What I think should be on your festive table this year (or on your Santa List!)
It’s December, and I imagine that readers will be looking forward to a time to relax, with friends and family, for a few days respite from the doom and gloom in the media, ever-increasing prices and worrying about how you’ll pay the mortgage in 2023.
With a little planning, or even a bit of advice from the internet (ahem) your holiday lineup of wines could be looking as amazing as your Christmas jumper or your neighbours Xmas lights. Some of these wines might be good for plonking on the table on the 25th alongside the turkey; or for taking over to your best mate’s bach whilst he’s away in the South of France. And one or two should definitely be on your Santa list – whether you’ve been naughty or nice.
I’ve not picked anything that will blow the budget, but PLEASE… if you only read this bit… Rule No.1: don’t throw $60 on a really average bottle of big-name French sparkling wine. That would be so much better spent on a really decent bottle of New Zealand bubbles AND a good bottle of wine for the table. Yes, both.
I have been looking back at the wines that I’ve tasted in 2022, but with as tight a budget as I can think of. There will be a separate list next week where I talk about the very best wines that have crossed my path this year, but for now we’re not trying to break the credit card. Read on.
So, lets’ start with those bubbles. It’s important, right? We all want something with pop and froth on the 25th don’t we? Well, let’s stick to the wine…
#1 No.1 Assemblé. A carefully blended NZ Methode Traditionelle, made from the classic blends of grapes for Champagne, by the masters of the genre in this country. Quite dry and serious in style but with bags of fruit and a nutty, generous finish $33.99
#2 Lindauer Vintage Reserve 2017 Here is a wine that has won SO many Trophies in its Sparkling wine class in the wine shows this last year. We just completed our Top 10 Tasting of Sparkling wine – and, yes, this made the Top 10. Juicy, pithy and characterful. $17.99
Moving on to a selection of white wine choices (and a rosé)…
#3 Askerne Pinot Gris 2021. Winner of the Best Pinot Gris in Show at NZIWS for this vintage. It’s varietally pure, with a wonderful balance of clean acidity and richness.. Reviewed in March (93pts) – “A good balance of acidity and waxy texture is apparent as you dive into the palate of ripe stonefruits, grilled grapefruit and cantaloupe melon”. $19.99
#4 Esk Valley Chenin Blanc. Reviewed back in August – Palest lemon-green in the glass, with a tempting bouquet of apple strudel, satsuma, tarragon, grapefruit and honeysuckle florals. Good to see Gordon Russell continuing with some of the lesser-known varieties… from the ‘Artisanal Range’ by Esk Valley $23.99
#5 Te Kano Blanc de Noir 2021 In lieu of a rosé this year, I’m going for this cracker – a white wine made from a red grape that occupies that same space as a rosé. Very pale colour, with hints of redcurrant, stonefruit and rosehip. Minerality – bouquet – texture – freshness. $25.99
#6 Helio Chardonnay 2021 I couldn’t go past this list and not try to get a Chardonnay in there. A beautiful and immediate snap of citrus acidity bursts onto the palate – saline and bright – setting a vibrant stage for the fruit to shine through. Young, tight and tense, but with a rich, plush concentration. One of the more expensive wines on this list – but also the best. $32.99
#7 Rapaura Springs Rohe Dillons Point Sauvignon Blanc 2022 From their ‘Rohe’ range that just gets better and better. Crackingly crisp and pungent, the aromas lifting from the glass at full-throttle. Intense, juicy and with a piercing salinity and quartzy acid line. A belter of a wine. $20.99
Great red wines at lower price points used to be a problem; but looking at the Gold Medal winners from the shows this year, it certainly feels like there is very good wine at the $20 -$30 mark if you buy carefully. I have no problem recommending this handful:
#8 Trinity Hill The Trinity 2021 Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Medium bodied, with a youthful energy and plush red fruits flowing into the palate with a vibrant, integrated acidity and plump, soft tannins.Vibrant, poised and succulently ripe, it is satisfyingly complex, and an excellent showcase for the region, at an appealing price. $21.99
#9 Peter Lehmann ‘The Pastors Son’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 A nose that is packed with super ripe fruit, with blackberry and redcurrant in the lead, then chocolate, smoked chorizo, Christmas cake and pencil shavings. Dry, with lovely, svelte tannins and more of that bright, plush fruit bleeding through the palate. $26.99
#10 Church Road McDonald series Syrah 2020 If you can find it, pick up the 2019 version of this… but don’t worry as the ’20 is very good drinking as well (as is the ‘Grand Reserve’ from this producer). Medium bodied, with a tension and balance between acidity, supple tannin and ripe fruit. The core of the wine is a dense rich harmony of them all. $25.99
