Sainsbury's Limited Release Clare Valley Riesling 2009

I was at a foreign (as in north London) Sainsbury's on Saturday, and I saw this on the shelf. A Sainsbury's 'Limited Release' Clare Valley Riesling. Regular price: £5. Offer price: £3.99.

I've had a couple of other wines from this line, and some have been OK, others not so good. I love Riesling, and Australia's Clare Valley is as good a place as any to get it from.

This wine is terrible. It's from the class of Rieslings that don't taste like Riesling. No petrol, no citrus, maybe some pineapple, a bit of acidity. It could be anything. It was also dilute and a bit rough.

Fine, for this price 'drinkable' is probably as good as you are going to get. But what annoyed me is the screwcap. On the top of it are painted the words 'complex' and 'elegant'. Pardon? Maybe if it was a proper Clare Valley Riesling, and not some dilute plonk. I suppose this is an (not entirely misguided) attempt at making choosing a wine easier for the customer. It's neither complex or elegant, and I'm finding this 'Limited Release' line increasingly irritating.

Sainsbury's

Limited Release Riesling 2009

Clare Valley, Australia

£3.99 (£5)

2/5