I'm Dreaming Of A Wine Christmas!
We're dreaming of a Wine Christmas with a host of excellent wines to enjoy at Christmas dinner, or for that special gift for wine lovers. We have New World excellence, Old World classics, and even magnum-sized bottles perfect to share with friends and family.
MAGNUMS
Our magnum bottles are a great way to ensure everyone enjoys a glass around the dinner table, and we've selected some of the best for Christmas. Bodegas Covila II Rioja uses classic Spanish Tempranillo grapes aged for 12 months in cask and 2 years in bottle before release. A modern wine showing intense ripe fruit aromas reminiscent of cherry liqueur, with delicate toasted, balsamic nuances, hints of leather and a warm, deep palate. Budureasca Premium uses the flagship east European grape Feteasca Neagra. Award-winning for its care of old vine grapes (30 yrs old) matured for up to 6 months in oak barrels to bring complex flavours of fruit and spice alongside smooth tannins and a velvety finish.
Chateau Roc De Segur Bordeaux classically blends Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc for soft aromas of red fruit and spice preceding a fruity, peppery and subtle wood palate. Easy drinking, versatile and fulfilling. One of our most popular sparkling wines, Philippe Herard Blanc de Blancs Brut uses the French Traditional Method, allowing the wine to age in bottle on its lees for up to 9 months. Aromas of toasted bread and pastry alongside delicate green fruit which flow on to the palate with brioche and subtle buttery creaminess.
CLARET
Bordeaux red wines gained the nickname "Claret" for a good reason. Their versatility, quality and reputation as the best wines precede them, with the classic blend usually including Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon balanced perfectly.
Chateau Haut Pezat Grand Cru is from renowned appellation Saint Emilion. This stunning wine is aged in 2 year old casks for excellent depth and concentration. Intense aromas of ripe plums, damsons and sweet spice precede a plummy, rich and velvety palate. Elegance defined. Vieux Chateau Brun Pomerol shows the exclusivity of this, the smallest of Bordeaux major appellations nestled next to St Emilion. This 2013 vintage is at its peak right now, showing fruity aromas of blackcurrant, raspberry jam, baked plum alongside forest notes, truffle, tobacco and leather. Beautifully soft and silky. Origine de Desmirail produce wine from Margaux, an area known for supple, perfumed wines focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. This 2015 vintage has intense aromas of spice and black cherries underlaid by delicate red berry fruits, subtle leather and tobacco. Pleasantly light and silky.
CHILE
Our Chilean range from Garage Wine Co. show the fantastic care that can be taken with wines in South America, with a result rivalling European classics. All their range use handpicked old vine grapes from carefully selected vineyards.
The Carignan hails from Itata Valley's Portezuelo Vineyard where vines are farmed by hand and horse with traditional methods. Aged in oak over two winters before bottling in used bottles for purity and concentration, it is a focused wine bringing violets, roses, jammy characters, exotic spices, black plum, black cherry, underbrush and earthy minerals. Bracing and mouthwatering. The Cabernet Franc hails from Maipo Valley's Pirque Vineyard and is aged in oak with minimal interference for absolute purity. The result is an intense, richly textured, spicy wine showing cherry, redcurrant, violet, and smoky mineral notes. The Cabernet Sauvignon hails from from Maule Valley's Renacido Vineyard, also aged over two winters with minimal interference. Aromas of blackcurrant, dark berry fruit, subtle summer herbs, tobacco and cracked black pepper precede a bright and intense, yet gentle palate full of fruit and spice.
MARLBOROUGH
New Zealand's Marlborough region became famed for its superb Sauvignon Blanc wines, and to this day there is no sign of this international adoration from wine lovers abating.
Cloudy Bay is one of the most famous of these wines using the best grapes from around the Wairau Valley. Its classic ripe, tropical aromatic character combines with delicate floral and herbal notes. Excellent fresh acidity with zingy lime and grapefruit make for elegant refreshment. Their Te Koko adds subtle oak for full body and nuances of smoky oak. Aromas of sweet herbs, nectarine and honeysuckle floral precede a complex, creamy palate of bright lemon sorbet and grapefruit pith balancing with savoury undertones and biscuit. A rounded, satisfying wine.
AMARONE
Italian Amarone wine is known for its embodiment of luxury, with premium sun-dried grapes added to the classic bland of Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella to produce its trademark intensity and subtle sweetness.
Castelforte shows excellent value for money without compromising quality. A complex bouquet of cinnamon, cherry jam and walnut complements flavours of ripe black cherry with notes of vanilla and coffee on the finish. A pure treat. San Cassiano takes it up a notch, with organically farmed grapes from vineyards in the Mezzane di Sotto hills, aged in French oak for 24 months with a further 12 months in bottle before release. Complex aromas of raisins, plums, prunes, dark chocolate, slight leather and the finest touch of oak precede a fresh, yet full palate of dried black cherry, blackberry extract, liquorice and ground pepper. The perfect balance of light and robust.
BURGUNDY PINOT NOIR
This French region brings out the best in Pinot Noir, a grape that is known to be difficult to cultivate to its maximum potential and one that can be enjoyed in its fruity youth, or develop beautifully with bottle ageing adding a smoky essence to the profile.
Harmand Geoffroy En Jouise 2014 is from the famed village of Gevrey-Chambertin, the largest in the Cotes D'Or. Grapes are sourced from parcels of old vines bringing intense expressions of fresh cherry alongside notes of cranberry and oak from long barrel maturation. Rich, silky and elegant, it is suitable for bottle ageing of up to 10 years. Lupe Cholet 2014 showcases the best of Nuits St Georges, an area known for powerful and complex Pinot Noir wines. Hand harvested grapes are gently pressed for nobility and elegance before French oak maturation for 15 to 20 months and regular stirring (bâtonné) to allow the lees to bring texture and roundness. No fining and only light filtration before bottling results in lots of forest floor and mushroom alongside classic red fruit. Suitable for further ageing up to 10 yrs.
RIOJA
A popular go-to wine for our customers, Spanish Rioja wines are loved for their balance of fruit, chocolate and spice from the Tempranillo grape, making them great for drinking on their own or with a variety of dishes. Wines are labelled according to age, with the oldest and most complex named Gran Reservas.
Finca Manzanos Gran Reserva is matured for 36 months in oak to achieve elegant aromas and intense flavours of dried fruit, liquorice, spices, cocoa and coffee. The palate is full, yet satisfyingly fruity with delicate, silky tannins. A powerful yet delicate wine. Perfume de Sonsierra takes as much care of the wine as it does with its exquisite bottle and gift box. Carefully selected grapes are aged for 16 months in French oak barrels before a minimum of 8 months ageing in the bottle. Complex aromas of liquorice, blackberry, blackcurrant, toffee, mocha and just a hint of menthol precede a juicy, powerful and exuberant palate with outstanding fruity notes.
BURGUNDY CHARDONNAY
The refrain of "anything but Chardonnay" still rears its ugly head due to the saturation of our supermarkets with over-oaked wines in 1990s. However, this grape is one that has retained its popularity within the highest echelons of French wine drinking, with Chablis (unoaked) and Meursault (oaked to prefection) being the go-to wines for any luxury lunching.
La Meuliere Chablis Premier Cru uses the best grapes from their 21 hectare estate, hand harvested and delicately vinified for an expressive bouquet of delicate floral and fruit aromas with a refined minerality. Firm yet elegant. Domaine Louis Michel Chablis Premier Cru Montmain has a pronounced, vibrant nose of citrus and floral aromas with delicate hints of brioche. Full of mineral flavours alongside zippy citrus and green apple character, this is a refined wine that is also available in half-size bottles. Their Grand Cru Chablis Grenouilles is the height of luxury, with aromatic notes of spring meadow flowers, stone fruit and kiwi contributing to a wonderfully intense, classically austere character. Packed with intensely detailed fruit right through to the long, steely finish, this is true grandeur.
Domaine Jean Michel Gaunoux Meursault ensures long, cool fermentation in barrel for a powerful, high in acidity wine. Aromas of citrus fruits and exotic spices fall on to the steely palate with great minerality, length and ageing potential. A real example of how oaking works. Their Premier Cru Meursault truly respects the terroir, using no chemicals in the vineyard and hand harvesting grapes sourced exclusively from Perrieres vineyard. Aged in French oak before bottling, this wine shows a generous toasted almond nose with overtones of honey and a luscious full palate with silky texture and a clean, mineral finish. The best of both worlds.
BAROLO
Barolo is an Italian wine (using the Nebbiolo grape) of fervent following, with wine lovers who prefer powerful wines almost bursting from the bottle willing to find the best. The timely tradition of decanting and allowing the wine to breathe before enjoying its profile are wholeheartedly how a Barolo should be treated.
Angelo Veglio is powerful yet relatively youthful, aged for 2 years in wood for a typical richness with elegant and complex earthy flavours and notes of violets. The mouth conjures up an array of red berries, raspberries, wild strawberries and cherries, with hints of cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, withered violets and roses. A world of taste within a bottle. Cascina Bongiovanni uses longer ageing to bring further density, balancing with a clarity and precision that leaves you stunned. Bursting with black cherries, menthol spices, flowers and subtle liquorice, it is perfect for sipping over a long, relaxing evening.
CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE
But of course, this list isn't complete without Chateauneuf du Pape. An appellation in the Rhone region, it is revered for its Grenache-based blends, bringing out the finest expression of this delicate grape.
Domaine Berthet-Rayne is a popular gift wine for our customers all year round for its very high quality yet good value for money. Rich with surges of powerful velvety dark fruit, balanced oak, lovely pepper, spice notes, subtle coffee and tannins that will soften and fade as the wine ages. This is a classically complex and elegant wine. Domaine de la Janasse uses pure hand harvested Grenache from the low yield Chaupin vineyard with vines dating back to 1912. Matured for 12 months in oak, these concentrated grapes result in an extremely juicy wine with a sappy core of cassis, raspberry and currant confiture backed by notes of bittersweet cocoa, fruitcake, mulled spice, currants, chocolate and liquorice. Rich, smooth and satisfying. Their Blanc offering is a Grenache Blanc-based blend, using old vine grapes aged in new barriques with continuous lees stirring over 14 months. This brings silky texture with a ripe, expressive nose of dried tropical fruits and citrus whilst flavours of peach, green almond, melon and honeysuckle fight for the palate on a rich, buttered brioche background. Truly superb.