Merry Christmas!
Delightful white wines
Lyrarakis Assyrtiko 2022 (Crete)
This Assyrtiko wine from Crete is a dry wine with a crisp, refreshing acidity. It has pronounced aromas of honey, together with apple and peach, on the nose, and flavours of apple, pear and peach on the palate.
It is a well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with a long finish that can be enjoyed as an apéritif and is also an excellent match for a seafood dish.
Available from Majestic (£12.99, Mix Six £10.99)
Grove Mill, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021 (New Zealand)
This aromatic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a real treat.
Pronounced aromas of elderflower, peach, lychee and guava on the nose herald flavours of lime, nectarine and passion fruit on the palate. The layers of fruit are well supported by the bright acidity and lasting finish, and a hint of minerality adds a further level.
A delightful wine offering great value for money.
Available from Co-op (£10.50)
Chapel Down Bacchus 2022 (Kent)
This Bacchus wine from Chapel Down vineyard in Kent, one of England’s leading wine producers, is an excellent example of what this grape variety is capable of.
An aromatic wine with notes of melon and citrus on the nose, and flavours of apple, melon and grapefruit on the palate, this is a crisp, refreshing and well-balanced wine with a long finish.
Enjoy by itself or with seafood or salad. It also pairs well with Wensleydale cheese.
Available from Grape Britannia (£16.99)
Cracking red wines
Les Hauts de Saint Martin, Saint Chinian 2021 (France)
This Saint-Chinian wine from vineyards located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France is a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes, this is a dry wine with medium acidity, medium tannins and a lengthy finish.
With bramble, plum and cherry on the nose, and an array of red and black fruits, and a hint of spice on the palate, this is a very appealing wine that pairs well with a roast meat dish, or roasted vegetables.
Available from Co-op (£10)
Yalumba Y Series Tempranillo 2020/21 (South Australia)
This Tempranillo wine from South Australia adds a little Antipodean twist to this grape variety generally associated with Rioja. Produced by Yalumba winery, one of Australia’s oldest wineries, this is a deliciously smooth wine which can be enjoyed by itself, and goes really well with duck or lamb.
With aromas of cranberry, cherry and bramble on the nose, and flavours of blackberry and plum, with a hint of chocolate and spice, on the palate, this is a balanced wine with a long finish.
Available from Majestic (£10.99, Mix Six £8.49)
White Castle Regent 2021 (Wales)
This wonderfully expressive wine from White Castle Vineyard in Wales is an outstanding red wine. Made from Regent grapes, it is a well-balanced wine that’s an ideal match for the complex blend of flavours associated with a traditional Christmas lunch.
With aromas of cherry, blackberry and a touch of smokiness on the nose, and ripe fruit flavours of blackcurrant and plum on the palate, this is a wine with depth and complexity.
Available from Grape Britannia (£27.99)
Indulgent dessert wines
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pedro Ximénez (Spain)
This Pedro Ximénez (PX) from Sainsbury’s is a full-bodied, lusciously sweet wine with a long, velvety finish. With aromas of honey, raisin and toffee, reminiscent of a mince pie, on the nose, and coffee, caramel and toffee flavours on the palate, this is a perfect match for Christmas pudding or other rich dessert, and mature cheese.
Available from Sainsbury’s (£9)
Keo St John’s Commandaria (Cyprus)
This luscious Cypriot dessert wine has a history dating back to the Crusades and is an outstanding dessert wine. With aromas of dried fruit and spices, and flavours of caramel, honey and nuts, Commandaria can be enjoyed by itself, or with cheese or desserts. It is a particularly good match for a rich, creamy dessert.
Available from Aspris & Son (www.aspris.co.uk) (£11.79, 50cl.)
Merry Christmas!
Look out for more wine suggestions from around the world in 2024.
Cheers!