Christmas bottles

burgundy champagne chardonnay new zealand rhone

Christmas bottles

OK, a round-up of some of the memorable wines we’ve had this holiday. Pictured above: the Man O’War Chardonnay 2009, with its characteristic matchstick reduction adding some Burgundian-style complexity. This is a superb wine with real interest. And I’m pleased to say I spotted it when served blind!

Totally different, and thoroughly enjoyable. La Morandina Moscato d’Asti is just wonderful. High-end and with fun and a hint of seriousness combined, this is utterly joyful stuff, at 5.5% alcohol. I believe this is from Justerini & Brooks.

Serious high-end Grand Cru white Burgundy from Bruno Clair. Modern-styled but utterly brilliant. So showy. I thought it might be from New Zealand when served it blind.

This impossibly dark fizz is wonderful. It’s Afros Vinho Verde Espumante 2006. Biodynamic fizzy Vinhao. Proved to extreme for some, but I love it.

I should really drink more Sauternes. Suduiraut 1997 is fabulous at the moment. Complex, textured, beguiling.

A rather smart magnum decanter from Riedel. My brother in law Beavington’s Christmas present to himself. It’s filled with Allegrini La Grola 2006, which is delicious, ripe and very easy to drink.

Drappier: an under-rated Champagne house. This, the rare Grande Sendree Rose 2002, was just beautiful. Quite vinous and deep coloured.

R&L Legras. Nuff said.

A surprise. Served blind to me. I was heading to Burgundy. Actually, it shows how bad my blind tasting can be. A delicious Rhone white with nuts, wax, herbs and great balance.

2 Comments on Christmas bottles
wine journalist and flavour obsessive

2 thoughts on “Christmas bottles

  1. Man O’War make fantastic wines and show how much more there is to NZ wine than Marlborough whites and Otago or Hawke’s Bay reds. In fact, I think some of NZ’s best wines come from the Auckland area, not just Waiheke Island but also Clevedon. One of the latter’s key (boutique) producers is Puriri Hills, who make very elegant, and delicious, Bordeaux blends. We have had Puriri Hills’ “The Pope” 2005 on Christmas day for the past 3 years and it has consistently outclassed accompanying well-known clarets.

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