Victoria Moore’s Christmas recommendations at L&S in The Telegraph

by Charles Lea

From Victoria Moore’s column in yesterday’s Telegraph, a little raft of recommendations from our last tasting…

Domaine les Yeuses Vermentino 2011 France (13%, Lea & Sandeman, £6.95/£6.50 mixed case price) Think herbs, hedgerows and citrus. If you like proper wine rather than one so mass-produced it’s all smoothed off at the edges, you’ll struggle to find a better house white at the price.’

Domaine Paul et Marie Jacqueson La Pucelle Rully 1er Cru 2010 (13%, Lea & Sandeman, £21.75 /£19.95) Rich, luscious white burgundy that’s shot through with bright lemon. Bring on the lobster.’

Lea & Sandeman Bordeaux 2008 France (13.5%, Lea & Sandeman, £9.50/£8.75 by the mixed case) Congratulations to L&S – if anyone is making a better own-label claret I have yet to taste it. Fresh and alert, pin-prick precise, what I want to drink with a late lunch of cold roast meat or a smart kitchen supper. From the flatlands of Fronsac and worth laying in by the case. Superb. (Bad news – we’ve already sold out of this vintage except for a few Magnums and halves, good news – the superb 2009 vintage is available at the same price.)

Château Lauriol Côtes de Francs 2008 France (13.5%, Lea & Sandeman, £11.95/10.75) Lovely, light, fresh claret, clean-cut yet with masses of uplifting red fruit. Pretty. Made me smile on both tasting and remembering.

Rippon Tinker’s Field Pinot Noir Mature Vine 2010 New Zealand (14%, Lea & Sandeman, £54.50/£48.95) Former champion skier Nick Mills has established himself as one of, if not the, best producer of pinot noir in Central Otago and this, one of his pricier cuvées, is spectacular, a thick stream of perfume with bass notes too. Pinot: the full orchestral version. (**this wine is on it’s way from bond, order now from one of the shops or from next week online.)