Not Just Any Bottle of Wine…
Jonny Wren, owner of Kent-based wine merchant Songbird Wines, gives his expert guide on purchasing a special bottle of wine.
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If there’s a time of year when wine-lovers like to splash out a bit on a bottle of wine, it’s now. However, how do you make sure you don’t end up disappointed? Here’s a few pointers on what to look for. As Christmas is a time when people tend to drink the ‘classics’, my picks are from France, Italy and Spain:
Go with what you know
What sort of wines do you usually drink? If you’re a lover of big and bold reds then I would avoid Burgundy and probably even Bordeaux as you usually get more subtle aromas from these wines. If you want to go for ‘classic’ fuller bodied wines then look at the reds of the Rhone like Châteauneuf du Pape or Gigondas.
Is it too young?
Although some supermarkets and national wine merchants have some well-priced fine wine, it is usually the most recently released vintage which can sometimes be very youthful. Decanting a young wine can certainly help ‘open it up’ but you still may find the flavours are quite muted and the whole experience an anti-climax. Mature wines are not always stupidly expensive though. You can find some delicious Brunello di Montalcino and Barolos at sub £50 per bottle plus some excellently priced Riojas that have 5-10+ years bottle age on them.
Be realistic for your budget
It’s a sad truth that the classic regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy have become so expensive that it’s hard to find anything decent under £40. If it has to be Bordeaux then the less blockbuster vintages like 2012 and 2017 can offer good value. For Burgundy, any of the famous names like Gevrey-Chambertin for red and Meursault for white below £50 will probably be disappointing. You’re much better off finding a lesser known villages or generic Bourgogne Rouge or Blanc from a top-notch producer. You can find some exceptional wines here that won’t break the bank.
This may all sound rather overwhelming but that’s why it’s always good to speak to your friendly wine merchant. We’re here to ensure that the bottle you buy from us makes your Christmas that much merrier!
‘Jonny’s Picks’ from the cellars of Songbird Wines that won’t break the bank
White
- 2022 Sancerre ‘Terres Blanches’, Domaine Roblin, Loire Valley £20.95
- 2020 Bourgogne Blanc ‘Les Parties’ Domaine Berthelemot, Burgundy £28.50
- 2021 Bourgogne Blanc ‘La Tufera’, Domaine Etienne Sauzet, Burgundy £41.75
Red
- 2016 Julien Madrid Rioja Reserva, Bodegas Casa Primicia, Rioja £25.50
- 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Poggio il Castellare, Tuscany £32.95
- 2017 Chateau Potensac, Cru Bourgeois, Médoc, Bordeaux £32
- 2019 Maranges 1er Cru les Fusieres, Domaine Bachelet-Monnot, Burgundy £32.75
- 2014 Chateau Gloria, St. Julian, Bordeaux £51.75
• Jonny Wren has worked in the wine industry for 25 years. He spent many years as a Director of the London fine wine retailer Jeroboams before setting up Songbird Wines in 2014.
Visit www.songbirdwine.co.uk
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