8 Wines For Christmas
To solve all your Christmas quandaries...
If Christmas at yours always starts (or ends) with Champagne…
2012 "Sérénité" Extra Brut
Franck Pascal
Franck Pascal’s wines find the delicate balance between richness and finesse, with plenty of structure to accompany the fruits and bready aromas. This zero-dosage cuvée is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier, and is an elegant, earthy and matured expression of his terroir in the Vallée de la Marne.
A Champagne for real connoisseurs and the perfect way to start (or end) any holiday celebration.
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The ideal match for a traditional turkey roast…
2020 Côte de Beaune “Les Pierres Blanches”
Emmanuel Giboulot
A Burgundian Chardonnay with an intense gold colour and an orchard of citrus fruits on the palate.
A touch of hazelnut and herbs alongside the appellation’s signature minerality and acidity makes for a brilliant pairing with your holiday bird and all the trimmings. Santé!
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For the Boxing Day seafood feast…
2020 Muscadet "Gaia"
Domaine de Bellevue
The grapes for this Melon de Bourgogne from Loire legend Jérôme Bretaudeau are grown not far from the ocean, giving this wine salty, citrus and mineral notes that are just the match for seafood.
If smoked salmon, langoustines or oysters are on the menu, this old-vine Muscadet will elevate them all to perfection.
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The perfect affordable gift...
2018 Colline Lucchesi “Palistorti”
Tenuta di Valgiano
The Sangiovese, Syrah and Merlot grapes for this wine were planted by Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparte when she was ruling the town of Lucca in 1804. The name Palistorti means ‘crooked posts’– which references the nickname of this parcel, which has soils that are so rocky it is impossible to plant a vine post straight into them! The winemakers were undeterred and thus vineyard is filled with contorted posts.
If those details doesn’t make for a memorable gift, the intense red fruit flavours and savoury, rustic finish of this elegant wine will.
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A special gift for someone special…
2013 Cahors “La Marguerite”
Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve
One of our favourite reds from Southern France, and a rare, aged Cahors. Pre-phylloxera Malbec vines give this wine intense black fruit, liquorice and earthy notes that make a super match to a hearty winter steak. The long finish will likely be remembered as much as this choice of gift.
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Nothing says party like a magnum…
2022 Weinland "Theodora"
Gut Oggau
The wines from Gut Oggau have become legendary for both their exceptionally fine flavours and the unique stories and portraits behind each member of the ‘family tree’. This is an elegantly aromatic blend of Grüner Veltliner and Welschriesling that is serious, complex and intellectual with freshness, depth and body. The domaine describes Theodora as, “A pert but likeable young lady, who takes everyone's heart by storm with her cheerful and animate manner.” Sounds like the perfect party guest to us!
2022 IGP Côtes Catalanes "Che Chauvio"
Les Enfants Sauvages
This Cinsault and Syrah blend is bursting with vibrant red fruits and dried garrique herbs. It is approachable and easy drinking, pairs well with a variety of foods and has finish that leaves you wanting more! Fortunately a magnum (or two) should satisfy everyone.
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Two real crowd pleasers…
2020 Rías Baixas "Cies"
Bodegas y Viñedos Rodrigo Méndez
This Albariño perfectly combines maturity and freshness for an infinitely pleasing wine that always disappears quickly. It is intense, mineral and vibrant and works well alone as an aperitif or with savoury holiday nibbles.
2020 VDF "Amalgamay"
Athénaïs de Béru
An unusual blend of Gamay from Beaujolais and Aligoté from Yvonne. The Aligoté brings a lovely bright freshness to the delicious red fruits of the Gamay. What a fusion! This is a bit of a dangerous wine – far too easy to drink and universally adored. So might be best to order a few bottles…
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For the impossible-to-please wine enthusiast...
2017 Collection "Général de la Révolution"
Domaine Abbatucci
A delightful blend of a handful of local grapes grown on the island of Corsica. The vineyards are on granite slopes 100 metres above the sea, and surrounded by shrubs and olive trees. The candied citrus and yellow plum notes are layered with herbs, wild flowers and a touch of sea spray. Abbatucci has become a local hero for his extraordinary wines, and these sough-after bottles are a guaranteed not to be regifted!
2017 Faugères "Valinière"
Leon Barral
Succulent red and black fruit, layers of spices, and hints of leather make this wine somehow simultaneously rustic and elegant. Something about this wine calls out for being consumed next to a roaring fire, surrounded by fine people. Didier Barral is known as one of the winemakers responsible for the fine wine renaissance in the Languedoc, and this bottle will be a delight for a wine lover who seeks the exceptional from atypical places.
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Ok, ok, that’s actually 11 wines. We couldn’t help ourselves!
Words by Allison Burton-Parker