Corney & Barrow Côtes du Rhône, France 2011(£9.50, Corney & Barrow) After last week’s bargain festive bottles, I’m setting my sights a little higher, with Christmas dinner wines from around £10 right up to serious splash-out territory. At £10, posh independent merchant Corney & Barrow has a superb own-label red Côtes du Rhône 2011. Made by the Gonnet family of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it’s perfectly pitched between ripe-fruited richness and lively freshness. Just as good with the turkey and trimmings, Tesco Finest Viña del Cura Rioja Gran Reserva 2009 (£10) has a swish of blackberry to go with its classically Rioja oaky mellowness, while Asda has a crisp but mouth-filling white burgundy in the shape of Domaine Marguerite Dupasquier Rully 2013 (£10.50).
Meyer Pinot Noir, Okanagan, Canada 2014 (£18, Marks & Spencer) Staying with the chardonnays of Burgundy, Oddbins has the very smart, chiselled, creamy-but-racy Domaine Guerrin et Fils Saint-Véran Le Clos Vessats 2014 (£12.50,Oddbins), although fans of the style will be just as impressed by the slightly richer pair from South Africa: Iona Chardonnay 2014 and Paul Clüver Chardonnay 2014 (both £15, from M&S and Morrisons respectively; both seriously good). For reds, I was very taken by M&S’s first foray into Canada with the deliciously pure oaked raspberry of Meyer Pinot Noir, while those who prefer a little more power and density could go for the aromatic D’Arenberg Wild Pixie Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia 2011 (£17, Sainsbury’s).
Bodegas López de Heredia Viña Bosconia Rioja Reserva, Spain 2004 (£21.95, Waitrose) Nudging above £20 we’re into fine wine territory with the silky, savoury Viña Bosconia Reserva from López de Heredia. It’s only in six stores, so you’ll need to get your skates on and order online (waitrosecellar.com), maybe adding a similarly posh white to your order such as the nutty white burgundy Domaine Vincent Prunier Meursault Les Vireuils 2013 (£30.99, Waitrose). Meanwhile, M&S also has a fine festive pair: the magnificently supple, peppered-meaty northern Rhône syrah red of Domaine Coursodon Cuvée Olivaie St-Joseph 2007 (£35) and the soft herbal dry white Italian Pieropan Soave La Rocca 2013 (£27).
[Source:-the gurdian]