Wines of the times: festive fizz and fortified wines (From Dorset Echo)
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Wines of the times: festive fizz and fortified wines
10:40am Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Drinks
Wines of the times: festive fizz and fortified wines
AS part of our two-part festive focus, we pick out the best bargain bubblies on the shop shelves and the most decadent fortified wines.
Philippe Michel Cremant du Jura sparkling Chardonnay £6.99 Aldi
A real classy and elegant fizz at a jaw droppingly low price. This 100 per cent Chardonnay sparkler is made using the same process as Champagne and is choc-full of juicy apple and delicately toasty aromas. The wine spends around 24 months in bottle price to release and the result is a palate that is satisfyingly complex and rich yet has the freshness that you would associate with a Champagne. Wonderful.
Cordoniu Reina Maria Cristina Blanc de Noirs 2008 currently £9.99 Majestic
From France to Spain now and a classic cava that is made more ‘classically-Champagne like’. Blanc de Noirs means a white sparkling wine that is made using black grapes (in Champagne, these will be pinot noir and pinot meunier). The result is a vibrant yet light bubbly that shows off grapefruit and lemon sherbert aromas and fine bubbles. A real bargain at under a tenner.
Harveys Pedro Ximenez 30 years old from £20.98 Waitrose, thedrinkshop.com
Pedro Ximenez (or PX for short) is the most wonderful, and without a shadow a doubt the most decadent, of all dessert wines. Blended from a selection of aged sherries from a minimum of 30 years old and full of dense figgy, brown sugar and raisin flavours but with a burst of natural acidity that stops it from cloying. This literally tastes like liquid Christmas cake so why pair it with anything else? Ok, poured liberally over your best vanilla ice cream would also do the trick.
Fonseca Guimaraens 1996 from £25 Waitrose, £32.99 selfridges.com (in gift box)
Big and bold comes this second wine from leading Port house, Fonseca. 1996 was not a declared vintage year in the region, however Fonseca saw great potential and released the Guimaraens. Treat and respect this like any top quality vintage Port and carefully decant at least two hours prior to serving and you will be rewarded with gorgeous black forest gateau, violet and black pepper aromas which simply melt into rich chocolatey and black cherry flavours. Serve alongside a generous plate of dark chocolate cookies to really make Santa’s Christmas.
