Picking that perfect bottle of wine to accompany your festive feasts and nibbles can be a trial, with so many different options to choose from. We’ve put together a selection of Christmas wines that will suit a variety of foods and budgets to keep your glass topped up this festive season.
Les Jamelles Viognier, Pays d’Oc 2023
£9
Made using 100% viognier grapes from several different terroirs, this wine undergoes mostly malolactic fermentation, which enriches the aromatic complexity of the blended wine. It is aged on fine lees for at least 6 months before the pale golden liquid is blended and bottled.
On the nose: Plenty of fruit greets you, with a hint of florals in there, too.
On the palate: Apricots, ripe peaches and a touch of pear create a rounded, fruity mouthful. It is both syrupy and rich, with a nice touch of acidity.
The finish: A long, fresh finish with a honeyed sweetness.
Perfect pairing: A turkey curry for Boxing Day or a fruit tart dessert.
Ormarine Cuvée Estela Picpoul de Pinet 2023
£15
Ormarine is the leading producer of Picpoul
wines in the appellation in southern France, producing more than 40% of the region’s wines. This Cuvée Estela Picpoul de Pinet uses 100% Piquepoul blanc grapes. The grapes are harvested at night to ensure they retain the freshness and aroma before being fermented at a low temperature. The wine is aged on fine lees for several months to bring aromatic complexity to the wine and enhance the long finish.
On the nose: Zesty and vibrant, with floral notes and white fruits giving an enticing aroma.
On the palate: Well-balanced fruits and citrus are dry and crisp with a good hit of acidity.
To finish: The sharp crispness leads to a long, mineral finish with a hint of salinity that makes the mouth water delightfully.
Perfect pairing: Canapés at a gathering, a fish course, white meats, or cheese.
Moillard-Thomas Chablis Premier Cru 2022
£30
The Moillard name has been associated with Burgundy wines since the 19th century. Moillard-Thomas work with a network of growers in the region, bringing together the finest grapes from premier cru vineyards. This 2022 Chablis is blended using wines fermented using different methods — part in barrels and part in stainless steel vats. Having aged this way for 12 months with the lees being regularly stirred to add complexity to the liquid, they are blended and bottled.
On the nose: Plenty of pale fruits and floral notes, with a sweet honeyed hit there too.
On the palate: Creamy and light with hints of citrus and delicate fruits coming through with a touch of acidity. It’s dry but could lack a little sharpness for some.
To finish: A well-balanced, elegant wine with a long, slightly crisp finish.
Perfect pairing: The cheese plate or cold cuts of meat.
Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon Chardonnay Village 2022
£22
The 25-hectare Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon estate, which produces this pale gold Chardonnay, grows organic chardonnay and pinot noir grapes in the Haute Vallée de l’Aude region of Languedoc, France. The grapes are handpicked once they reach the optimum level of ripeness before being processed and fermented.
75% of the cuvée is aged on the lees for eight months, and 20% of the final blend undergoes malolactic fermentation, demonstrated in the finished wine through a complexity coupled with a textured mouthfeel.
On the nose: Intense and complex, bursting with citrus, peaches and a hint of tropical banana and toasted brioche.
On the palate: Those tropical fruit notes are met with a little nutty woodiness, giving a well-rounded, fresh flavour profile.
The finish: Remarkably long and vivacious.
Perfect pairing: Roast turkey, a pasta dish or cold meat leftovers.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay 2022
£16
Kendall-Jackson has been producing wine from its California vineyard since the early 1980s. This 2022 vintage displays a rich, balanced character which is packed full of vibrant flavours and tropical notes that will complement your Christmas table well.
On the nose: Tropical aromas abound, with sweet mango and pineapple blending seamlessly with crisp apples and pears for the best of both fruity worlds.
On the palate: Toasted oak cuts the sweetness, with citrus and vanilla coming through. It’s a buttery, smooth and rich mouthful.
The finish: Mineral notes lead to a long, elegant finish.
Perfect pairing: Poultry, cheeses and fish dishes.
Calvet Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2023
£10
The Sauvignon Blanc from Maison Calvet in Bordeaux is a well-balanced wine which will please most palates and wallets this Christmas season. It offers great value for those looking for something flavourful and fresh at an affordable price.
On the nose: Crisp apple and zesty freshness greet you once the bottle is opened, with touches of floral notes following on.
On the palate: Citrus and apples are joined by a herbal note and a touch of gentle orange to round out the flavour.
The finish: A long, fruit-filled finish with a nice bite of acidity that balances well.
Perfect pairing: Everything from a roast dinner to party nibbles.
Calvet Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
£8
This blend uses Merlot and Cabernet from Bordeaux to create a dark, ruby-coloured, full-bodied wine full of dark fruits and woody spice. It could be a little tannin-heavy for some, but try it with food, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
On the nose: Dark fruits mingle with smoky spices and cloves.
On the palate: Cherries, plums, and blackcurrants burst onto the tongue before smokey caramel and spices come through, giving depth and complexity.
The finish: Long and robust with lingering spices.
Perfect pairing: Roasted or braised red meats.
Il Fauno di Arcanum 2017
£34
This Bordeaux-style blend from Tuscany is made primarily from merlot and cabernet franc grapes grown in the lower southwestern section of the Tenuta di Arceno estate, where the warmer temperatures mean they ripen earlier. After an early harvest, the grapes are picked and fermented before being aged for 10-12 months in French oak. The result is an exceptional, structured wine.
On the nose: Ripe black cherries bring big aromas, with vanilla and a touch of earthiness.
On the palate: Strawberries abound here, with hints of chocolate and candied sweetness.
The finish: Long and lively, with richness from liquorice and white pepper.
Perfect pairing: Something spicy or a cheese plate.
Les Jamelles Syrah 2022
£10
This red offering from the Languedoc region has a deep colour, and with a portion of the cuvée aged in oak barrels, there is a nice hit of spices from the wood. It is elegant and easy to drink with soft tannins that don’t overwhelm the flavour.
On the nose: Lots of wild red fruits, such as raspberries and redcurrants, with a floral hint.
On the palate: The fruits continue, with notes of vanilla and spices. There is a fresh minerality, too, with a vague hint of cooling mint.
The finish: A long and complex finish, which is smooth with notes of liquorice.
Perfect pairing: Roasted red meats or Spanish tapas-style nibbles.
Yangarra Old Vine Grenache 2021
£33
Yangarra is a single-vineyard estate in Blewitt Springs, part of South Australia’s McLaren Vale wine region. The vineyard is at a high altitude, which, with its Mediterranean climate, creates the ideal conditions for growing French grape varieties.
Yangarra Old Vine Grenache is made using grapes from unirrigated grenache noir vines planted in 1946 in a deep sandy dune called The Beach. The result is an elegant, complex, refined wine with a delightful perfume.
On the nose: Dark cherries and berries and a hint of cloves and warm spices mingle with a touch of floral lavender.
On the palate: Earthy, leather flavours abound, combining with the tart red fruits and plums that give a rounded, elegant mouthful. The spices sit in the background, adding complexity.
The finish: A long, lingering, intense finish.
Perfect pairing: Red meats or cheeses.
