Helen McGinn I’m sure there’ll be a year when all the presents are wrapped and the food prepped ahead of time. Just not this one. But before we part company for a bit, here are some of the wines featured in a list I put together for The Pool, a brilliant website stuffed with great articles and the best shopping edits around. There’s something for every eventuality in there: wines to go with turkey, last minute gifts and the best value sherry around. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas. See you on the other side.
Fillipo Sansovino Prosecco NV
Price: £6.00 - Buy From Asda
Beautifully packaged Prosecco at a bargain price. Soft and sherbet-y, add a dash of sloe gin for oomph and a pinch of edible glitter to the glass for the hell of it.
Cremant de Jura
Price: £7.29 - Buy From Aldi
Give this smart bottle-fermented Chardonnay from France’s hot-right-now (but actually relatively cool in climate terms) Jura region as a present and they’ll never guess what an outrageous bargain it was.
Louis Chaurey Champagne Brut NV
Price: £16.00 - Buy From M&S
The shelves are awash with champagne offers at this time of year. But with so many (often previously unseen) labels to choose from, you have to choose wisely. This one’s a cracker – no joke.
Pouilly Vinzelles
Price: £14.99 - Buy From Waitrose
If Chablis is the cool, crisp take on Chardonnay then the Maconnais, where this one’s from, is just a little more relaxed in style. With a hint of flint and lots of waxy lemon flavours, it’s definitely gift-worthy.
Yalumba Y Series Viognier
Price: £10.00 - Buy From Sainsbury's
A plate of turkey and everything else that comes with it needs something equally weighty, wine-wise. Step forward this bright peachy white from Australia’s Barossa Valley. Heavenly.
Beaujolais Villages
Price: £5.99 - Buy From Lidl
Just the best kind of party red: fresh, fruity and juicy as good gossip. Also, because Beaujolais is still technically unfashionable, value for money is amazing. Just don’t tell everyone.
Mount Rozier Merlot
Price: £9.49 - Buy From Waitrose
From South Africa’s Stellenbosch region, this is, basically, a hug in a glass. Warm and friendly with bramble fruits and a little smokiness, it looks fabulous too. Great present material.
Dry Old Amontillado Sherry
Price: £7.49 - Buy From M&S
Great sherry is for life, not just for Christmas. But there’s something undeniably festive about sipping on a small glass, especially if you’re still wrapping presents late at night on Christmas Eve. Made by Lustau (lust-worthy producer), it smells like Christmas in a glass.
Loving the ‘hug in a glass’ Merlot description!
Thank you! Glad you like, wine even better!
Peter Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Just love this wine that you featured two weeks ago. Have stocked up!!
Such a brilliant wine – and from an amazing producer. Fill those boots!