Xmas Wine List
Posted by: Don Atkinson on 19 November 2005
Xmas Wine List
Its that time of year again, only five weeks away.
Well, this year we are having beef for Xmas Day, so I'll be getting in a couple of bottles of Berry Bros & Rudd's own Burgundy and a couple of House Red, which at about £5 a bottle are a pleasant taste and won't break the bank when the kids quaff it down by the tankard....
I've just opened the last of a few bottles of excellent Chateuneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards from Perrin & Fils 2001, which at £19 a bottle is a bit steep for general use over Xmas, but is what I shall buy for myself this year unless someone has a better recommendation.
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 19 November 2005 by Martin D
Avery's in Bristol recommended a Penfolds bin 389 cabernet shiraz - i'm no expert but they said it was great value at about £14 - hope so, but i'm interested to try it as i normally have only gone up to about a tenner. Maybe its diminishing returns.
All the best
Martin
Posted on: 19 November 2005 by Huwge
Don,
the problem is that unless you are either very lucky (a good wine merchant) or disciplined (can avoid drinking wine as soon as you buy it) then you tend not to experience wine at its best. Since living in Germany, I have grown used to having a basement room. As I am an idle bugger, if the wine makes it to the cellar it has a good chance of remaining undisturbed for a while.
As a consequence, we will be enjoying a Ridge Zinfandel from 1995 on Christmas Day and a 1987 Chateau Meyney Saint-Estèphe on Boxing Day. Both in younger versions come in at the same price point and are definitely worth the wait.
Alternatively, a 2001 Chateau du Glana Saint-Julien is eminently quaffable. For something a little more robust is a Muga Prado Enea, no younger than 1987. Not sure how much the Muga is as I know a member of the family, but from memory it is around the 20 quid mark - but I might be wrong.
Happy drinking
Huw
Posted on: 19 November 2005 by Merto
quote:
Originally posted by Don Atkinson:
Xmas Wine List
I've just opened the last of a few bottles of excellent Chateuneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards from Perrin & Fils 2001, which at £19 a bottle is a bit steep for general use over Xmas, but is what I shall buy for myself this year unless someone has a better recommendation.
Cheers
Don
If you like Chatuau Neuf but dont want to spend 20 quid and dont want the hit and miss quality of cheaper versions, check out COOP for thiers at around a tenner a bottle. Not the most memorable but much better than some I have tried at more than double the price.
For something a little different though excellent, try a bottle or two of Chateau Mussar from Lebanon (no, not New Jersey!). Bordeaux grape varieties will go really well with the strong Xmas dinner flavors.
