BOXED wine has improved so much that retailers now offer multiple options on shelves.
Available in large, long-lasting cartons, it is also the more economical choice for penny-saving drinkers.
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Many of us still tend to pick the traditional bottles rather than reach for a box option of our favourite tipple. But which is better?
Wine expert Helena Nicklin tries both the bottled and boxed version of the booze and gives them ratings out of five.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, 12%
- Box: £17.25, 2.25l (£5.75/75cl), Co-op – Score: 3
- Bottle: £6.25, 75cl, Co-op – Score: 2
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THIS cheeky Chilean Sauvignon Blanc from the Co-op is a particularly rich and tropical style of the grape.
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Delivered from the box, it has a lovely, lime blossom freshness with crisp, lemon peel notes and a good balance of acidity with fruit.
From the bottle, the aromas and flavours are a bit muted.
The feel is far more synthetic and savoury, with less acidity to keep it fresh.
Given that the box is also a whole pound cheaper per 75cl than the bottle, it is a no brainer for the cardboard option.
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Torres ViñaSol, 2022, 12%
- Box: £20, 2.25l (£6.67/75cl), Tesco – Score: 3
- Bottle: £8.25, 75cl, Tesco – Score: 4
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WITH its floral and fruity style, this Spanish white blend is a classic that is light and a little spritzy.
From the carton, it tastes crisp and fresh but the aromatics are dialled down.
And while it is good value at £20 for more than two litres – a saving of over a pound like-for-like on the bottle price – it also feels like the boxing process took something away from this more delicate wine.
The box wins on cost as it is a fair bit cheaper. But on taste, despite being the same vintage, the wine from the bottle is fabulously floral and well-balanced – much more as it should be when you sip.
M&S Plummy & Round Merlot, 2002, 13.5%
- Box: £11.50, 2.25l (£3.83/75cl), M&S in stores – Score: 4
- Bottle: £6.20, 75cl, Ocado and M&S in stores – Score: 4
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THIS is a wine from Marks and Spencer that does exactly what it says on the tin, box and bottle.
Despite a rebrand label-wise on the glass offering and different bottling dates, this chunky Chilean red delivers velvety, rich and smoky plum aromas.
I found the flavours were very similar when you sip from both box and bottle.
As a wine expert, that means a big tick from me for consistency across the board here.
It is also a real testament to M&S’ wine-packaging processes.
House by Sainsbury’s Sauvignon Blanc, 12%
- Box: £13.50, 2.25l (£4.50/75cl), Sainsbury’s – Score: 4
- Bottle: £5, 75cl, Sainsbury’s – Score: 3
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POURED and sipped from the 2.25l carton, this white from Sainsbury’s shows off typical grassy and citrusy characteristics and is well-balanced.
The South African Sauvignon box works out 50p cheaper for the same amount you would get in the bottle, so is better value for money.
By comparison, the same booze packaged in traditional glass has less aroma once opened and tastes more savoury and acidic.
The lot numbers on the containers show that both vinos were most likely from the same batch, so this was an interesting test to directly compare the two.
Wairau Cove Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, 12%
- Box: £20.50, 2.25l (£6.83/75cl), Tesco – Score: 3
- Bottle: £7.50, 75cl, Tesco – Score: 2
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FROM the box, this white Sauvignon from Marlborough in New Zealand was rounder, more balanced and more vibrant than the same wine in its bottled version. That was noticeably more acidic, disjointed and weedy in the mouth.
Easily sippable straight from the carton, which will keep for ages once opened if stored in the fridge, it also wins on value for money, with a big saving compared to the bottle version.
If you do opt for the traditional packaging, I would suggest drinking it alongside a mouthful of protein to soften it up.
19 Crimes red wine, 2022, 13.5%
- Box: £15, 2.25l (£7.50/75cl), Morrisons – Score: 5
- Bottle: £8, 75cl, Morrisons – Score: 4
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THIS big bruiser of a red wine has become a bit of a cult classic thanks to its eye-catching name and packaging, as well as the vanilla, wood and chocolatey fruit flavours inside.
When comparing the intense tipple from box to bottle, the box just has it for sheer power and an extra level of flavour with its spicy liquorice note.
I found the bottle version still delicious. It is just a tad lighter and simpler.
Plus, you will save a bit of money in the long run, too, by opting for the vino in the carton.
Cimarosa Australian Chardonnay, 12.5%
- Box: £13.99, 2.25l (£4.66/75cl), Lidl – Score: 3
- Bottle: £4.69, 75cl, Lidl – Score: 2
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A CLASSIC, cheapie Aussie Chard from Lidl that is round and ripe with a splash of vanilla.
Neither version is overly refreshing, but the boxed booze pips the bottled at the post for giving more fruit and spice aromas.
I think you would want to drink this white with food, regardless of which packaging you opt for. Creamy pasta dishes or anything with chicken will provide a perfect pairing.
The box probably just nudges it to win. But given the price difference of just 3p, I would suggest trying the bottle first before investing in a carton.
Nice Pale Rosé, 12%
- Box: £22.50, 2.25l (£7.50/75cl), Ocado – Score: 5
- Tin: £2, 25cl, Sainsbury’s in stores – Score: 5
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NICE is a relatively new, modern brand that specialises in fabulously fruity boxed and canned wines.
So although it is a tin, not a traditional bottle, up against the bag-in-box I thought this comparison test had the most potential for difference.
Impressively though, both options were excellent, and the tin had none of that sulphurous stink you can get from canned wine. Think white peach and melon – crisp yet soft, like freshly laundered bed sheets.
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Both formats are great for an easy, pink glugger on the go to the extent that I had to call both containers a tie.
