An enjoyable Christmas Day involves a lot of planning, so I’ve put together a couple of six-packs, to take the work out of the wine list.
When I think of the wines I’d like to drink this Christmas, it goes something like this…
And we have plenty of other delicious wines on the website if you prefer to create your own pack. They’re perfect as gifts or for pulling out the perfect tipple when friends and family drop in.
St Nick’s Picks 6-pack
Veuve Clicquot Brut NV
Grapes from as many as 50 to 60 different Crus are used for the blending of Yellow Label. The predominance of Pinot Noir provides the core structure of Clicquot, while a touch of Meunier rounds out the blend. Chardonnay adds elegance, essential to a perfectly balanced wine.
Lloyd Brothers Adelaide Hills Estate Picpoul 2022
“Picpoul, or ‘lip stinger’ in French, suits these parts. Lightweight and tensile, the grape’s physiognomy, affinity with maritime settings and high-acid kit imparts an aura of confidence and optimism. Real freshness, natural of feel. Pithy and textural, to boot. Preserved lemon rind, nashi pear granita, yuzu, frangipani and spa salts careen long, with a scurvy, salty linger, making one reach for the next glass.”
91 points, Ned Goodwin MW, James Halliday Wine Companion.
And a Special Value Award to boot!
Medhurst Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2023
“Very pale luminescent green color and brilliant in the glass. The nose is powerful with huge notes of grapefruit and lime. Background grilled nuts from classy French oak influence, it’s enticing and intense. The palate is poised and powerful, with line and length and beautiful natural soft acid line, typical of our cool site. This wine will look terrific over the medium term.” Winemaker’s notes.
Terre a Terre Piccadilly Valley Rose 2022
In the glass this is very light copper. On the nose you’ll find peach, melon, gooseberry and musk. On the palate, fresh red berry fruit carries a wisp of savoury oak. Clean and zingy acid brings balance and a pleasant grapefruit pithiness appears on the deliciously dry finish.
“The 2022 Piccadilly Rosé is made from cabernet franc (35%), trousseau noir (30%), merlot (25%) and mondeuse (10%) from our Piccadilly Valley vineyards. It is made in old oak, with some ageing on lees. It is a more complex style of rosé than most Australian examples, and can be aged for up to 5 years. The 2022 has the signature characters of cabernet Franc - floral aromatics, berry flavours and a gentle tannin grip on the finish. The trousseau noir, merlot and mondeuse add some middle palate texture and pleasant bitterness on the finish.”
Winemaker’s notes.
Terra Sancta Mysterious Diggings Pinot Noir 2021
A delicious Central Otago pinot noir with beautiful aromatics and a silken texture. “With purity of color, the Mysterious Diggings Pinot Noir 2021 has aromas of violets, fresh thyme, and red berries. With gracious, silky tannin and a lovely line of acidity, the wine has great energy and freshness, with flavors of blackberry, red cherry, licorice root and a touch of exotic spice. A wine of great purity, the hallmark Bannockburn finish of balanced acidity and a touch of fruit sweetness is both delicious and memorable.”
Winemaker’s notes.
“Beautifully styled and immediately appealing on the nose with sweet cherry, mushroom, toasted nut and rich floral aromas. The palate delivers excellent weight and silky flow, splendidly supported by finely integrated tannins. Soothing and comforting.”
93 points, 5 Stars, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit 2022.
Massolino Moscato d’Asti 2022 (375ml)
What I like about Moscato is that it is low in alcohol, usually around 5%. This gives it a refreshing, light, lifted quality - so much better than that slow descent into queasiness, brought on by a rich, red table wine, followed by a rich, sweet dessert wine, followed by an even more alcoholic fortifed.
“It’s meadow-fresh and intensely flavoured, with beautifully articulated white fruits, chamomile tea and perfumed florals, accompanied by a buoyant mouthfeel, chalky structure and tonnes of energy. Hard to fault this.” Importer’s notes.
I can offer St Nick’s Picks for $200
Christmas Crackers 6-pack
Agrapart Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc NV (Dis 2021)
This release is a blend of 2017 and 2016, with the reserve wine making up a significant 60% of the blend. After a natural fermentation, half the wine was matured in large format, neutral oak and then spent up to 48 months on lees. Dosage was limited to five grams per litre and disgorgement carried out by hand in April 2021.
“These winemaking standards, combined with the organic viticulture, reach benchmarks that are far higher than any Grande Marque prestige cuvée we know of. This is a brilliant Terroirs. It offers the classic Agrapart pillowy texture, with ripe nectarine, yellow peach and earthy fruit notes and an arrow-straight spine of saline minerality. A pulpy and vibrant study of Côte des Blancs greatness that’s utterly delicious.” Importer’s notes.
Suavia Soave DOC Monte Carbonare 2021
“We always say that this wine is like a bit of earth in a glass, and it’s true. In the Monte Carbonare vineyard the vines sink their roots deep down into the black earth; pure volcano. This gives the wine personality: forthright and truthful, with a sharp mineral nature. It tastes of rain on flint, on the black stones of the dry walls, and of that good fragrance that the countryside releases when dampened by the first rain.” Winemaking sisters - Meri, Valenina and Alessandra Tessari.
“... this is a complex wine, demanding food and a little more contemplation. Mirabelle, apricot pith, a whiff of dried mango and plenty of smoky, pungent mineral grip, with dutiful freshness towing tenacious length. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.” 95 points, James Suckling.
Byrne Farm Chardonnay 2022
A wonderful chardonnay from an exciting new producer in Orange. “This wine shows green apple, white peach and green melon fruits with flinty, textured notes balanced with a mineral, crisp finish.” Winemaker’s notes.
“It’s flush with fleshy citrus, chalky and saline minerals, some toasty richness and lovely struck match reduction. Like the 2021, it’s a wine of poised weight, deftly balanced by cool acidity, linear length and a beautiful grapefruit tinged, lengthy close. Serious bang for your buck here.” Bibendum Wine Co.
Medhurst Rosé 2022
“Very pale copper with a bright vibrant pink hue. Deliciously elusive fresh fruits including strawberry and raspberry are supported by tropical fruits and the white blossom of jasmine. The palate is savoury and refined with a supple creamy texture. The finish to the wine is superb, fresh fruits lovely roundness and weight and a long chalky delicate line that is the trademark of this single vineyard wine.” Winemaker’s notes.
“An estate blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. The faint salmon hue reflects the whole-bunch pressing used to make this a purpose-built wine from the ground up.” 95 points, James Halliday Wine Companion as well as a Special Value Rating.
Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly Les Sept Vignes 2021
Top-notch Cru Beaujolais. “Fine tannin, gravel and dried cherry, detail of earth and dried herbs and a sense of minerality. Spot on. It’s succulent and long, bright and fresh yet also savoury. It’s such a delicious wine. Juicy, earthy, red fruits, light ferrous notes, orange citrus characters. Fine grip through the wine but with fruitiness. Far out. The whole thing drinks with such charm. Elegant and beautiful drinking, with regional character on show. I’m all over it. Such an outstanding drink. Crikey!”
95 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front.
Terre a Terre Botrytis 2021 (750ml)
The first release of Botrytis is made with late harvested sauvignon blanc from the close-spaced Crayères Vineyard in Wrattonbully. Approximately 10% of the fruit was botrytis affected. The wine is super fresh and light, with floral flavours as well as ripe pear, apricot and white truffle. Delicious.
I can offer Christmas Crackers for $375
IMPORTANT FREIGHT INFORMATION
Metro Sydney - we have our own van and driver, so for metro Sydney* we guarantee pre-Christmas delivery for orders placed up until 5pm, on the 23rd of December.
Outside of Sydney - we rely on couriers. They’ve been experiencing significant delays due to massive increases in volumes so we can’t guarantee pre-Christmas delivery for orders placed after the 1st December.
*There’s always some ambiguity and flexibility in what is regarded as metro Sydney. We’re in Bondi Junction, so if you’re ‘in Sydney’ but miles away, best to email me at davidparker@bottleandglass.com.au to confirm your delivery time.
