Skip to content

Wine Blog

Ians Christmas Wines Recommendations – Reds and Ports

Christmas Wines

As promised, a few reds and ports to consider for Christmas. I hope you are already choosing some wines and taking advantage of some great offers out there.

The retail business, which includes wines and spirits is very competitive and they can find life difficult. Discounting helps us at the moment, but I am not sure all of them will be able to survive the future. Until then, we can enjoy the offers. Really difficult to choose a few as there are so many good wines on the shelves. These are a few I have enjoyed recently and I have some for the festive season.

Red Wines

Paul Mas Reserve

Languedoc France

 

A robust red wine being made up of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah grapes. Plenty of blackberry and black cherry flavours.

An excellent wine from Waitrose and presently £6.99, down from £9.99.

 

Aldi’s Exquisite  Pinot Noir 2017

New Zealand

 

Ripe red fruits, cherries, raspberries and plums. Medium to full-bodied and not too dry. Really smooth. Benefits from the cooler Kiwi temperatures.

Aldi at £6.79

 

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Morador Malbec

Argentina

 

This Fairtrade wine is full-bodied, robust and full of flavour. Blackcurrant and damson flavours. Beautifully made at the state of the art winery, at La Casa del Rey.

Always have to have a TtD wine from Sainsbury’s – £8.50

 

Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

California

 

This is a rich red wine which gentle oaking gives a chocolate and coffee characteristic. Intense fruity flavours and velvety tannins finish off what is a great value wine.

At Waitrose, £6.99 down from £8.59.

 

 

 A couple of Ports

 

Armilar Ruby Port

 

Fresh blackberry scented port which is meant to be drunk young, no decanting and a fine price of £6.39 at Lidl

 

Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port

 

A great port family and their reputation assures a great port. Real value at Tesco at £8.00 down from £12.00. Same price as 10 years ago!

 

Taylors Late Bottled Vintage.

 

This is the one I have gone for. A lovely smooth satisfying after dinner drink. Again at Tesco, £10.00 down from £15.00. Cracking value.

 

It only remains to wish you all a happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Please however, drink sensibly.

 

Pip pip

 

Click here for white and sparkling wines