CHRISTMAS WINE - START HERE!

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CHRISTMAS WINE - START HERE!

From: Mark
Category: Latest Tips
Date: 08/12/2006
Time: 19:45:49

Comments

Christmas is drawing near and I expect all the supermarkets will be awash with 'deals' on wines that either claim big discounts but are in fact more often fiction. A £4.99 'on special' from £8.99 will often only taste like a £4.99 wine and should never have been priced (if in reality it ever was) at £8.99 in the first place. What it persuades us is that all 'expensive' wine tastes like cheap wine therefore dissuading us from 'trading' up to try more interesting and often more expensive wines. But more of that in later postings.

I have trawled the supermarkets and popular merchants to see what is being offered and if you are thinking about buying a case of wine for Christmas you could do a lot worse than printing this off and picking up a few bottles. I have tasted all of these wines (if not the vintage then the wine) and can pretty confidently state that, for the money, they are some of the best examples you can buy.

So stock up for Christmas and give these a go. They simply represent the very best value and quality wines at full (or discounted) prices.

Below, you will find my recommendations to suit most tastes (for those with the capacity to taste anyway). I have tried to avoid most of the usual suspects (cheap Aussie chardonnay) unless they are truly outstanding and have shown a slight bias towards the more interesting or unusual - however what counts is the quality and interest at a fair price. If I were judging these wines in a professional wine tasting (of which I have done plenty) none of them would score lower than a 'bronze' medal. Most of the wines cost between £6-9 per bottle (a bit more of the sparkling and fortifieds). But have included wines upwards of £15 just in case you feel like something truly special. And I mean special. The earth might even move for you.

So take the guesswork out of the jolly-season and select the ones in all the list below. I've done the 'hard work' for you already and recommended over 100 wines. All you need to do is drink them!