Whilst Christmas is often a food fest of gargantuan proportions, New Years celebrations are usually way smaller and more intimate occasions. This gives me us the opportunity to choose nicer, finer wines for these occasions.
Sparkling options
Bubbles are synonymous with celebration. Whilst Champagne is always a popular choice, good quality Prosecco can be a clever way of keeping the costs low and still celebrating in style.
Dom Perignon 2013 : A delicious Champagne that showcases a beautiful mid-place between tension and expressiveness already.
'Antico' Prosecco, Col Sandago 2021 : Impress your guests by being different! Unfiltered, dry and bottle fermented Prosecco. Its fresh, velvety taste, dry and pleasantly bitter on the finish, with a good structure and delicately mineral, makes it excellent for the whole meal and in combination with fish dishes.
White Wine
Sancerre, Comte Lafond 2023: Sancerre might be a tad conservative, but Comte Lafond are one of the finest producers. This Mid priced, premium quality Sancerre has an incredible balance of freshness, richness and character. A sure win with all your guests!
Chablis, Grand Régnard, Maison Régnard 2022: There's Chablis and there's Chablis, and the 'Grand Régnard' has long been recognized as one of the best and this will surely dazzle your guests. This is a structured Chablis that is aged on its less giving it body and complexity, without any over-the -top oaky and buttery flavors, keeping the wine fresh and delicious without getting tiring.
Pouilly Fumé 'Baron de L', Baron de LaDoucette, 2020: If you want to bring out the big guns, this Pouilly Fumé is the Rolls Royce. From the internationally renowned 'King of Loire' this is his masterpiece - produced exclusively in the best years. Chosen by Sir Elton John for his wedding, this wine is considered one of the finest Sauvignon Blancs around. This is a celebration wine that we suggest decanting for a couple of hours (around 2 hours)
Red Wine
Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir, Maison Régnard 2023 : A fine red Burgundy will display refined nuances of black currant, red fruit, earth, spice, alluring floral aromatics and have great elegance, complexity and longevity - this entry level Pinot Noir has it all albeit being packaged as entry level.
Chateau Cambon Le Pelouse 2018: Impress your guests with a fine Bordeaux wine that won't break the bank. Let's face it, if you're having a number of people over, the chances are that some really enjoy some good wine, whilst others couldn't tell plonk-wine from quality wine no matter how may time you explain. If you're having to balance some really great wine that you and the couple of friends that enjoy wine, without having to serve you very finest to your old aunty Julia, this is the wine for you. At just €25 a bottle this wine is complex, fresh and has gives that typical bordeaux satisfaction.
Fleurie, Chateau des Bachelards, 2018: Welcome to the delightful deep end of contemporary Beaujolais! This Biodynamic Fleurie is spectacular, having received a whopping 96/100 from international wine critic James Suckling. The wine is floral, complex, dense, long and relatively firm with a splendid mid-palate of pure and fresh blackberry. Servie it blind to your most snobbish wine -friends and this wine will be the new talk of the town. Oh and it's dangerously easy to keep drinking all through 2025.
Runrig, Torbreck Vintners 2017 (1.5L / Magum): There's no better time to bring out the big boys. This magnum Runrig 2017 is big in every way possible. The Runrig is considered one of the top 25 'excellent' benchmark wines by winespectator magazine and the 2017 is a Runrig that balances power and elegance so well. Made from 120 year-old vines, It's full-bodied and concentrated but supple and silky enough to seem lighter in the mouth, showing tremendous length and elegance on the finish, where it adds nuances of cinnamon and cocoa.
Brunello di Montalcino, Poggio di Sotto, 2018: We're bringing out the top stuff now. Voted No1 by Wine Enthusiast's 'Top 100 Cellar Selections 2023, this Brunello is hauntingly refined and elegant. Favouring elegance of opulence, the profile anchored in bright cherry fruit is framed by highlights of balsamic, baking spice, and candied orange peel. The tannin structure is firm yet ripe and will carry the wine well through decades of cellaring. A classic wine from one of the world’s great wine regions. Only share this wine with your closest friends and family. it's a treat to remember (decant for 2 hours)
Sweet wine
You simply can't have people over for New Year without serving a glass of sweet wine to finish off the meal
Sichel Sauternes, 2020: Arguably the best-value Sauternes around. We're huge Sauternes fans and this little guy impresses us every time. At just €18.00 a bottles it will delight everyone at the table without denting your pocket.
Chateau D'Yquem 2016: Absolutely magical and mystical in one. Yes, Yquem is so much more expensive than all other Sauternes, but the quality of wine is incomparable. This is in a league of its own and is to be given it's time to be savoured and enjoyed. The length of this wine is simply endless. The perfect end to 2024 and the best way to usher in the new year.
