Victoria Moore's top ten bottles for Christmas
Whether it’s to sip with a quiet meal or raise a toast at a gathering, here’s my pick of wines and fizz to enjoy over the holidays...
To enjoy at home
Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut champagne NV (£23, Tesco)
This creamy, chardonnay-rich champagne is great value and a much better buy than many of the well-known brands. The vintage version is even better – more toasty and precise, and only a few pounds more – but both are excellent.
Aldi Specially Selected douro 2019 (£7.99, Aldi)
Red wines from the Douro have been called ‘poor man’s claret’, which is unfair as they have a personality all their own – wild, darker and fruitier than a similarly priced claret, though still structured.
Morrisons The Best falanghina 2021 (£7.50, Morrisons)
Falanghina is an Italian grape that grows in the area around Naples and produces refreshing white wines with the tang and subtle festive fragrance of orange blossom.
Asti spumante 2020 (£5.29, Lidl)
Such a joy, this is frothily effervescent, light, sweet (but not too sweet) and slightly floral, like fresh grapes and honeysuckle. Refreshing with rich foods, and great with Christmas pud.
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Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim vintage port (£35, Tanners)
It’s worth splashing out on good port, because it goes a long way. This single-estate vintage port is lovely – intense and rich, with an edge of freshness.
To take to a party
Bride Valley Eosé Bella 2018 (£34.95, The Whisky Exchange)
This pink sparkling wine has pleasingly upfront red berry flavours – think crunchy redcurrants, late-summer raspberries and wild strawberries.
Domaine Pouderoux Maury grande réserve NV (£11.49/50cl, Waitrose & Partners)
A fortified red wine made in the south of France from Grenache, this sings of bramble jelly, sloes, walnuts and prunes with a hint of cocoa. It goes well with chocolate and chocolatey desserts.
Blind River sauvignon blanc 2021 (£10.99, Waitrose & Partners)
For some, New Zealand Marlborough sauvignon blanc is the ultimate white wine: luminously fragrant and refreshing. This is a particularly good example that both looks and tastes the part, all passion fruit, lemon sorbet and lemongrass.
d’Arenberg The Shepherd’s Clock GSM 2019 (£10, M&S)
A sumptuous, thickly textured red that offers swags of berry flavours with white pepper and pumice. GSM stands for grenache, syrah and mourvèdre – three grapes found in Rhône blends too, so you can buy this for a classicist or someone who prefers a more punchy red.
La Raison du Château des Fougères 2012 (£16, Tesco)
A treat for anyone who loves claret with some maturity, this 70/30 merlot-cabernet sauvignon blend is perfumed, like mushrooms and truffles with notes of cedar and prune. Lovely with chicken forestière or beef with chestnuts.
