Under £10
STAR BUY - Truly Irresistible Casablanca Pinot Noir 2015
We all love a good pinot bargain and here it is. I wasn’t expecting much when I saw the price, but compared to other cheap pinot noirs this one, from Chile, really stood out. It has a sweet ripeness to it, but nothing too jammy; raspberry and cherry fruits with a lovely lushness and enough weight to match with the turkey. Very good value.
£7.99, Co-op
Willunga 100 Grenache 2013
A ripe Rhône lookalike from Down Under, grenache grows rather well south of Adelaide in the undulating hills of McLaren Vale, giving us the lushest most succulent version of this grape. From 50 year old vines, Willunga’s oaked grenache has good depth with raspberry fruits, spicy and herby notes.
£9.89-£11.99, Cornelius Wines; Ellies Cellar; Kirkness & Gorie; Luvians; Markinch Wine Gallery; Peckhams; St Andrews Wine; The Beerhive; Wine Raks
STAR BUY - Extra Special El Meson Gran Reserva Rioja 2005
For those who enjoy a smooth, gamey red with their turkey, this is the best value Gran Reserva Rioja on the market. With a mature evolved bouquet, flavours of vanilla and fruit beautifully integrated, it’s velvet smooth and long.
£9, reduced from £9.98, until 21 January, Asda
The Society’s Exhibition Mendoza Malbec 2013
This is one of the best value malbecs I have tasted. It’s a superb bargain made by leading Argentine winery Catena exclusively for The Wine Society. With deep damson and liquorice notes plus fleshy succulent fruits, it’s deep, velvet smooth and has a long finish. Serve with roast beef.
£9.95, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
Under £15
Morellino Di Scansano Ventoso 2013 Poggio Argentiera
It is hard to find a decent chianti at this price (unless you try quaffable Lidl’s Fortezza dei Colli at £6.99) – so go for this bargain ripe, savoury sangiovese instead. Delicious with cold turkey and cranberry sauce.
£11.50, Oddbins
Brunello Di Montalcino 2009
A big, mature, powerful red, this smells of game, truffles and stewed fruits with black cherry fruits. There’s vanilla flavour, it’s velvet smooth and there’s a big warm kick to the finish – bring out the beef.
£14.99, Lidl
Under £30
STAR BUY - Enselberg Spatburgunder 2011 Weingut Karl H Johner
Spatburgunder is the German name for pinot noir. This was a clear winner in our tasting with its sweet, succulent ripe fruits, beautifully balanced palate and velvet soft smooth tannins. Try it with roast duck or goose.
£19.99, Waitrose
Savigny Les Beaune Premier Cru Dominode 2012 Domaine Serrigny
A very charming red burgundy with a lovely silkiness and long finish. Its softness makes it suitable for serving with vegetarian food.
£26, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
Chateau Ramage La Batisse 2009
This Haut Medoc Cru Bourgeois is drinking beautifully right now from the ripe succulent 2009 vintage. Merlot’s dominance gives it a lushness and approachability. A cracking buy at under £16 with roast beef.
£15.99 each for 6 or £26, Laithwaites, www.laithwaites.co.uk
Langhe Nebbiolo 2013 G D Vajra
A gentle, fruity introduction to the fiercesome nebbiolo grape with a tarry aroma and a lushness of fruit. It’s succulent and smooth with a typically grippy finish – a good match for lamb or guinea fowl.
£22.99, Valvona & Crolla; Drinkmonger, Edinburgh/Pitlochry; Fine Wine Co; Vino Wines, Edinburgh
Lacoste Borie Pauillac 2010
For those who like a classic claret for Christmas, this has a cigarbox cedary nose, rich powerful cassis fruits and a lovely length. A classic for roast lamb or beef.
£24, Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com
Dog Point Pinot Noir 2012
This is one of Marlborough’s best pinots made by the charming Sutherland and Healey families of Dog Point. According to Ivan Sutherland, the richness of fruit comes from clay soils. He captures the bright cherry red fruit and hallmark spice notes by focusing on low yield fruit and careful pressing to get subtlety and finesse. Delicious with roast duck or turkey.
£27.50-£30, Harvey Nichols; Berry Bros & Rudd; Majestic
Wine; Luvians; WoodWinters
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