As we head to the pointy end of the year, it’s time to plan your holiday festivities and tick wines to complement. Two local wine connoisseurs of Corkers Cellars, LOU-ANN FIELD and ALFIE PARDOE, highlight their top 12 wine selections to celebrate the holiday season.
Lou-Ann’s List
With over 25years in the wine indus tr y, choosing my favourite 12 was quite a task – so many great wines! But here we go.
Start the festive celebrations with a glass of champagne/bubbles – a great aperitif to tantalise the tastebuds and ready them for the feast. With a choice of French and Australian, you can also enjoy your bubbles with some freshly shucked oysters.
1. Palmer & Co Brut Reserve NV, Chardonnay/Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – seductive, rich and fresh (Reims, France) $69.99
2. Arras Brut Elite NV (winemaker Ed Carr) – Australian sparkling royalty; 96 points James Halliday; world-class sparkling wine ( Tasmania) $37.99
Seafood is a perfect pick at Christmas time. I’ve chosen varieties that complement the seafood’s rich and delicate flavours.
3. Chateau de Castelnau, Picpoul De Pinet – French aromatic style, beautiful citrus and mineral characters, akin to Riesling. $19.99
4. Cullen ‘Dancing in the Sun’ Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, vibrant citrus with a hint of tropical (Margaret River) $21.99
For richer fish dishes, I suggest a fuller-bodied white and a sneak y little pinot or rose if you like your grilled salmon or ocean trout.
5. Haselgrove ‘Staff ’ Adelaide Hills Chardonnay – single vineyard, impeccably balanced with creamy tex ture. $19.99
6. AIX Rose – elegant, generous and tasty premium Provence rose (France). $26.99
7. Dalr ymple Pinot Noir – fragrant aromas of violets, ripe dark cherries and strawberries blossom from t he glass pursued by light spicy cedar and dried herb notes (Tasmania) $29.99
My favourite for cold meats (or eggs benedict)
8. Hollick Coonawarra Sparkling Merlot – It’s not like Cold Duck; it’s delicious. Trust me! $21.99
Roast meats – lamb then beef
9. Smidge ‘La Grenouille’ McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon – from acclaimed Winestate Top 100 Winemaker Matt Wenk. $31.99
10. Sons of Eden Barossa Valley ‘Zephyrus’ Shiraz – blend of 19 unique individual shiraz parcels. $33.99
Dessert time! Remember desser t wine? It’s a wonder ful match to the traditional Christmas pudd, crème brulee or cheesecake; also great with sof t white and blue cheeses.
11. Heggies Eden Valley Botrytis Riesling – full and rich with mouth-watering freshness. $23.99
Finishing off, you just can’t go past this fortified; if you’ve got room for a slice of fruit cake even better, or jus t sip and enjoy!
12. Smidge Rutherglen Grand Muscat – another stunner from Matt Wenk, luscious, rich yet balanced. $78.99
Alfie’s List
1. Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blanc Brut Champagne (France) $64.99
Lovely soft and rounded wine, with supreme freshness; displays the purity of chardonnay in all its glory.
2. S.C. Pannell Arido Rose (McLaren Vale, SA) $24.99
Beautiful rose showing balanced acidit y and a long finish; hints of rose, strawberry and Campari.
3. Pikes 2017 Traditionale Riesling (Clare Valley, SA) $21.99
Pristine aromas of lime, lemon and grapefruit dominate initially, with some gentle floral notes kicking in behind these; always a favourite.
4. Sidewood 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (Adelaide Hills, SA) $20
Proudly following in the award-winning path of previous vintages, this wine ticks all the boxes; quality fruit with great balance and length.
5. Lethbridge 2017 Pinot Gris (Geelong, Vic) $27
Very fresh and vibrant wine; pears, red apples, lychees and quince leap from the glass; an elegant and generous pinot gris.
6. Henschke Adelaide Hills Croft Chardonnay $44.99
Lush, creamy and complex wine with layers of fruit that go on forever.
7. Shaw + Smith 2017 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir $44.99
Impeccable pinot from cool climate, low-yielding, mature vineyards; vegan-friendly.
8. Jones Road Nepean 2015 Pinot Noir (Mornington, Vic) $42
Very intense and precise pinot here with violet-like florals, sappy fresh forest aromas, raspberry, a savoury graphite like mineral edge and a pure red cherry fruit flavour; the balance is perfect and the wine delivers plenty of value for this reserve single vineyard barrel selected wine.
9. Yalumba 2014 Signature Shiraz Cabernet (Barossa Valley, SA) $55
A perennial Christmas favourite from the Yalumba stable, celebrating its 56th year of release; impeccable fruit handling with great depth, complexity and finesse.
10. JJ Hahn 1975 Western Ridge Shiraz (Barossa Valley, SA) $32
This single vineyard Shiraz, sourced from the Rolf Binder estate on the Barossa’s western ridge, really shows off t he richness of old vine Barossa Shiraz wit h its layers of ripe concentrated red fruit characters, mixed with elements of minerals and ironstone drawn up from the roots driving deep into the sandy red loam soils.
11. Charles Melton 2015 Nine Popes GSM (Barossa Valley, SA) $69.99
Iconic wine from the master of Grenache, inspired by the great Rhone wines of France; nice cedar notes add to a wine with finesse and poise.
12. Valdespino Pedro Ximenez (Jerez, Spain) Sherry $25
From one of the oldes t bodegas in Jerez, this velvety and rich sherry can be served slightly chilled during desert or is delicious poured over ice cream.
