Top 10 wines in the UK press

2013 Pandolfi Price Los Patricios Chardonnay, Chile

“A truly special Chardonnay from Chile” kicks off this final UK press roundup of 2015, according to the Sunday Times‘ Damian Barr.

It expresses “all the luxurious butter and warming spice of a panettone with a creamy lingering mouthfeel”, he writes, as he reveals he’ll be drinking it with his turkey this Christmas.

£19.50, Berry Bros & Rudd

2013 Guerrin Pouilly-Fuissé Les Crays

This fruitier offering is up next in Barr’s list of Christmassy whites. “So often wines sold as peachy turn out to be anything but”, he bemoans, but “here, at last, is a real peach.

“There is also the suggestion of toasted hazelnuts”, he continues, hitting home its festive appeal.

£18, Oddbins

Sancerre Domaine Philippe Raimbault

“For a more select gathering, splurge on the steely white-currant classiness of my final pick”, Barr suggests. This Sancerre displays “all the minerality you’d expect, but with a supple richness and slight pumice stone.

“Best served colder than snow,” he writes.

£15, Marks & Spencer

Quinta do Noval Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2009

The Guardian‘s David Williams encourages his readers to think outside the box when choosing their festive drinks this year, beginning with opting for a fruitier vintage port as opposed to the more traditional tawny variety.

“The best of the late bottled vintage style of port, the deep dark fruit, bitter chocolate and firm but velvety texture of Noval’s Unfiltered LBV is the equal of many a more expensive straight vintage port,” he enthuses.

“Its sweetness [matches] dark chocolate as well as the obligatory Stilton.”

£24, Oddbins

Parcé Frères Rivesaltes Vin Doux Naturel 1998

An even lighter fortified option is a vin doux naturel. Williams recommends this Roussillon offering, hailing from an area with “a distinguished fortified winemaking tradition to rival Jerez and Porto”, he writes.

“Made from a trio of local white grapes, this is a particularly luscious example, the flavours of rich Christmas cake in a glass.”

£13.50, The Wine Society

Fino Una Palma, Gonzales Byass

Next up, Terry Kirby of the Independent also directs his readers to eschew the typical drops at Christmas, beginning with a “limited-edition Sherry”, with this example being made “en rama – that is, direct from the cask – without filtering or clarifying, and to be drunk within six months.”

Kirby invites readers to “relish the fresh, bone-dry, salty, nutty flavours, with a finish that goes on forever.” It is “a must for all kinds of canapés or a plate of Ibérico ham and olives.”

£12.95, The Wine Society

Litmus White Pinot 2011

“An unusual white wine” from England makes the list too, with this “remarkable wine made in the North Downs using red Pinot Noir grapes, gently pressed to extract just the juice and then oak-aged.”

Kirby says that it boasts “aromas of red berries and flowers, with rich, mouth-filling flavours of melons, and notes of honey and spice.”

£22, Marks & Spencer

2012 Easton, Zinfandel, California

The Daily Mail‘s Matthew Jukes has saved his best of 2015 until the final weeks of the year. “Pay attention,” he commands his readers, “because this is one of the best food and wine-matching combos of the year,” as he pairs wines with chef Tom Kerridge’s Christmas recipes.

“The amazing Treacle cured beef recipe adores this expressive, exotic Zin,” Jukes writes. “With blueberry, liquorice and cinnamon notes on this sleek, luxurious wine, it is a master with full-bodied, intense meaty mains.”

£16.00 – £19.00, Domaine Direct and various others

2014 Paul Mas, Marsanne, Languedoc, France

And the enthusiasm doesn’t waver with this next recommendation. “This is one of the finest value whites on the shelves today,” Jukes writes.

“The honeysuckle and stone fruit core is buoyant and luscious and the finish is long, lithe and refreshing. This is the perfect wine to use to pass the baton between light, aperitif whites and your first red.”

£7.99, Co-op

Champagne Laurent-Perrier Vintage 2006

And finishing off with a pop, Jamie Goode of the Daily Express recommends this “half Pinot Noir and half Chardonnay” Champagne.

“A focused vintage Champagne bursting with stylish pear, peach and baked apple flavours, plus notes of subtle toast and nuts. It’s concentrated but balanced,” Goode writes.

£46.99, Waitrose