering outstanding value for money to wine lovers so that they can still enjoy a luxury Christmas without blowing the household budget. We are sure that our ‘super premium’ range will delight our shoppers, as well as making the world of premium wines more accessible to those who haven’t previously been able to enjoy them."
Aldi’s wine range has an enviable record of success, picking up numerous accolades and award-wins in recent years. Whether it’s a family Christmas dinner or a drinks party for friends, Aldi’s diverse range is sure to add sparkle to any celebration this Christmas.
Aldi’s ‘super premium’ collection goes on sale Sunday 24 November while stocks last. Aldi will also have a selection of core range wines and other ‘Specialbuys’ which are available from its 103 stores nationwide in the run up to Christmas.
The wines roadtested at Aldi’s Christmas wine event held in Dublin’s Morrison Hotel last week included the following:
SPARKLING WINE/CHAMPAGNE
Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut (Philzot et Fils) €19.99
33% Chardonnay 33% Pinot Noir 33% Meunier
Multi-award winning and highly acclaimed Veuve Monsigny Brut by Philizot et Fils has a bouquet of ripe apples and floral hints with red fruit aromas and lovely brioche tone. On the palate crisp citrus flavours with secondary strawberry and baked apples develops into a long persistent finish. Produced in collaboration with Champagne Philizot, this is a traditional blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Ageing in cellars for 5 years more than the legal minimum has enhanced its complexity, elegance, length and balance. Awarded a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge 2013, trumping contenders including Möet and Chandon Imperial NV and Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame 2004.
WHITE WINE
Aldi’s 2013 Freeman’s Bay €7.99
This is the latest vintage from New Zealand of their classic Sauvignon Blanc style. It is made from grapes grown in the Marlborough region. The 2013 vintage from New Zealand is one of the best in many years and reports indicate that it will be vibrant, fruit driven and complex. Both North and South Island experienced ideal grape growing conditions with a long dry summer providing well balanced, well-ripened fruit.
Aldi’s 2012 Limestone Coast Chardonnay (South Australia) €8.99
This un-oaked Australian Chardonnay is new to the Exquisite Collection. Limestone Coast, one of Australia’s high-quality wine producing areas, has a relatively cool climate making it ideal for the production of modern Chardonnays. This wine has pronounced aromas of honeysuckle, white peach and in the mouth lovely tropical pineapple flavour. The ripe mouth filling texture has been achieved through maturation ‘on the lees’.
RED WINE
Aldi’s 2011 Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon €9.99
This wine is also new to the Exquisite collection Situated in the hills north of Adelaide the wine region of Clare Valley has a long tradition of producing some of Australia’s finest cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Dark structured fruit flavours of blackcurrants and plums. This is a powerful Cabernet Sauvignon with cedar and mocha flavours which add complexity to the intense dark fruit flavours.
Aldi’s 2010 Chateau Chantemerle Cru Bourgeois €13.99
Located in the centre of the Medoc region the vineyards are a mix of gravel and sand soil. Made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon; 35% Merlot; 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrique. It has a firm structure, with good firm tannin black fruit flavours and complex spice and vanilla notes. Delicious served with red meat.
Aldi’s 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape €14.99
New to Aldi, Domaine du Vieux Calcernier is a family owned Domaine belonging to the Alazay family. This wine is a blend of 80% Grenache; 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. This has rich spicy forest fruit, elegant with round soft tannin and a long rich finish.
FORTIFIED
Aldi’s Maynards 30 Year Old Tawny Port €49.99
The vineyards are located in the sub region of the Duero Superior. The wine is a blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Amarela. The blend is aged in 550 litre old oak casks. This is an outstanding mature wine with aromas of dried fruit and perfume. Excellent served with creamy mature cheese, or crème brûlée.
All wines are available from Aldi’s 103 stores in the Republic of Ireland. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/AldiIreland.
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