FOOD & DRINK HOUSE & HOME
New drinks for a
NEW YEAR! PETER SLEE pulls the cork on the best whites and reds for January... peter.slee@swwmedia.co.uk
JANUARY means many things to many people, but there’s one thing we can all agree on: the good intentions we set out on from the 1st of the month can pretty soon evaporate. So from a fizz to celebrate a birthday or anniversary this month, to a glass of white and red to toast the triumphant effort that goes into clearing the house after all the festivities are done, here are some favourites.... Andre Vannier Chablis 2015, France (£8.99, Aldi, Gorseinon) The wise men at Aldi have sourced this top-value Chablis that looks the part and tastes just as promising. A pure, pale lemon hue with floral and citrus aromas that lead to a refreshing, minerally palate withexcellent depth and concentration. Domaine Roger Luquet Le Pavillon 2014, Maconnais-Villages, France (£12.99, www.laithwaites.co.uk) Pure, scented and bright, there’s
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a sense of power to this pale gold chardonnay from Macon, in the far south of Burgundy. Scents of peach and honeysuckle give way to creamy peach and apricot flavours, tinged by an underlying mineral note and a honeyed richness on the finish.
du-Pape signals a special occasion and this brambly fruit beauty is a gift at the price. With youthful intensity, it’s still loaded with sweet berry fruits and spicy highlights. Ripe and full bodied, it’s a perfect match with any Christmas leftovers you still have in the freezer.
Villiera Traditional Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£12, Marks & Spencer, Pontarddulais Road retail park) An exciting white if you like a bit more tinsel on the texture, this chenin blanc is aromatic and buttery smooth with concentrated citrusy fruits, spice and honey, enhanced by apple, tropical fruits and vanilla aromas from time spent in oak. Polished with a seductive richness to give plain chicken in particular an extra lift.
Beronia Reserva Rioja 2011, Spain (£12, Waitrose, Cowbridge) A crowd pleaser if you don’t want to venture out of your comfort zone, this Rioja has all the classic mellow black cherry fruits, liquorice, cloves, spice accents and sweet oaky vanilla that glides along on a velvety smooth palate. Perfectly balanced, it’s a top dropfor January.
Extra Special Chateauneuf-duPape 2015, France (£12, Asda, Llansamlet) A classic, a bottle of Chateauneuf-
Finest Trilogy Malbec 2014, Argentina (£10, Tesco, Llansamlet and Swansea) Dark and brooding, this malbec offers plush aromas of cherry and plum with oak driven tones of chocolate which follow through and are backed by more ripe plums, exotic spice, black pepper and vanilla. If you’re a malbec fan, you can’t go wrong with this.
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16/12/2016 10:56