Mimo Moutinho Arinto 2021 (7g/l of sugar; Aldi, £5.29) I recommended in my top 50 wines for under a tenner article in The Telegraph’s Saturday section last month, often isn’t.
The sweet-sour balance of some of these wines is best thought of in cocktail terms. It’s like a daiquiri, where lime juice meets sugar syrup, or a Collins, where effervescence combines with sugar, soda water, lemon juice (and gin) to create the perfect balance.Found Vinho Verde Rosé 2021 (9g/l of sugar; M&S, £9) is another good option, and tastes like a cross between sweet strawberries and Badoit. (There are several other M&S wines in the column today because its range leans more towards sweet than some.)Marlborough sauvignon blanc often has the twangy edge taken off it with a subtle glide of sugar.
For example, with Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (4g/l of sugar; Morrisons, £9.75), we are in passion fruit and blackcurrant-leaf daiquiri territory, and it’s lovely.The same kind of kick is sometimes found in sparkling wines: part of the reason for prosecco’s success is that it is often ‘extra dry’ which, counter-intuitively, is sweeter than ‘brut’.
I like La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé 2021 (Waitrose, £8.99, down from £10.99 until 12 July), which sits on the line between brut and extra dry.Hungary (12%; M&S, £8) Furmint is the grape behind Hungary’s famously sweet Tokaji.
Read more on telegraph.co.uk