We have two wines from O’Briens this week, both of which feature in the chain’s autumn wine sale. The Côtes de Gascogne tastes remarkably like a sauvignon blanc, but in fact does not contain a drop.
Instead, it is made from a blend of three local varieties: colombard, gros manseng and ugni blanc. Together, they produce nicely aromatic wines filled with racy green fruits and a dry finish; sounds familiar?
O’Briens has been selling the Wildflower range of Romanian wines for some time now. They are all single-varietal wines with fresh, clean fruits. On promotion, they offer great value for money. The merlot is no exception.
Côtes de Gascogne 2025, Duffour Père & Fils
11%, €9.99 (down from €14.99)
Very aromatic with attractive apple and pear fruits cut through with lemon zest, finishing dry. This would go perfectly with a wide variety of seafood dishes, shellfish in particular. Try it with Asian prawns.
Wildflower Merlot 2023, Romania
13%, €9.49 (down from €14.99)
Soft, supple, earthy, ripe plum fruits with some spice on the rounded finish. Good by itself or with lighter red meats, charcuterie, or roast Mediterranean vegetables.