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Christmas 2024 Wine Selection
Christmas 2024 Wine Selection

Christmas 2024 Wine Selection

£290.00 £0.00
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We've curated a lovely selection of six mature and rare wines esspecially for your Christmas table.

At a glance:

  • WHITE: Opalie de Château Coutet, Bordeaux Blanc Sec 2013
  • RED: La Rioja Alta, 874 Reserva, Rioja 2016
  • Virna Borgogno, Barolo Cannubi Boschis 2010
  • RED: Trefethen, Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016
  • RED: Manoir de Gay, Pomerol 2010
  • SWEET: Château Rieussec, Sauternes 2008

A little more detail:

Opalie de Château Coutet, Bordeaux Blanc Sec 2013
The premier grand cru classé Château Coutet in Barsac, a commune within Sauternes famed for its sweet wines, is advised by the technical staff from Château Mouton Rothschild. The Opalie is a first of its kind dry white, a blend of 47% Semillon and 53% Sauvignon Blanc from vines over 40 years old. With some airing, the nose shows fresh fruit notes, especially white peach and citrus, mingling with white blossom and boxwood. On the palate the Opalie is lush yet bright, balancing creamy texture with vibrant acidity. Flavours of grapefruit, lemon zest, and stone fruits like peach and apricot are well-defined, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish with a whisper of oak from 9 months in French oak. This wine pairs perfectly with seafood, poultry, and creamy cheeses.

La Rioja Alta, 874 Reserva, Rioja 2016
La Rioja Alta is not only a benchmark for quality, it is also one of the most steadfastly traditional bodegas in the region, still favouring only American oak and long cask ageing. The 874 Reserva from the spectacular 2016 vintage, is a blend of 60% Tempranillo and 40% Garnacha, spending 2 years in oak and a further year in bottle. Classic strawberries and cream on the nose, the wine shows-off La Rioja Alta's signature style, combining savoury fruit, a soft texture and an elegant, mooreish finish. A great match for game with mushrooms, or shepherd's pie.

Virna Borgogno, Barolo Cannubi Boschis 2010
A descendant of one of the most famous Piedmont winemaking dynasties, Virna Borgogno was the first Italian woman to complete a degree in oenology and oenological techniques. Virna's finest wines hail from the legendary Cannubi hill and in this case the Cannubi Boschis vineyard, from the outstanding 2010 vintage. Aged in the traditional way using both large casks and tonneaux, this is classic Barolo Cannubi, showing aromas of dark cherries, spices and dried fruit. The palate is savoury with the hallmark licorice from Cannubi soils, before the delicious acidity and tannins take over. 
Ideal with game, the best steak money can buy or porcini on toast.

Trefethen, Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016
Trefethen are one of the original Napa pioneers of the late 1960's with family owned vineyards in the Oak Knoll District. In the southern reaches of the Napa Valley, the Oak Knoll District's position in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains and proximity to San Pablo Bay, means it is one of Napa's cooler areas, known for producing Bordeaux style wines. The 2016 vintage in Napa was outstanding, being the first in five years not to be classified as drought affected, helping to produce a wine with real concentration of fruit, yet  balanced by freshness. Whilst labelled as a Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine also contains small quantities of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. Aged in new French oak, the wine is now velvety smooth showing dark berry fruit, chocolate and fresh herbs with lively acidity. 
Very food-friendly, pair with fine Tuscan cuisine or grilled meats.

Manoir de Gay, Pomerol 2010
Château Le Gay is one of the great Pomerol estates, a short distance from the legendary Petrus, on Bordeaux's 'right bank'. The Manoir de Gay is their second wine but is made with just as much care and attention to detail. Mostly Merlot, there is also a little Cabernet Franc in the blend and using the same barrels as the first wine, the Manoir is aged in oak for 18 months. Benefitting from the unique clay and gravel soil of the Pomerol appellation and the sublime 2010 vintage, the Manoir is all about purity of fruit balanced by perfectly integrated oak characteristics.
Ideally served alongside a Sunday roast or Christmas lunch.

Château Rieussec, Sauternes 2008
Owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), Rieussec is one of Sauternes finest premier cru classé estates, known for producing some of the richest and most exotic sweet wines. The 2008 Rieussec, a vintage known for balance and expressive ripeness, is a blend of 86% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle. The nose exudes subtle but ethereal fruit scents, light hints of wood, flowers, peach, apricot and dried fruit, whilst the palate offers a honey coated attack combined with crème brûlée, orange peel, marmalade and quince. 
Serve with the finest blue cheeses, or a rhubarb pie.