“For many, having the perfect Christmas wines chosen for you is a headache removed.” 

Peter Mitchell MW

Christmas, whilst a time of great joy for many, can also be a time of great organisational stress. There will be those – and I count myself among them – who delight in deciding which special bottles to drag from the cellar for Christmas, but for many, having the perfect wines chosen for you is a headache removed. 

With our Christmas offer this year, we aim to bring you the perfect festive selection that will grace any table and any occasion, from great European classics to some fabulous new world alternatives, all rounded out with some of our favourite Champagnes.

The three white burgundies perfectly capture why this is the world’s greatest white wine region. Our own label wine, subtle yet persistent and made by a top domaine from a small walled vineyard in Bouzeron, is in good company alongside the ‘baby Puligny’ that is Sauzet’s Bourgogne blanc, and a majestic Meursault from the fabled Jadot house. More off the beaten track is Mounir Saouma’s Côtes du Rhône white, a rich, savoury and textural orchard fruit scented wine with the power to match white meats. Anthony Girard’s Chene Forchu is a wonderful twist on a classic: aged in old barrels and amphorae, this is less pungent than his ‘village’ Sancerre, yet is complex, textural and intense – a compelling wine and as good a Sancerre as you will find. Rounding out the whites is a Jeroboams’ favourite, the ripe yet steely Etna Bianco from Terra Costantino, a wine structured like a fine Chablis, but with a gentler fruit character, alongside the powerful yet elegant Alma de Cattleya Sonoma Chardonnay and tangy Bouza Albariño. Two fantastic new world interpretations of European classics.

The reds include such benchmark wines as the Ortega Ezquerro Rioja Reserva and Casaloste’s organic Chianti Classico, both long term favourites and beautiful examples of their types. We have two domaine bottled burgundies which are both classic in style and great value, not something easy to find in the region. For those after a more hedonistic Pinot experience, the Kelly Washington wine from Otago is a fruit filled, expressive delight. Bordeaux aficionados are in for a treat with a couple of small parcels we have found. The fabulous value 2012 Château Saint Georges Côte Pavie, a small property between Ausone and Pavie, is now mature St.-Émilion perfection, whilst the 2013 Château Lagrange shows all the breeding of this top St. Julien Cru Classé. If you are after a Cabernet that is more powerful and fruit filled, look no further than Amy’s, Margaret River legend Moss Wood’s entry wine. Rich, velvety yet with perfect poise and balance, this is a real insider’s wine. Finally, for those looking for rich winter reds, we have a diverse trio. Le Ripi’s biodynamic Rosso di Montalcino is a very serious example, ripe, complex and more like a Brunello, whilst the Côtes du Rhône rouge from Mounir – a pair to his white – comes from ancient vineyards neighbouring Châteauneuf-du-Pape and could easily pass for its illustrious neighbour. Lastly, Othello, a Napa Valley gem, comes from the same property as the legend Dominus. Made by the same team, but unlike its bigger sibling is designed to be mature in the first decade of life, this is a wine from Napa royalty at a very reasonable price.

The Champagne selection is as fine as ever, but I would draw especial attention to Laurent-Perrier’s Blanc de Blancs, an exceptional example of the style with breath-taking depth and vivacity, and the newly released collection 243 from Roederer which showcases a house at the top of its game. Whatever your needs, we have you covered in style.