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Only seven shopping days to
Christmas so you really do have to get out there and grab something to wash down
that turkey. Never fear, help is at hand. Martin will be talking to Sean
Moncrieff about wines for Christmas on News talk 106 FM today (17/12/04) at
about 3.40pm.
It’s always a good idea to
have plenty of fizz on hand and if you have Ferrari tastes but Hyundai style
income don’t worry. I love Bollinger and Charles
Heidseick if someone else is paying but you could do much worse than
the Wine Republic 2005 Sparkling Wine and Champagnes of the year. Come on
down Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Pinot Noir –
Chardonnay NV, widely available at about €13-14
and Pierre Gimmonet Blanc de Blancs 1er cru NV
at Oddbins, €25-26. Yes that’s right, Jacob’s Creek, now
don’t be snobby!
Smoked salmon is always
popular as a starter and I find the best
wine for it is oaked
white Rioja. Marks & Spencer do a good and very affordable
version or look out for the more classic and expensive Marques
de Murrieta. Trouble is I rarely want to drink them at any other
time. My own dessert island, all-purpose white is Chablis and preferably a 1er
cru. There are many to choose from and fortunately a few that come highly
recommended are in the supermarkets. M & S Chablis
2002, €12.99, is as reliable as an atomic clock and they now also
have the excellent Domaine Pierre de Prehy Chablis
2002, €15.99, a big step up in quality. Maestro Jean Marc Brocard
also makes the excellent ‘Brocard Selection’
Chablis 1er Cru 2002 at Dunnes for €17.99.
Sauvignon fans should get
their hands on the Wine Republic 2003 white of the year over €10, Hunter
Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2003 from Marlborough , NZ, widely available at €18-19.
Turkey and trimmings works
best with soft, fruity rich reds. Shiraz is a good choice here and something
from the Mitchelton range at Dunnes would do
the job nicely as would anything from d’Arenberg at
Oddbins and independents. Alternately
the gamay based wines of Beaujolais work well. The hot summer of
2003 was better than 2002 and M & S Cote de
Brouilly 2003, €13.95 is benchmark stuff. Pinot Noir is the other
serious contender for turkey (or indeed duck). Two that have recently impressed
me were Home Ranch Somoma Pinot Noir 2003, €14.50 at
M & S and Fonty’s Pool Pinot Noir 2001, Western Australia, €15.99 from
O’Briens, which is the Wine Republic 2005 red of the year over
€10.
Claret fans should stick to
Bordeaux from 2000 or 1998 unless they know the wine is good or unless, of
course, they have something older and wonderful tucked away in their cellar.
Don’t forget the dessert
wine this year. Wine Republic 2005 dessert wine of the year is Villard
Botrytis Sauvignon Blanc 2001, about €10 per ½ bottle or try
something a little different – a tokay such as Ch.
Dereszla 200 Tokaji Furmint Late Harvest, €15.50 per 50cl from Mitchells.
If you need something cheap
for volume party pouring please ignore Lidl and Aldi and head instead to Dunnes
or M & S or Tesco.
Wine Republic’s value
wines of the year are both from Dunnes. Inycon
Fiano 2003, €7.99 is an amazing Sicilian white for the money and Santa
Isobel Reserve Merlot 2002 over delivers for €9.79. Tesco have
some excellent ‘half price’ deals on at the moment on three Australian
wines, Howcroft Limestone Coast Shiraz €5.99, Deman
Chadonnay (Hunter I think) €5.99 and Normans
Margaret River Cabernet at €6.99 while two from M & S that’s
I’d happily drink are Rock Ridge Chardonnay
from S. Africa at €6.99 and Safra Nova 2003,
€7.55 a fruity Portuguese number.
For
a full list of the Wine Republic 2005 wines of the year click
here
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