As the multiples gear up for the festive season, I will go through their suggestions for Christmas dinner and all the surrounding events. This week: Tesco.
In addition to the wines featured below, I recommended the Tesco Beaujolais (€9) and Tesco Finest Soave Classico (€12) earlier this year. The Beaujolais is light and fruity, and would make a decent party wine. The Soave is rich and textured, a good partner for creamy vegetarian and fish dishes.
Tesco Finest Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2015, €35
Tesco has a good reputation for its champagnes, and this vintage of its grand cru will only enhancer it further. From the best vineyards along the Côtes de Blancs, this is a pure Chardonnay that has matured beautifully, with rich brioche and toasted nuts mixed with yellow apples and a touch of honey, finishing dry. Not cheap but great value. A perfect aperitif, a champagne like this also goes very well with all sorts of seafood and smoked salmon.
Tesco Finest Chablis 2020, €16
Light, refreshing, crisp green apple fruits with good citrus acidity and a dry finish. Perfect as an aperitif or with all kinds of shellfish. This would go nicely with smoked salmon or a prawn salad.
Viña del Cura Tesco Finest Rioja Reserva 2016, Baron de Ley, €12
A relatively full bodied Rioja with concentrated dark forest fruits, subtle vanilla spice and some structured tannins on the finish. This would go nicely with roast beef; otherwise decant it before serving with your turkey or, for vegetarians, a mushroom and lentil Wellington.
Tesco Finest Sauternes 2015, Yvon Mau, €16 (half-bottle)
Dessert wines are a great way to finish the festive meal. Lighter in alcohol than a port, this Sauternes (13%) is sweet but fresh, with floral honeyed aromas and flavours and a touch of butterscotch. Drink solo, with a reviving fruit salad or with some blue cheese.
