Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner or a fabulous festive shindig for all this Christmas season, you’ll want to know you have a red wine (or three) that will appeal to all tastes. From deep and velvety to light and fruity reds, we have you sorted on the vin rouge front with a Port and Scandinavian mulled wine offering too! Check out the top ten super selection below.
Graham’s Ne Oublie tawny Port
This extraordinary port dates to 1882 and, with only 656 bottles available, this is a rare opportunity to taste a wine of such age, and beauty too. Individually numbered and bottled in a hand-made crystal decanter with three sterling silver bands adorning the glass, this is presented in a bespoke presentation box handcrafted with the finest leathers by quintessentially British brand Smythson of Bond Street. This rich and warming port would be enjoyed with chocolate and caramel.
Price: Around £4,000 and up depending on where you shop.
Where to buy: bbr.com, selfridges.com, other selected wine merchants, at the Graham’s Port Lodge and via application on neoublie.grahams-port.com
The Owl & The Dust Devil
An award-winning Argentine red wine, The Owl & The Dust Devil is the latest offering from the Finca Decero Remolinos Vineyard. Overlooking the Andes Mountains and situated at the highest point in Agrelo, Mendoza, the heart of the wine country, this vineyard is one of Argentina’s jewels.
With a silky structure, this wine is a blend of some of the estate’s most prized parcels of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Tannat, which has been matured for 18 months in French oak barrels. A delightful wine with a rich core providing depth of character and flavour for superb ageing potential, this would be great for dinner parties.
Price: £21.99
Where to buy: allaboutwine.co.uk
José Pizarro Syrah Cuvée
With aromas of blackberries, cacao, leather, spices and vanilla, you can see why this red made it into this seasonal feature. Grapes are harvested by hand in the vineyards located in the Cadiz area of Spain and this is a very elegant offering indeed, with very rich and powerful ripe red fruits in the mouth. With balanced acidity, an impressive structure and a long finish this would be perfect to pair with a warming winter meal.
Price: £18.00
Where to buy: josepizarro.com
Tesco Finest Amarone Della Valpolicella
A classic Italian red with intense, full-bodied flavours of ripe black fruits and sweet spices, this would be great for roasts. Amarone Della Valpolicella is still made today in the traditional artisanal method, which requires naturally-drying the bunches for a few months – the wine is then matured in oak casks to create a very intense wine. It releases rich aromas of ripe cherry and wild red berry, concluding on a note of luscious chocolate and is best enjoyed if uncorked at least an hour before serving and served at a cool room temperature.
Price: £18
Where to buy: You guessed it! Tesco
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec
In this fruity and complex offering, hand-selected grapes are transformed into a concentrated garnet-red wine whose lively red fruit aromas and silky tannins make way for a flood of flavour. The aromatic profile expresses both sweetness and gentleness of red and black fruits, with light touches of marmalade. On the palate this Malbec has concentrated red fruit, with vibrant tannins and a long and smooth finish, perfect when served with a show-stopping beef wellington.
Price: £16
Where to buy: Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys, ASDA, Ocado as well as independent retailers.
Baron de Ley Rioja Reserva
The subtle spice flavours in this Spanish wine make it perfect for the festive season. The accompaniment of soft strawberry flavours mean that it’s a drink that even the fussiest of friends or family will love. It’s wonderfully indulgent on its own or can be paired with lamb, pork and game as the ideal accompaniment.
Price: £12.25
Where to buy: Waitrose
Saturnus 1893 Vinglögg
For a lovely festive and warming drink, this organic mulled wine might be just the ticket. This classic glögg is spiced with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, bitter orange and based on a tasty red wine that provides both richness and character. A mulled wine filled with tradition and perfect to pair with a mince pie!
Price: £11.99
Where to buy: scandikitchen.co.uk
Apothic Red
Boasting a bold and distinctive flavour, Apothic Red is made for wine lovers who prefer fruit-driven reds. The unique style is crafted with four distinct red grapes – Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon and with tasting notes of sweet cherry, hints of mocha and brown spice, this wine is opulence in a bottle. This would be an impeccable pairing with dark chocolate and decadent desserts.
Price: £10
Where to buy: Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Tesco
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon
This full-throttle bottle is a Dark Horse original with a velvety smoothness. A Cabernet Sauvignon, this encompasses flavours of jammy fruits and black cherry with hints of dark chocolate and espresso too – yum! A delicious drink to sip on, this would go very well with a hearty Christmas feast.
Price: £8.50
Where to buy: Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco
Proudly Vegan Merlot
With an estimated quarter of us expected to prepare food and drink this Christmas for someone who is vegan, it is certainly a good idea to keep a bottle of this Proudly Vegan Merlot on hand. With egg white, milk protein and gelatine potentially used in the wine-making process, you can be safe in the knowledge that Proudly Vegan does not, right down to the glue and ink on the label.
This Chilean offering is elegant, rich and fruity showing intense fruit flavours of cherry and plum intertwined with sumptuous aromas of coffee and chocolate. Try serving with fresh pasta with tomato, onion and garlic sauces, roasted Provençal vegetables, or roast butternut squash with herbs or light spices.
Price: £6.99
Where to buy: Ocado
