*/
Dominic Regan and Sean Jones QC explore the wines around for Christmas in tough times.
“I accept at once that we are living in times of austerity” – Lord Justice Jackson, 30 September 2014.
Whilst we have always tried to identify the best value available we have this year made even greater efforts to spot gems that are fairly priced.
Bubbles
Aldi Champagne at £12.99 has improved massively. It now asserts that it has four years bottle age and this is utterly credible. Marvellous, as are two offerings from the Co-op. The Pionniers non-vintage is £16.99 whilst, astonishingly, the 2004 vintage at £24.99 came outright top in a recent competition run by Tom Stevenson, author of the definitive Champagne guide. If you want bubbles but not Champagne then the Aldi Blanquette has been feted at £6.99. There was much publicity recently about Lidl selling classic wine. There are no screaming bargains although a half bottle of Champagne for £7 is noteworthy. Beleaguered Tesco’s own label non-vintage champagne is good value; whilst listed at £20 we fully expect it to be discounted.
Reds and whites
Aldi also sells an Australian Shiraz for £5.99 that would be a tenner elsewhere and the Italian Toscano red remains sound although it has risen by more than 10% since last year to about £4.50. Widely available at £7 is a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon made to accompany poultry and beef. Casillero Del Diablo made by Concha Y Toro is proof that Chile is capable of delivering true value. Their whites are sound too. Subtle. Tesco has a great Pinot Noir, Primarius, from Oregon for £8.99. This is a red for those who don’t like red or want something gentle and berry-like. It would work well with poultry and is as good value as their champagne.
Majestic stores employ staff who know their stuff. The company also has some remarkable buyers. Vanilla soft Rioja from 2004 is brilliant. Last year the company found stupendous 1994 and 1995 Rioja, coming in at under £20. Maturity and class. We have regularly shared fi ne Rioja. It is so underrated and just the bottle for Christmas lunch. Marks and Spencers stock a less extensive range. Waitrose and Majestic both supply the Ned Sauvignon Blanc. Buy if you can get it for about £7. The price fluctuates enormously.
Great Western Wines in Bath will deliver anywhere in the UK. As a small supplier it can secure interesting parcels. The “Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch” ensemble, red and white, are not cheap at about £20 but you get what you pay for. The company is big on Australian wines and has, if you like it, 15% proof Shiraz. Not for the delicate.
We have two suggestions for those who are deadly serious about what they drink. Hugues Lepin, ex-sommelier at the 3 star Ducasse within the Dorchester, is private client director at Wine Source in London. He can advise on putting a good cellar together and has fabulous connections. No forgeries here.
If you want to visit the (in our opinion) best wine shop in the country go to Hedonism in Davies St, Mayfair. Despite the location and the grand bottles, their prices are utterly sensible. A grotto for oenophiles spread over two floors with a staggering choice. If pushing the boat out, but not too far, it is hard to go wrong with Chateauneuf Du Pape red and a solid White Burgundy such as Mersault, St Aubin or Puligny Montrachet. Large Waitrose stores have fineexamples of both. Fanatics (us) will look to the Jancis Robinson MW recommendations which appear in the Financial Times Magazine in the month running up to Christmas.
Please remember that every year the big retailers run “Buy 6 get 25% off ” promotions. Earlier this year Waitrose ran a “like” campaign, which only required the purchase of two bottles. We think that this year will be a buyers’ one. Competition will be extreme so be prepared to pounce. By January the bargains will have gone so buy what you can whilst you can.
On Christmas Day Prof Regan will be drinking Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, which is £15.99 at Waitrose and is worth lots more.
Merry Christmas.
Seán Jones QC, 11 KBW, @seanjonesqc, specialises in employment law and is General Editor of Tolley’s Employment Handbook. He also works in the sports law field. Seán launched the lawyers Billable Hour Campaign in 2015 which continues to raise funds for Save the Children to support its work trying to alleviate the refugee crisis. Find out how to donate and be a billable hero including the Legal500 humblebrag at: billablehour.org
Whilst we have always tried to identify the best value available we have this year made even greater efforts to spot gems that are fairly priced.
Bubbles
Aldi Champagne at £12.99 has improved massively. It now asserts that it has four years bottle age and this is utterly credible. Marvellous, as are two offerings from the Co-op. The Pionniers non-vintage is £16.99 whilst, astonishingly, the 2004 vintage at £24.99 came outright top in a recent competition run by Tom Stevenson, author of the definitive Champagne guide. If you want bubbles but not Champagne then the Aldi Blanquette has been feted at £6.99. There was much publicity recently about Lidl selling classic wine. There are no screaming bargains although a half bottle of Champagne for £7 is noteworthy. Beleaguered Tesco’s own label non-vintage champagne is good value; whilst listed at £20 we fully expect it to be discounted.
Reds and whites
Aldi also sells an Australian Shiraz for £5.99 that would be a tenner elsewhere and the Italian Toscano red remains sound although it has risen by more than 10% since last year to about £4.50. Widely available at £7 is a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon made to accompany poultry and beef. Casillero Del Diablo made by Concha Y Toro is proof that Chile is capable of delivering true value. Their whites are sound too. Subtle. Tesco has a great Pinot Noir, Primarius, from Oregon for £8.99. This is a red for those who don’t like red or want something gentle and berry-like. It would work well with poultry and is as good value as their champagne.
Majestic stores employ staff who know their stuff. The company also has some remarkable buyers. Vanilla soft Rioja from 2004 is brilliant. Last year the company found stupendous 1994 and 1995 Rioja, coming in at under £20. Maturity and class. We have regularly shared fi ne Rioja. It is so underrated and just the bottle for Christmas lunch. Marks and Spencers stock a less extensive range. Waitrose and Majestic both supply the Ned Sauvignon Blanc. Buy if you can get it for about £7. The price fluctuates enormously.
Great Western Wines in Bath will deliver anywhere in the UK. As a small supplier it can secure interesting parcels. The “Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch” ensemble, red and white, are not cheap at about £20 but you get what you pay for. The company is big on Australian wines and has, if you like it, 15% proof Shiraz. Not for the delicate.
We have two suggestions for those who are deadly serious about what they drink. Hugues Lepin, ex-sommelier at the 3 star Ducasse within the Dorchester, is private client director at Wine Source in London. He can advise on putting a good cellar together and has fabulous connections. No forgeries here.
If you want to visit the (in our opinion) best wine shop in the country go to Hedonism in Davies St, Mayfair. Despite the location and the grand bottles, their prices are utterly sensible. A grotto for oenophiles spread over two floors with a staggering choice. If pushing the boat out, but not too far, it is hard to go wrong with Chateauneuf Du Pape red and a solid White Burgundy such as Mersault, St Aubin or Puligny Montrachet. Large Waitrose stores have fineexamples of both. Fanatics (us) will look to the Jancis Robinson MW recommendations which appear in the Financial Times Magazine in the month running up to Christmas.
Please remember that every year the big retailers run “Buy 6 get 25% off ” promotions. Earlier this year Waitrose ran a “like” campaign, which only required the purchase of two bottles. We think that this year will be a buyers’ one. Competition will be extreme so be prepared to pounce. By January the bargains will have gone so buy what you can whilst you can.
On Christmas Day Prof Regan will be drinking Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, which is £15.99 at Waitrose and is worth lots more.
Merry Christmas.
Dominic Regan and Sean Jones QC explore the wines around for Christmas in tough times.
“I accept at once that we are living in times of austerity” – Lord Justice Jackson, 30 September 2014.
On both fronts – representing the Bar’s interests and protecting the rule of law
Ashley Hodgkinson looks at drug testing methods and some of the most common ways people try to cheat a drug test
Clerksroom Chambers has recruited Matthew Wildish from 3 Paper Buildings (3PB) to a newly created position of Director of Clerking. Matthew joined the team at Clerksroom on 1 June
... have you seen through yours? asks Julian Morgan
Opportunity for female sopranos/contraltos in secondary education, or who have recently finished secondary education but have not yet begun tertiary education. Eligibility includes children of members of the Bar
Fear of the collection and test process is a common factor among clients, especially among vulnerable adults in complex family law cases. Cansford Laboratories shares some tips to help the testing process run as smoothly as possible
Clerksroom Chambers has recruited Matthew Wildish from 3 Paper Buildings (3PB) to a newly created position of Director of Clerking. Matthew joined the team at Clerksroom on 1 June
In this tale of hope, success really has been the best revenge! A difficult journey teaches Rehana Azib QC invaluable lessons along the way
This article is not designed to offend the Judiciary but the quiet word has only taken us so far it is time concerns were recorded formally, says the first set to introduce an external bullying policy By Eleanor Laws QC, Oliver Mosley and Kyan Pucks
Having represented many Davids against many Goliaths over a 30+year career at the publicly funded Bar, renowned silk Professor Leslie Thomas QC critically assesses what the Human Rights Act currently under challenge has done for coronial law and equality of arms
The Chief Inspector of the CPS knows first-hand the difficulties prosecutors face but is no pushover. He talks to Anthony Inglese CB about Operation Soteria, putting victims and cooperation at the heart of criminal justice reform, and his unique and life-changing career prosecuting the crime of all crimes, genocide
