The Holiday season creates numerous opportunities for celebrations with family, friends and work colleagues. Usually around a table, most of these gatherings include great food and lovely wines.
To help you find some tasty wines at affordable prices I’ve prepared a list of great deals for your Holiday celebrations. A Champagne, a sparkler, some whites and reds that should satisfy the most demanding palates. Here are some great deals to be purchased during your last few days of Christmas shopping :
Two effervescent wines for starters and hors-d’oeuvres :
A sparkler :
Brut Prestige Crémant de Bourgogne, Moingeon France 20,60 $ 871277
This lovely sparkler is made according to the traditionnal Champagne method with Chardonnay (80 %) and Pinot Noir (20%). Evolved nose displaying scents of apple and toasted bread. Creamy froth from tiny bubbles. Refreshing, well balanced and perfectly priced. Score : 87/100
A Champagne :
Champagne Drappier Brut Nature, France, 47,75 $ 11127234
Not an easy task to find a good quality well priced Champagne ! Made exclusively from Pinot Noir with no addition of sweet liqueur (d’expédition), this lovely cuvée offers lively acidity and a lingering hint of bitterness. A refined and refreshing Champagne that should satisfy the high quality sparkling wine afficionado. Score : 89/100
Two excellent whites for fish and seafood dishes :
Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes 2013 Bourgogne, Nicolas Potel, France 23,80 $ 11890926
This beautiful old vines Chardonnay exibits lovely fruity aromas (apple and pear) with charming floral hints. This excellent well balanced white Burgundy offers medium weight and lasting satisfying flavors at a very affordable price. Score : 89/100
Vina Gravonia 2005 Rioja, R. Lopez de Heredia, Spain 28,15$ $ 11667927
Lopez de Heredia is reputed for its traditionnally styled wines that are commercialized only when ready for drinking. A very Riesling type nose with petroleum and mineral scents. Quite flavourful and lenghty, balanced and fresh white with ripe and evolved flavours. Excellent ! Score : 90/100
An amazing Bordeaux blend for red meats :
Château Trolliet Lafite 2010 Côtes de Bergerac, France 21,40 $ 12233805
Don’t miss this amazing bargain! A superb Bordeaux blend : Merlot (60%), Cabernet Franc (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Malbec (10%). Deeply colored, classic scents of forest floor, graphite and field berries. Lots of character and length, brimming with ripe flavours. Some aging potential: 3 to 5 years. Score : 90/100
Three reds for the Christmas turkey :
La Montagnette 2014 Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Sinargues, Vignerons d’Estézergues France 18,10 $ 11095949
Côtes-du-Rhône villages wines usually offer great value. Made with Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%) and a bit of Carignan (5%) and Mourvèdre (5%). In a very soft and easy drinking style with a charming fruity nose, this lovely southern red is a real crowd pleaser. Medium bodied, and surprisingly flavourful for such a quaffable wine. Score : 88/100
Domaine La Madura Tradition 2012 Saint-Chinian, France 20,15 $ 10682615
A lovely blend of Carignan (39%), Grenache (30%), Mourvèdre (16%) and Syrah (15%). Brimming with fruit, this Saint-Chinian delivers ripe seductive flavours. Its charming nose displays scents of ripe field berries. Quite supple with good intensity. Very well priced! Score : 89/100
Château Mont-Redon 2013 Lirac, France 23,20 $ 11293970
Unfortunately Lirac wines remain in the shadows of its reputed neighbors (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Rasteau…). This lovely Lirac is a must for the fan of southern Rhône wines. Superb fruity nose displaying dark berry scents. Medium bodied, brimming with fruit, with soft acidity and a lengthy supple finish. Quite satisfying ! Score : 88/100
NICK HAMILTON
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