Life

ALidl wine goes long way

IF you are a fan of French wine then this new offer from Lidl should appeal to you. The supermarket is launching an extensive new range of fine French wines from Monday - including 36 wines from across the classic regions of France, including Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Champagne and the Loire Valley.

With prices ranging from £4.99, it's an opportunity to taste some better quality wines at a decent price.

Each wine has been rated by Master of Wine, Richard Bampfield, one of only 312 Masters of Wine in the world. Bordeaux is arguably the most famous wine region in the world and home to more than 10,000 producers.

Famed for its superb reds and long-lived wines made by historic wine estates, most Bordeaux wines are dry, medium-bodied reds, with the finest and most prestigious coming from the great chateaux of Haut-Medoc, Graves, Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. Here's a great value sample that is well worth the price tag: Try: Montagne Saint-Emilion AOC 2010, £8.99 -

Rating: 90.

Some of the most exciting wines in the world come from Burgundy, home to two star grapes, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its intricate network of vineyards makes a bewildering array of wines, with top bottles eagerly sought after by collectors. Try: Hautes-Cotes de Beaune AOP 2007, £7.99 -

Rating: 90

Loire is the home of Sauvignon Blanc, where it excels in the likes of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, but also makes great Chenin Blanc from Vouvray and Savennieres, and some intriguing, fresh red wines, as well as the crisp white Muscadet. It is known for producing excellent white wines and is the second largest producer of sparkling wines in France, after Champagne.

Try: Coteaux d'Aix en Provence AOC Rose 2013, £5.99 -

Rating: 88. Provence Rose is on the crest of a wave at the moment, its pale colour and crisp fruit evocative of holidays in the French Riviera. This is bright with exotic fruit that reminds of guava and papaya and white floral aromas on the nose. It has body and structure, yet is fresh on the palate and beautiful minerality. It's a a versatile wine that pairs beautifully with a wide variety of seafood. Serve chilled. An off-dry, tasty, uncomplicated wine that's simply much too easy to drink.