Wine for Christmas

(by susie & peter)

So here it is! Our annual Christmas wine listing. In all its glittery, hand-knitted glory.

As ever, the list features some of the most exciting wines we’ve tasted in recent months. And all wines are selected with a keen eye on great value. (OK, almost all – you’re allowed to splurge at Christmas too.)

There’s everything from bargain bubbles to sensational sweeties, with prices starting from just north of £4 (the Sainsbury’s Rioja, when you take off the 25% – see below) all the way up to a red at £55 and a white at £65.

So, for those of you who have been asking – tuck in! We intentionally feature a broad range of styles as well as retailers and prices so hopefully, without going crazy, there are things for everyone in there. We might also throw in a few more over the next weeks in response to specific requests or if we find any other lovely wines.

On the subject of discounts, it’s likely that the major retailers will run sporadic generalised offers in the run-up to Christmas. We’ll update these details on a rolling basis here. Please note that the ‘25%-off’ generic offers apply in addition to existing discounts, so you’ll need to factor these into the prices below, which do not reflect these extra reductions. Please also pay close attentions to the dates below – some offers don’t start just yet, for example, or some end fairly soon. In the meantime, the current generic discounts include:

Tesco have 20% off Finest wines when you buy four or more bottles of any Finest wines in store, from 11.12.13 to 17.12.13 (inclusive), this on top of existing discounts. The minimum order to qualify for the 20% discount online is two cases.

If you’re a fan of good value fizz or Bordeaux, you might want to check out Susie and my recent pieces in Decanter magazine:

Please do also bear in mind that wines can sell out pretty quickly at this time of year so, while we will try to keep this list as current as possible, some things may go before you get there or prices might change. It might be worth checking or even ordering in advance or online first to secure stock and the best prices. And please get in touch if you’d like to give us any info that will help keep the list up-to-date.

Enjoy!

EASY-DRINKING FIZZ

Taste the Difference Prosecco Conegliano MAGNUM (£13.99 down from £18.99, Sainsbury’s, 27.11.13 to 1.1.14)
Finest Bisol Prosecco (£7.99 down from £9.99, Tesco from 4.12.13 to 4.2.14)
Drusian Extra Dry Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore NV (£12.50, Stone Vine & Sun)
Domaine Laurens Cremant de Limoux 2011 (£13.95, Roberson)
Klein Constantia Cap Classique Brut 2009 (£15 Cape Wine & Food, Goedhuis, SA Wines Online, Swig)

GROWN-UP BUBBLES

Louis Chaurey Champagne Brut NV (£16 down from £32 from 18.11.13 to 25.12.13, M&S)
Patrick Piuze Crement de Bourgogne Non Dosé NV (£17.95, Caviste)
Roederer Estate Quartet NV (£20, Adnam’s, Quaff, Majestic, Oddbins, Planet of the Grapes, Portland Wine Co, Selfridge’s, The Wine Society)
Nyetimber 2004 (from £23.99, Majestic)
Wyfold Vineyard Brut 2010 (£24.99, Laithwaite’s)

CRISP WHITES

A fistful of Schist Reserve Chenin Blanc 2013 (£5.95, Wine Society)
The Exquisite Collection Albariño Rias Baixas 2011 (£5.99, Aldi)
Domaine Balland-Chapuis Coteaux du Giennois (£7.99 down from £9.99, Waitrose from 4.12.13 to 2.1.14)
Picpoul de Pinet Prestige Domaine Cabrol 2012 (£7.99 down from £8.99, Majestic from 15.11.13 to 3.2.14)
Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis 2011 (£10.59 down from £15.99, Waitrose from 4.12.13 to 2.1.14)
The Society’s Exhibition Albariño 2012 (£12.95, Wine Society)
Carmel Road Riesling 2009, Monterey County (£14.95, Corney & Barrow)

AROMATIC WHITES

Feteasca Regala ‘Castel Huniade’ Cramele Recas, Romania 2012 (£5.99, Adnam’s)
Viñas del Vero Gewurztraminer 2012 (£8.49 down from £9.99, Majestic, from 15.11.13 to 3.2.14)
Engelgarten 2010 Domaine Marcel Deiss (£25.50, Lea & Sandeman)

RICHER WHITES

Carmen Reserva Chardonnay 2012 (£5 down from £7.99, Tesco from 4.12 to 25.12.13)
Secano Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (£5.99 down from £8.99, M&S from 2.12.13 to 1.1.14)
Bellingham Bernard Series Roussanne (£7.99 down from £10.99, 27.11.13 to 7.1.14)
Bourgogne Blanc Cuvée Spéciale Maison Roche de Bellène 2011 (£10.95, Wine Society)
Baron de Ley Tres Viñas Rioja Blanco Reserva 2008 (£12.99, Tesco)
Organic Chablis Brocard 2010 (£14.99, M&S)
Clos Floridene Blanc Graves 2011 (£18, Wine Society)
Norman Hardie Chardonnay 2011 unfiltered (£19.50, Wine Society)
Sandhi Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2011 (from £22.91, Roberson)
Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc (£24.95, Wine Utopia)
Viña Tondonia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva 1991 (£65, Berry Bros & Rudd)

TANGY, JUICY REDS

Secano Estate Pinot Noir 2012 (£5.99 down from £8.99, M&S from 2.12.13 to 1.1.14)
Teroldego Rotaliano 2012, Cavit (£6.95, Wine Society)
Brancott Estate Pinot Noir (£6.99 down from £9.99, Tesco from 4.12 to 25.12.13)
Miguel Torres Reserve de Pueblo 2012 Pais (£7.50, Wine Society)
Ribeiro Santo Magnum Vinhos Dão 2010 (£7.95, Wine Society)
Domaine de la Cadenette Costières de Nîmes 2012 (red) (£7.99, Adnams)
Almuvedre Alicante 2012, Telmo Rodriguez (£8.95, Berry Bros & Rudd)
Château la Gravelle Bordeaux 2011 (£9.95, Caviste)
Tasmania Pinot Noir 2011 (£10.99, M&S)
Catherine Marshall Pinot Noir 2011, Elgin (£12.95, Wine Society)
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2011 (£17.99 down from £22.50, Majestic, 15.11.13 to 3.2.14)
Surveyor Thomson Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago (from £25.16, Wine Utopia)
Jamie Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2011 (£38.95, Roberson)

HEART-WARMING REDS

Taste the Difference Pic St Loup 2011 (£7.49 down from £9.99, Sainsbury’s from 27.11.13 to 1.1.14)
Concha y Toro Corte Ignacio Pirque Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (£7.95, Wine Society)
Amalaya de Colomé Malbec blend (£7.99 down from £10.99, Majestic, from 15.11.13 to 3.2.14)
Jordan Cabernet Merlot 2011 (£8.49 down from £9.99, Majestic from 15.11.13 to 3.2.14)
Taste the Difference Priorat (£8.99 down from £10.99, Sainsbury’s from 27.11.13 to 1.1.14)
Tim Adams Protegé Tempranillo 2009 (£9.99, Tesco)
Château Rouquette-sur-Mer, La Clape Rouge 2011 (£10.50, Wine Society)
Marananga Dam Old Vines Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2011 (£14.99, M&S)

REDS FOR THE TRADITIONALISTS

Winemaker’s Selection Rioja Reciente NV (£5.49, Sainsbury’s)
Wienert Carrascal 2008 (£7.95, Wine Society)
Le Grand Bateau Bordeaux 2011 (£7.99 down from £12.99, M&S)
Cave de Saint-Desirat St Joseph 2010 (£9.99 down from £13.49, Waitrose from 4.12.13 to 2.1.14)
Château La Grande Maye 2003 (£10.90, Justerini & Brooks)
Felsina Berardenga Chianti CLassico 2010 (£16, Wine Society)
Château de Chambert Malbec Cahors 2008 (from £16.99, Bennetts Fine Wines, Cooden Cellars, Harrogate Fine Wine Company, The Vine Shop, Leamington Wine Company, Shills of Station Street, Winearray, Pallant of Arundel, No2 Pound Street, Ake & Humphris, Carruthers & Kent, The Drinkmonger, Winedirect.co.uk)
Clarendelle 2007 Bordeaux (£19.99, Coe Vintners, Hedonism, Selfridge’s)
Tassinaia 2007 Castello del Terriccio (£21.95, Lea & Sandeman)
Castello di Volpaia Coltassala Toscano 2008 (£29.79, Adnam’s)
Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2011, Central Otago (£29.95, Tanner’s)
Passopisciaro 2008, Tenuta di Passopisciaro IGT ROsso di Sicilia (£29.95, Corney & Barrow)
Domaine de Trevallon VDP Bouches-du-Rhone 2003 (£54.95, Roberson)

AROMATIC LIGHT SWEET

La Spinetta Bricco Quaglia Moscato d’Asti 2012 (£14.50, Bentley’s, Hailsham Cellars, Handford Wines, Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Noel Young, Roberson, Selfridge’s, The Wine Treasury, Wood Winters

CREAMY LUSH SWEETS

Finest Dessert Semillon 2008 (£6.79, Tesco)
Château les Sablines Monbazillac 2011 (£8.99, Waitrose)

RAISINY & INTENSE SWEET

Croix Milhas Rivesaltes Ambré half (£4.99 down from £7.99, Tesco from 4.12 to 25.12.13)
Morrison’s Signature Pedro Ximenez NV (£5.99, Morrisons)
Antinori Santa Cristina Vin Santo 2008 (£11.99, Waitrose)
Blandy’s Alvada 5-year-old Rich Madeira (£13.33, Waitrose, Booths, Harrods)
Taylor’s LBV 2007 (£14.99, widely available eg Waitrose, Majestic, Sainsbury’s)