Dazzling Reds for festive fare – Jancis Robinson

by Patrick Sandeman

Dazzling reds for festive fare – selected by Jancis Robinson

In Jancis Robinson’s Top 100 festive wines: part two, published in the FT Weekend Magazine, she selected a number of cracking wines from Lea & Sandeman. Only four were published in the magazine because of space issues, while the full list is on her site JancisRobinson.com. Here are the wines:

Domaine Rochette 2010 Régnié
The Beaujolais renaissance continues. Massively full of fruit, purity and life. The more you drink the healthier you are. (Please don’t sue me over this). Far from heavy. 13%

Luigi Maffini, Kleos Aglianico 2009 IGT Paestum
Sweet start, almost as though it’s made from dried grapes. Assertive but not over-alcoholic. Lots of structure from the wonderful Aglianico grape. 14%

Domaine Giraud, Tradition 2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Big and sweet and sinewy. Lots of polish. So different from the supermarket Châteauneuf offerings! Tingly despite the alcohol. Already round and resolved. Pretty good. 15%

Rippon Pinot Noir 2008 Central Otago
Spicy and deep-flavoured with the merest hint of some exotic oak but basically wonderful texture and integrity of fruit. So different from the NZ Pinot norm! Exciting. You can taste the biodynamic wildness in this wine. Complete. Long. 14%

Luigi Einaudi Vigna Tecc 2008 Dolcetto di Dogliani
Real grunt and integrity and lusciousness. Lovely stuff – and not expensive for a Piemontese wine. 14%

Collemattoni 2006 Brunello di Montalcino
Open and evolved and flattering and sweet. So rich! But not tarty nor heavy. Lovely wine. 14.5%

Castello del Terriccio, Tassinaia 2006 IGT Toscana.
Lovely appetising stuff, great balance and zest. Compelling. 14%

ALSO in the press this weekend Victoria Moore’s ‘Bubbling Bargains’ in the Telegraph Weekend highlighted Lea & Sandeman as having the best prices on both Bollinger Special Cuvee NV and also Louis Roederer Brut NV.

Victoria went on to give special mention under the Grower champagnes to Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Champagne NV, which makes this the third weekend in a row that this champagne has been selected in the press (JR in the FT Weekend, and Jane Parkinson in FT’s How to Spend It). If you haven’t already, you have got to try it!

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Last orders for guaranteed nationwide Christmas delivery – Sunday 18th December (although we will do our very best to deliver orders received after this date, especially in the Greater London area).