CHRISTMAS CHEERS
From bargain to blow-out, Olly picks his hottest festive bottles from the high street and online
Food styling: Emily Kyd. Props styling: Jennifer Kay. Photographer’s assistant: Sophie Bronze. @anniebellcook
Rosé
Domaine Saint Felix 2019 (12.5%), £8.50, leaandsandeman.co.uk. Now you’re talking! Seriously good rosé with a seamless elision of peach, red fruit, summer berries and a long fragrant finish of vitality and refreshment.
Fizz with smoked salmon
Roebuck Classic Cuvée 2014 (12%), £35, roebuckestates.co.uk. I bought six bottles as soon as I tasted this. Incredibly balanced between fruit and finesse, it knocks spots off big-name Champagne for four times the price.
With fish
Asda Extra Special Chenin Blanc 2019 (14%), £5. Peachy and ripe with glossy texture, this South African white is spot-on with everything from fish pie to prawns, scallops and poached salmon.
Party fizz
M&S Classics Prosecco NV (11%), £8. Bright, light and fruity as a pear on a trampoline, this bubbly is exquisite and superb quality for the cash.
Party beer
Crumbs Bloomin’ Amber Lager (4.8%), £2.65, Waitrose. Immaculately balanced between lager and ale, this is malty magic. Serve chilled for the ultimate brew to win the widest number of fans.
Blow-out white
Amos Bianco Kellerei Kurtatsch Alto Adige 2017 (13.5%), £25.90, hhandc.co.uk.
Next-level Italian wine. A rich, sleek beauty with subtle gingery spice. Outstanding with festive ham or pork.
Magnum
Chateau Clos Fontaine Côtes de Francs Magnum 2016 (13.5%), £39, privatecellar.co.uk.
All the Bordeaux you’ll need, made from 65-year-old Merlot vines, this has ripeness and elegance to make you grin with glee.
Bargain
Animus Portuguese red Blend 2018 (13%), £3.99, Aldi.
Aromatic spice, powerful, deep fruit and, what’s more, astonishing value – this season’s bargain red belongs to Aldi.
Blow-out red
Pinot Noir Précoce 2019 Flint Vineyard, England (12.5%), £20.95, bbr.com.
Worth every penny, this light red is scented and splendid. I buy it, I love it and it’s the future of English wine. Terrific with cold cuts.
With Christmas pudding
Gran Barquero Pedro Ximenez (15%), £9.99, Waitrose.
Deep, dark, sweet, delicious. Think liquid sultanas, sweet dates and dried figs. Serve this chilled with your Christmas pud for a scrumptious tot of a treat.
Offer
Esprit de Chablis 2018 (12.5%), £10, Waitrose.
Down from £17.99 from 2 December, be ready online and order the lot! This is creamy precise Chablis for ten quid – a seriously good offer that’s unmissable.
A treat with turkey
Beronia Gran Reserva Rioja 2011 (14.5%), £24.99, Majestic.
Perfectly powerful yet balanced to crown your Christmas feast. I’ve tasted my way through the realm of Rioja and this is up there.
Fridge white
Paco & Lola Albariño 2019 (13%), £12, Sainsbury’s.
Astonishingly good, zingy and intense with magical refreshment and peachy character. Keep on standby in the fridge for an instant classy quencher.
Gift
Le Faîte Blanc 2016 (13.5%), £20.95, corneyandbarrow.com.
Crafted from unique local grapes, this silky rich white is one of France’s greatest hidden gems. A top gift for any wine lover, and beyond brilliant with lemon and rosemary roast chicken.
Party white
Sorso Fiano 2019 (13%), £6.75, Morrisons.
Refreshing with a turbocharge of orangey fruit, this Italian ace is primed for your festive celebrations.
Kitchen table red
Viñalba Finca La 70 Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (14%), £9, Co-Op.
Bold and beautiful, this winter warming red is a deserving award-winner. If cooking steaks, this is the wine to pour.
With mince pies
Bleasdale The Wise One Tawny (18%), £11.50, thewinesociety.com.
Sweet and sumptuous, this is immense value for money. Serve it chilled for a taste of liquid Christmas.
Party red
Tesco Finest Valle de Colchagua Merlot 2019 (14.5%), £8.
Fab berry-scented red with stacks of free-flowing flavour, great grip and decent balance. A wine to wow for under a tenner.
Port
Tesco Finest LBV Port 2015 (20%), £11.
Sweet, sumptuous and lush, this is like sipping liquid plum jam layered with warming spice. Irresistible with stilton and a total bargain, too.
Cider
Sxollie Granny Smith Apple (4.5%), £2.10, Sainsbury’s.
Wow! Only Granny Smith juice in here, no concentrate or added sugar, and the results are superb. Pass me a ham sandwich and I’m in heaven.
Digestif
Maury 1928 Solera Cask No 873 Les Vignerons de Maury (17%) 50cl, £19.95, bbr.com.
Liquid demerara sugar, as silky and pure as prunes with thrilling zing, this is the ultimate contemplation wine. Spot-on for a festive digestif.
Craft beer
Beak Brewery Self-Portrait Pale Ale (4.5%), £4.60, beakbrewery.com.
Bulging with tasty tropical refreshment, this craft beer is my go-to this season. Fab with cold cuts or turkey curry.
Rosé champagne
Laurent-Perrier Rosé NV (12%), £62, Sainsbury’s.
Bang on song right now – purity, vivacity, complexity and quality. Immense, iconic and delivers on all levels.
Cognac
Chevalier Cognac VS (40%), £15.49, Aldi.
As at home in your glass as it is laced into brandy butter, this is a little bit of luxury without breaking the bank.
Bloody Mary
Bloody Drinks Bloody Classic (6.3%), £13 for four, bloodydrinks.co.uk.
A cocktail in a can that tastes like the very best bar quality – incredible! The only thing you need in the fridge for the easiest, tastiest Bloody Mary on the planet.
Food styling: Emily Kydd, Prop styling: Jennifer Kay, Photo Assistant: Sophie Bronze
Whisky
Tamdhu 12 Year Old (43%), £42.95, thewhiskyexchange.com.
Matured in sherry casks for more than a decade, this blows me away with its cinnamon toast, candied orange and fruity biscuit brilliance – 100 per cent on my Christmas list.
Liqueur
M&S Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Liqueur (15%), £12.
Moreish, sweet and devilishly good, this is liquid luxury to indulge and delight in. No finer drop to sip alongside a box of chocolates.
Gin
Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz (37.8%), £35, Waitrose.
Stand aside, sloe gin – this is delicious fun from Down Under using Shiraz grapes to beef out the booze.
Nonalcoholic
Jukes Cordialities Tasting Box, £38 for nine, jukescordialities.com.
Finally! A balanced nonalcoholic alternative for wine lovers. My favourite is Jukes No 6 with its deep dark fruity splendour, but this tasting box is perfect to discover the range.
Cocktail
Tayer Palo Santo Gimlet (26.2%), £29.95, thewhiskyexchange.com.
Rich, fruity and refreshing with a botanical twist, this pre-made cocktail and indeed the whole range from Tayer are as simple to pour as they are stunning to sip.