Wines of the Month - December 2023

As we move towards Winter Solstice and the Festive Season, it's once again time to pick a trio of pairs to accompany the celebrations. This month's selection is headlined by a versatile sparkler - as is our December norm – followed by a light and elegant Loire Sauvignon Blanc and old-vine Beaujolais that's brimming with berry fruit. As ever, this case is available as a six- or twelve-bottle selection. If you're stuck for Christmas gifts ideas and want something that lasts longer than Epiphany, we can offer cases as part of our Regular Wine Delivery service.

Crémant de Limoux: Domaine Collin 'Cuvée Sélection' Brut
Philippe Collin's self-inflicted exile from Champagne in the 1980s was a prescient decision given how much Limoux's star has risen in the ensuing decades. His excellent Crémant de Limoux uses the champagne superstar grapes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a rough 75:25 ratio that is aged in bottle for around 15 months. Writer Matthew Jukes's handwritten note when he first tasted this simply said 'best Crémant ever'. We concur and would serve with canapés or smoked salmon – though those crazy hedonists amongst us might pop the cork for a fish and chip supper.

Quincy: Jerôme de la Chaise 2022
Finding decent Loire Sauvignon Blanc outside of the Pouilly-Fumé - Sancerre - Menetou-Salon triangle can be tricky but the villages of Quincy and Reuilly to the west are our happy hunting grounds. One of the few independent growers in Quincy, Jerôme de la Chaise's only white wine remains one of our outstanding bottles on the scale of 'qualité-prix'. From the generous 2022 vintage, this perennial Yapp favourite has a racy elderflower and nettle nose that's ideal with a baked camembert studded with garlic and herbs or goat's cheese and roasted root vegetables with oregano and sage.

Beaujolais Villages: Arnaud Aucoeur 'Vieilles Vignes' Rouge 2020
The well-deserved recipient of Guide Hachette's Winemaker of the Year in 2020, Arnaud and his wife Melanie are part of the new wave of young enthusiastic Beaujolais growers. Well-trained and confident, they are showing what can be done with the underrated Gamay grape. This Beaujolais Villages in that happy vintage is a step up in quality from generic Beaujolais and is a excellent vin de soif that is, after some bottle age, beginning to pinoter (take on Pinot Noir-like characteristics) as it ages. Jam-packed with bright strawberry fruit and spice, it's a tasty treat that complements poultry, charcuterie or paprika-spiked savoury pastries.

Santé!

Grant Berry - Shop Manager

 

(Two bottles of each wine shown are included in the six-bottle case. Our standard list price of these wines would be £98.90 plus £15.00 delivery to a mainland UK address - offer price saves £17.90. Four bottles of each wine shown are included in the twelve-bottle case. Our standard list price of these wines would be £197.80, with free delivery included to a mainland UK address - offer price saves £18.80).