The 12 wines of Christmas: a planning guide

[ John Wilson's Christmas plans here ]

Mariá Casanova Cava Brut NV

€22

A wonderful combination of crisp lemon zest and plump white fruits, with a touch of freshly baked bread.

Stockists:

64Wine, Glasthule; Clontarf Wines; Red Island, Skerries; Sweeneys, Glasnevin; Baggot Street Wines; Black Pig, Donnybrook.

Domaine Begude Etolie 2013

€19.99

Superb Chardonnay with rich peach and orange fruits, subtle toasted hazelnuts, all kept perfectly in check by some refreshing acidity.

Stockists:

O’Briens

Muhr Van de Niepoort 2013 Samt & Seide

€23

Harmonious gentle dark cherry and blackcurrant fruits with a delicious piquant edge. Serve cool.

Stockists:

Greenacres, Wexford; Redmond’s, Ranelagh; Morton’s, Galway; Donnybrook Fair; The Corkscrew, Chatham Street; La Touche Wines, Greystones.

Sainte-Hélene de Ch de Malle 2011

€21.90 per half bottle

Intense luscious orange peel, barley-sugar and spice with a good long sweet finish.

Stockists:

Wines Direct, Mullingar. 1890 579 579

Cusumano Insolia 2014, Terre Siciliane

€14.99

Light with plump peachy fruits and a nice lemony streak.

Stockists:

O’Briens

Tramin Pinot Grigio 2014, Altoadige Sud-Tirol

€15.99 | 13%

Fresh and lightly textured with lively plump pear fruits and a touch of ginger spice.

Stockists: Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; Wines on the Green; McCabes, Blackrock; 64 Wine; Baggot Street Wines; Blackrock Cellar; Clontarf Wines; Gibney's, Malahide; Martins, Fairview; Nolan's, Clontarf; The Vintry, Dublin 6

Hugel Cuvée des

Amours 2011,

Pinot

Blanc de

Blancs

€15.99 | 12%

Light gentle apple and quince fruits with a clean refreshing acidity. Perfect sipping wine.

Stockists:

The Vintry, Rathmines; Redmond’s, Ranelagh; and

[ wineonline.ie ]

.

Perricone Caruso e Minini 2013 Terre Siciliane IGT – Italy

€12.29 | 14%

A pleasantly whacky wine bursting with sweet juicy ripe cherry and black fruits. Different, very enjoyable, and great value too.

Stockists:

Marks & Spencer

Barbeito 10-year-old Reserve Sercial Madeira

€37.99

A brilliant complex wine with an amazing concentration of burnt orange, grilled nuts and stewed fruits with a long dry finish.

Stockists:

Wines on the Green, Dawson Street; 64wine, Glasthule; Redmond’s, Ranelagh.

Palacio del Camino Real Garnacha 2013 Rioja

€13.95

Pleasant rounded plump strawberry fruits; a great all-purpose wine to cover all emergencies and leftovers.

Stockists:

Green Man Wines, Terenure, Dublin

Sangoiovese Rubicone Medici Ermete, Emiliaromagna

€12.95 | 11.5%

Low in alcohol and with no tannins, this is an irresistible wine with light, rounded, soft raspberry and red cherry fruits.

Stockists:

Sheridans Cheesemongers, (Dublin, Galway and Carnaross, Co Meath)

Carmen Right Wave Leyda Valley Pinot Noir 2014

€14.99 | 13.5%

Light, scented juicy raspberry and red cherry fruits; serve cool by itself or with nibbles.

Stockists:

Widely available including Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Spar and Tesco