Expression de Saint Mont 2020

12.5%, Lidl, £5.99

Another gem from Lidl’s summer French collection; this one from south-west France, uses, amongst others, the region’s gros manseng and petit manseng.  It’s got a bit of age, but that’s only added to the wine’s style and flavour. Full of tangy, juicy, super ripe, peach and pineapple fruit, drizzled with a sprinkle of lemon, and hints of passion fruit, it’s mouth-watering, zesty and bright. Keeping all its freshness and acidity, the wine has rounded out to a lovely ripe, soft dry white, with enough weight to deal with sweetly spiced Thai and Vietnamese dishes. I tried it with prawn pad Thai, but fresh Vietnamese salads, with mango, prawn and chilli would be a welcome partner.