Syrah Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

Here are a few choice wines for you enjoy this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas!

Delightful white wines

Oyster Bay Chardonnay, Marlborough 2022 (New Zealand)

This fine Chardonnay from one of New Zealand’s foremost wine producers, Oyster Bay, will get your Christmas festivities off to a great start! With aromas of peach, lemon and grapefruit on the nose heralding flavours of nectarine and peach on the palate, it’s a very good representation of a cold climate Chardonnay from a region best known for its Sauvignon Blanc wines.

The layers of fruit are well supported by the bright acidity, subtle hints of oak and the creamy texture, creating a delightful wine which is perfect by itself or with a seafood or vegetable dish. Available from Sainsbury’s (£10.75)

Co-op Irresistible Assyrtiko, Macedonia 2023 (Greece)

This Assyrtiko wine from Macedonia is a crisp, dry wine with an appealing freshness on the palate. A blend of Assyrtiko (85%) and Viognier (15%), it has aromas of apple, peach and a hint of smokiness on the nose, and flavours of apple, nectarine and peach on the palate.

A well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with a hint of white pepper in the finish, this is a wine that can be enjoyed as an apéritif and is also an excellent match for seafood. Available from Co-op (£10)

Cracking red wines

Cru des Côtes du Rhône Vinsobres 2021 (France)

This Vinsobres wine from the northern tip of the southern Rhône region of France is a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine. A blend of Syrah and Grenache grape varieties, it has aromas of cherry, raspberry and vanilla on the nose, leading to blackberry, cassis, liquorice and chocolate on the palate. It is a well-balanced wine with notes of garrigue on the finish.

This is a very appealing wine that pairs well with a roast meat dish, or roasted vegetables. Available from Sainsbury’s (£12)

Altolandon Mil Historias Bobal 2020, Manchuela (Spain)

Though not very well-known internationally, Bobal is Spain’s second most-planted red varietal after Tempranillo and this wine from Manchuela in South East Spain is a fine example of this less familiar grape variety.

An appealing wine with herbaceous and black fruit aromas on the nose, and flavours of cherry, plum, blackberry, and raisins on the palate. It is a smooth, medium-bodied wine with medium tannins and medium acidity, and will make an ideal match for the complex blend of flavours associated with a traditional Christmas lunch, or a nut roast. Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£14.99)

Dessert wines: pure indulgence!

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pedro Ximénez (Spain)

This Pedro Ximénez (PX) from Sainsbury’s is a perennial favourite. 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 (£10)

Samos Vin Doux (Greece)

The lusciously sweet Samos Vin Doux is another treat for the palate. Golden in colour, and made from Muscat grapes, it has aromas of honeysuckle, apricots and peaches, and flavours of honey, stone fruits and butterscotch. A smooth, wonderfully balanced wine, this is a perfect match for dessert. Available from Waitrose (£9.99)

Merry Christmas!

Look out for more wine suggestions from around the world in 2025. Cheers!

A great value wine from Languedoc-Roussillon

Saint-Chinian, Domaine Raynier 2022 (Southern France)

This very pleasant Saint-Chinian wine from The Wine Society offers excellent value for money. The wine is produced from grapes grown in the vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France, at the southern end of the Massif Central and just 20 miles from the coast. This enables the grapes to benefit from long, hot summers and mild winters, resulting in a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine.

A blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes, this is a dry wine with medium acidity and medium tannins. Herby aromas of the garrigue together with plum and blackberries on the nose lead to a palate of vibrant black fruits, with liquorice and a hint of spice, and a lingering finish.

A wine to enjoy by itself or with food. It’s a very good match for lamb, or a casserole.

Available from The Wine Society (£7.50)

A delightful GSM blend from the Rhône Valley

Domaine Gramiller Rasteau 2020 (Southern Rhône)

This wine from Domaine Gramiller in the Southern Rhône is a blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (30%) and Mourvèdre (20%) grape varieties. It is a smooth and elegant full-bodied wine with medium tannins, medium acidity and a lengthy finish.

With aromas of plum, blackberry and the herbs of its native garrigue on the nose leading to flavours of plum, cassis and liquorice on the palate, this is a well-balanced wine which can be paired with a grilled or roasted meat dish, or with roasted vegetables.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£15.99)

A delightfully smooth and elegant organic red from Catalonia

Agricola Fuster ‘Dardell’ Organic Red 2020, Terra Alta (Catalonia)

This Dardell organic red wine is a delightful blend of old vine Garnacha Tinta (Grenache) and Syrah from the Terra Alta region of southern Catalonia. Produced from grapes grown on the rolling hills near Tarragona, this is a smooth, refined wine with medium acidity, medium tannins and a lengthy finish.

With aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant and cherry on the nose leading to flavours of ripe red and black fruits on the palate, and a hint of spice and smokiness on the finish.

This can be enjoyed by itself or with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or cheese.

Available from Majestic (£10.99, £8.99 Mix Six)

A very good value Vinho Regional Alentejano wine from south-eastern Portugal

Ramos Reserva 2019 Selected Blend, Vinho Regional Alentejano (Portugal)

This Vinho Regional Alentejano is a very good value wine from south-eastern Portugal. A blend of Trincadeira, Aragonês (Tempranillo) and Syrah grapes, it is a full-bodied, elegant wine with medium tannins and a lengthy finish.

Pronounced aromas of ripe black fruits and a delicate spiciness on the nose lead to intense blackberry, blackcurrant and plum flavours, with hints of vanilla and smokiness, on the palate.

Winner of the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Bronze Medal in 2021 for this 2019 vintage, this is a very well-balanced wine which can be enjoyed by itself or with a meat, pasta or roasted vegetable dish.

Available from Majestic (£8.99, £7.49 Mix Six)

Bursting with red and black fruits, this great value Saint-Chinian wine is perfect with roast beef

Les Hauts de Saint Martin, Saint-Chinian 2020 (Languedoc)

The vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France cover a vast area along the Mediterranean coast, stretching from Nîmes and Montpellier to the Spanish border. Here you can find a wide range of wine styles from a variety of grape varieties, producing predominantly red wines. This Saint-Chinian wine is from vineyards located at the southern end of the Massif Central and just 20 miles from the coast, enabling the grapes to benefit from long, hot summers and mild winters, and resulting in a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine.

A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes, this is a dry wine with medium acidity and medium tannins. Aromas of mint, plum and blackberries lead to a palate bursting with red and black fruits, vanilla and spice, and a lingering finish.

A quality wine offering very good value for money. A perfect wine for roast beef, lamb or steak.

Available from Co-op (£8.50)

Sunshine and spice from the Southern Rhône – Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nimes 2019

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras – well-known wines of the Southern Rhône region of France, characterised by vibrant, fruity wines with a touch of spice and earthiness. The terrain is known for its stony soils, covered in ‘galets’, the round pebbles shaped by the actions of the Rhône Valley glaciers and the River Rhône over millennia.

These stones are key to the successful ripening of the grapes – not only do they absorb the heat from the daytime sunshine and release it again during the night, they also protect the vines and the soil from the strong winds known as le mistral.

These conditions are perfect for the Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes that dominate the vineyards here. Grenache is the mainstay, bringing concentrated, spicy red flavours to the blends. Syrah adds extra colour and tannin and Mourvèdre brings intense black fruit flavours, and often gamey, meaty notes.

This Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nîmes 2019 is from the most southerly AOC of the Rhône valley, and one which is somewhat overshadowed by its more renowned regional neighbours. It has the characteristically robust, spicy flavours of red wines from this appellation.

A dry, medium-bodied wine with high alcohol and medium tannins, this is a well-balanced wine with a medium (+) finish. It has aromas of raspberry, blackberry and plum, with hints of spice and pepper on the nose, and blackberry, pepper and liquorice on the palate.

An excellent match for grilled meats, casseroles, and goat’s cheese.

Available from Waitrose. £8.99

Three red wines to help pass the longer nights

With the clocks going back tonight and the nights now drawing in, here is a selection of three red wines to help lighten the gloom a little …

Ramos Reserva 2017/18 Vinho Regional Alentejano (Portugal)

A recent new discovery and a really pleasant surprise. This wine from the Alentejo region of south-east Portugal is a well-crafted blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez and Syrah grapes. Pronounced aromas of blackberry and plum from the get-go, with hints of honey and spice, leading to intense black fruit flavours on the palate with hints of raisin and a touch of sweetness redolent of port. A full-bodied wine, with medium tannins and a long finish, this is a well-balanced and very good wine. Drink it by itself or with something savoury. Majestic Wine £8.99 (£7.49 Mix Six)

Crozes Hermitage ‘Les Blasons’ 2018 Cave de Tain

If you are looking for a comforting red wine to go with your hearty warming stew or meat roast, this bold Syrah from the northern Rhône will make an excellent match. With aromas of blackberry and plum, and an earthy minerality on the nose, the wine has a peppery spiciness which complements the rich fruitiness on the palate. Dry, with medium tannins and a long finish, this is a well-balanced, good quality wine. Majestic Wine £14.99 (£12.99 Mix Six)

Fleurie Beaujolais 2018 Georges Duboeuf

This is a Beaujolais from one of the region’s most experienced winemakers, Georges Duboeuf, and it is a very good wine. Pronounced aromas of raspberry and strawberry, together with hints of cream and blossom on the nose, and intense red fruit flavours on the palate. It is a light, refreshing medium-bodied wine, with medium acidity and a long finish; fine by itself or with roast chicken/duck. Majestic Wine £12.99 (£10.99 Mix Six)