You've blown it - almost. Christmas Eve, work only just wrapped up, turkey still to be procured, Santa half way across the world and there's not a bottle worth drinking in the house - or at least not enough bottles to cheer your merry throng over the next few days. Let there be calm. Tasty, reliable wines which will do dinner or parties proud and soothe the most frazzled guests - never mind hosts - into a state of bliss are waiting in your nearest supermarket or offlicence. Here's a shortlist from which you should be able to pick two or three painlessly obtainable winners.
WHITE:
Kaituna Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 1997 (Marks & Spencer, £6.99). Nicely aromatic but not overblown New Zealand Sauvignon - tropical fruit flavours shot through with tingling, nettly freshness. Great for lunches, salady starters - or just an instant lift.
Rully Blanc, Charles Vienot, 1996 (Superquinn, still reduced from £7.29 to £6.59). Who says inexpensive Burgundy isn't worth buying? This one - a Bottle of the Week last Christmas - is even better in the new vintage, still soft and attractive but with extra zip.
Canepa Private Reserve Chardonnay 1996 (Roches, many SuperValus, Centras, Londis, Superquinn and independent off-licences, usually £7.99) One step up from the basic Chardonnay recommended in our party feature and one of the most elegant Chileans at this price. A nice touch of oak, but it won't floor you.
Stoneleigh Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay 1995 (Molloys, McCabes and other independent off-licences, usually about £7.99) New Zealand scores again with a classy Chardonnay that manages to be assertive without tumbling over the top. The 1994 won a silver medal in Ireland's first Wine Challenge in October.
Chateau Brondelle Graves 1994 (Tesco/Quinnsworth, £10.69). Why not a smart white Bordeaux for a change - and for a wide range of foods? This is a big, flavoursome wine, smoky and waxy - and all that's as you would expect of a good white Graves - except for the decidedly fair price.
RED:
Gouts et Couleurs Syrah-Mourvedre Vin de Pays d'Oc 1996 (many SuperValus, £4.99). I mentioned the Chardonnay from SuperValu's new direct-import range from the south of France a while back, but the Syrah-Mourvedre - a more recent arrival - is the real star. Soft, plummy fruit, gentle spice - and for the cost of a few crackers.
Fetzer Zinfandel 1994 (widely available, £6.99-£7.50). California's red speciality, Zinfandel, is a sort of cross between plum pudding and spiced beef in liquid form - all cloves and fruit and inner warmth, with a slightly meaty edge. Fine with turkey, better still for the jazzed up leftovers. Good, uncomplicated enjoyment.
Chateau de Gourgazaud Minervois Reserve 1995 (Dunnes Stores, £7.99). The luxury version of the Jancis Robinson favourite that was a Bottle of the Week in October at £5.49. It was great, but this is utterly gorgeous - the essence of the south of France in a super-concentrated, dark, deliciously rich mouthful.
Guigal Cotes du Rhone 1995 (Superquinn and many independent wine shops, £7.99-£8.50). Almost every time I ask wine lovers (and especially wine waiters) to name a few favourites, up pops Marcel Guigal's most accessible triumph - a consistently appealing Cotes du Rhone at a decent price. The 1995 has just arrived and it's better than ever. No wonder the man's a millionaire.
Hardys Bankside Shiraz 1994 (Pettitts and many other outlets countrywide, usually £8.49-£8.99). One more to add to last Saturday's list of Shiraz nominations to enhance the turkey - but it's also the very thing to warm you to the core some evening, sitting by the fire. Lovely ripe, rich fruit with coffee and chocolate overtones, and a savoury element lurking underneath.
