As befits our only remaining feast day, special care often goes into choosing wines for 25 December.
However, as the “partridge and pear tree” carol reminds us, there is usually a lot more that one day of festivities.
Those other days will, of course, also need a bottle or so to ease them up the enjoyment stairway.
Such occasions may be family events (calling for something a level down from Christmas Day) or a party when a “crowd pleasing but sensibly priced” wine is more appropriate.
Today’s post has something for both situations.
It contains, in effect, extended Top Tip and Friday Treat selections.
I hope that they work for you.
In the usual way, hyperlinks and pictures are used where possible for the main selections to help you locate the bottle in question.
First then some party reds
Eglise Saint-Jacques Bergerac (£7 at Tesco and 13% abv):
Although Bergerac now seems to align itself with SW France rather than Bordeaux, it can still (as this non-vintage wine illustrates) provide “claret resembling” reds at brilliant prices.
Smooth, with Bordeaux-like leafy aromas, this delivers bramble, black cherry and prune flavours.
These are coupled, though, with firm tannin and suggestions of aniseed, graphite and cocoa.
Moving to Italy
2019 Burdizzo Chianti Riserva (£7.25 instead of £8.25 until 13 December at Asda and 12.5%):
If your memories of chianti remain of dense, full, heavy, red wine, this will amaze and delight you.
Smooth and vaguely nutty, it dispels those outdated notions with medium bodied, cherry, plum and sun-dried tomato flavours.
Completing the picture are traces of thyme, cocoa and cinnamon partnered by firm tannin and lively acidity.
Then back to Southern France
2022 Calvet Cite de Carcassonne (£7 – instead of £8 until 1 January – at Morrisons and 13%):
Typical of Southern France, this carignan-led red suits wintertime and its heartier seasonal foods perfectly – full, warm and overflowing with flavour.
Dark yet attractively floral, it has a centrepiece of concentrated red currant, raspberry and damson flavours.
Additional embellishments come in the form of fresh acidity and firm tannin as well as from graphite, incense and anise components.
Next Party Whites and Rosé
2022 Rocca Murer Pinot Grigio Rosato (£7 – instead of £8.25 until 12 December – at Sainsbury’s and 12.5%):
Here, the elevated vineyards in North Eastern Italy and pinot grigio grapes combine to create a delightful rosé as subtle as many from Provence.
Aromatic and pale pink in colour, it contains ripe melon, peach and crab apple flavours.
These are partnered by balanced citrus acidity amid a delicate strawberry foundation.
Staying thereabouts
2022 Chosen by Majestic Pinot Grigio delle Venezie (from £6.99 at Majestic and 11%):
Those same cool, Alpine influences also work their magic on this pinot grigio from Venezie.
The result gives this wine the invigorating acidity that more southerly versions of pinot grigio often lack.
That acidity (grapefruit tinged in this case) provides a suitable escort to the wine’s fresh aromas and bright, textured greengage, pear, white currant and apple flavours.
Then to SW France
2022 Duffour Pere et Fils ‘Vinum’ Côtes de Gascogne (from £7.99 at Majestic and 11.5%):
As alternatives to New Zealand sauvignons, consider the whites of Southwest France – especially if you are happy with marginally less assertiveness.
Aromatic with just a gentle hint of sweetness, this appealing blend of local grape varieties is based around textured quince, melon and cooked apple flavours.
Those are coupled with lively citrus acidity, a chestnut centred savoury edge and suspicions of fragrant herbs.
Reds for Informal Family Events
2022 Adnams Malbec (£8.49 at Adnams and 13%):
Argentina’s San Juan region (home to this wine) is very hot and dry but its wines are usually softer and fruitier than those from Mendoza, to the south.
This very young example certainly matches that profile.
Typically youthful with a neat floral aura, it delivers juicy loganberry and plum flavours supported by lively acidity, but firm tannin.
Suggestions of baking spice, sage and espresso (all within a largely savoury background) add to its overall attractiveness.
Or, possibly, a Claret
2018 Yvon Mau Premius Bordeaux (£10.95 at Slurp and 13%):
Christmas is traditionally a time for claret so here is one I enjoyed.
Finding good versions below £12, however, is difficult because many inexpensive options are under-ripe or overly dominated by tannin or savoury elements.
This hits just the right note.
Smooth with forest floor aromas, it brings us minty, prune and bramble flavours accompanied by firm tannin.
Also on parade are savoury edged hints of charcoal, espresso and dried herbs.
Whites for Family Events
2022 Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi, Pontemagno (£9.50 from House of Townend and 13%):
I often praise verdicchio from this region but why does that grape do so well in that part of Central Italy?
Three factors help – suitable geology, sunny days and cool nights (from sea breezes and elevated vineyards).
Beautifully clean tasting and light in body, this has lemon sherbet acidity and a mildly saline finish.
All those factors ably support its foundation of floral, apple, white peach and grapefruit peel flavours.
Back to France Again
2022 La Toile Vierge Rolle Blanc (£10.99 at Virgin Wines and 12.5%):
The somewhat odd name (translating into “a blank canvas”) describes the label and the content of the bottle.
It uses the rolle grape (known as vermentino elsewhere) with the geographic flexibility of the Vin de France classification to create a wine resembling Picpoul de Pinet.
Crisp and intense, the result’s primary feature is a combination of apple, grapefruit and nutty flavours.
These are accompanied by zesty citrus acidity, a pleasingly clean mouthfeel rounded out by a mildly herbal finish.
Some I Prepared Earlier
Here is a quick look at other wines I have featured before that could also work well for Christmas.
Check back on the specific posts for further details (use the search facility in the side bar for this) and also confirm their availability in the store near you.
Inexpensive Reds
- 2021 Kooliburra Australian Cabernet Shiraz (£5.07 in Aldi): Uncomplicated red wine with spicy and minty damson and blackcurrant flavours.
- 2021 Pierre Jaurant Bordeaux Rouge (£5.29 at Aldi): Authentic “claret touches” here combine with leafy plum flavours and hints of graphite.
- 2021 Vista Castelli Montepulciano D’Abruzzo (£5.50 at Tesco): Bold yet medium bodied blackberry flavours with minimal tannin.
- 2017 Grandeza Aged Red Wine (£7.50 at Tesco): Skilfully aged with a plum and cherry richness.
Inexpensive Whites
- 2022 Pierre Jaurant French Viognier (£5.99 at Aldi): Nectarine centred with mandarin acidity and aromatic freshness.
- 2022 DINO Trebbiano Pinot Grigio (£6 at Tesco): Undemanding white with low (11%) abv, zesty lime acidity supporting tangerine and apple flavours.
- 2022 La Vieille Ferme Blanc (£7 at Morrisons in Scotland or 3 for £21 elsewhere): Long established favourite with creamy textured quince flavours and a mineral undercurrent.
- 2021 Sturmwolken Riesling (£8 at Sainsbury’s): Modern riesling with sherbet acidity and textured melon flavours.
£8 to £10 Reds
- 2017 Joya de Reyes Rioja Crianza (£9.99 at Adnams): Nicely aged with gentle tannin and plum and black cherry flavours.
- 2022 Specially Selected Gamay Rouge (£8.69 at Aldi): Light and juicy blackcurrant fruit with hints of violets and cocoa
- 2021 Sorcova Pinot Noir (£8.49 at Waitrose but about to drop appreciably shortly): Floral with medium bodied raspberry and plum flavours and from Romania.
£8 to £10 Whites
- 2021 Les Vignes Retrouvées Blanc Saint-Mont (£9.50 at The Wine Society): Perfumed and concentrated with greengage flavours and made from local varieties.
- 2022 Remastered Fiano (£9.50 at Tesco): Floral with a long finish, this delivers light bodied apple and pear flavours with crisp grapefruit acidity.
- 2022 Kooliburra Chardonnay Grüner Veltliner (£9.99 at Aldi): Unusual alliance offering tropical fruit elements, oak aging and full texture.
See you again on Thursday when my Christmas coverage continues with recommendations for red wines to grace Christmas Lunch itself. .
