Christmas Time, Mistletoe & lots of Wine

As December approaches we find more and more often that our customers are looking for advice for something just a little special, something that will pair well with not just particular occasions but also with festive fare.

With that in mind I have been gathering up top tips from all of the team here at Exel Wines to bring you the definitive guide to wines for this Christmas season.  These are all tried and trusted wines that we think you will love and we have tried to organise them by the sort of foods and occasions they might go well with.

Aperitif & Canape drinks

Reserve de Sours Single Vintage 2009 - This is one of our newest finds from old friends Chateau de Sours in Bordeaux.  The regular NV version is still available but since the release of this limited edition single vintage version featuring much longer lees aging we have just fallen in love all over again.  The wine shows divine fresh fruity flavours, and works great as an aperitif wine or with lighter smoked salmon dishes.  At just £15.95 per bottle this is still great value (bare in mind that the cheaper NV version usually sells in the big chains for around £20).

Nyetimber Blanc de Blanc 2007 - This Christmas why not think British for a real genuine alternative to Champagne.  If you want a Champagne alternative at Christmas then it must be dependable and Nyetimber is just that scoping more awards than your average Champagne house could dream of!  Citrus, apples and minerality are the hall marks of this vintage.  £39.99

Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla Sherry - Dry nutty and light, this sherry is undoubtedly the best value you are likely to see in a 75cl bottle!  Great as a staple aperitif, but also charismatic enough to work with canapes and antipasti type dishes. £10.74 per bottle is virtually giving this away!

Williams & Humbert Dry Sack Medium - A little sweeter but not excessive.  If a more "traditionally British" sherry is your cup on tea then try the Williams & Humbert Medium Sherry. Great over ice or with one of many nice pasta dishes.  £12.03

Fish & Shellfish

Heredad Ugarte Viura 2012 - This white Rioja is deliciously delicate and great with the simplest of fish dishes especially appetisers.  Smoked salmon, oysters, plain steamed lobster use your imagination or just enjoy it over lunch thinking of warm summers in Spain. £10.14

Bodegas Protos Verdejo 2011 - This crisp dry Spanish white from Rueda is just the ticket.  A little fuller in body than the viura above think mussels, think roast fish dishes think Charcuterie even.  On second thoughts, don't think just do it! £10.55

The Wine People Miopasso Fiano 2012 - A Sicilian masterpiece, floral in flavour with touches of honey and a wonderful balance of flavour.  We love the look of this wine as much as its friendly price for a slightly more quirky wine.  £9.44

Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2012 - What better time for a bit of French style and sophistication than a Christmas fish course?  We have been following this Loire favourite for a while and we tip it as one of the best value wines from the Loire. £17.14

Turkey with all the Trimmings

Grant Burge GB23 Chardonnay Viognier 2011 - A budget busting wine from down under with a great balance of flavour and acidity.  The Chardonnay brings citrus fruits to the table while the viognier adds the extra dimension and a peach quality that helps the wine stand up to the biggest meal of the year.  £8.63

Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rose 2010 - A rose... At Christmas?  Well why not we say!  So long as it is a good quality complex rose full of character.  So where else would you find that than from the makers of Mas de Daumas Gassac.  The Moulin de Gassac wines are actually a co-op run by the family behind Gassac bringing together some 700 wine growers and often nearly as many grape varieties!! £6.99

Domaine Faively Cote de Beaune Villages 2007 - Pinot Noir is a grape made for Christmas day, so long as you pick a good quality offering with a little oak aging you will find yourself sipping a wine of infinite complexity and character.  Stick with something reputable from the heartland of Burgundy like this Faively wine.  £16.74

Game Dishes

Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rouge 2010 - The red version of the above rose.  This wine is effortlessly full flavoured but soft and fruity.  A typical Mediterranean blend, but with a few extra unusual varieties in the mix too. £6.98

Domaine Coste Chaude Cuvee La Rocaille 2006 - Now with fantastic bottle age this Cotes du Rhone wine is softer and mellower than your average wine from this part of the world.  There are more expensive cuvee's from this vineyard but the La Rocaille does it for us! £14.75

Red Meat

Chakana Malbec 2013 - The Argentines, love their red meat so you know you can trust them for a cracking wine to pair here.  100% Malbec, full of body in a glass coating, lip smacking sort of way. £7.97

Welgegund Pinotage 2009 - We have been tipping this wine for some time now, sadly they have just announced they are no longer producing wine (they only ever made 3,000 bottles per year in the first place!  This is perfect with a rich roast lamb or slightly oriental flavoured meats. £21.68

Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 - If anyone in the world knows how to make a good Cabernet wine then it must be the Rothschild family.  So you know what to expect from their Chilean venture.  Full, rich tannin but with an underlying and undisputable quality. £10.10

Bodegas Protos Joven Roble 2011 - Like your red wines just a little more subtle but still with unbeatable quality?  Then this wine from the founders of the Ribera del Duero is just for you.  In essence this is a Cosecha (young) Rioja style wine.  Heavy on the tempranillo, full in the character.  £11.96

Turkey Curry Leftovers?

Now if ever there was a wine pairing topic not covered in the average wine blog it is this one.  I do believe that I am not the only one that makes a habit of partaking in a bit of leftovers turkey curry on Boxing day right?  If so then you need a great wine that pairs with the spice.  You could opt for the age old favourite from Marlborough?  The Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc features the acidity to cut effortlessly through the spice in anything but the hottest of curries. £12.55.  Personally my mantra is why opt for the usual thing in front of you when there is something special just round the corner!  With that in mind, head to the Austria winery of Weingut Aigner and their Sandgrube Gruner Veltliner. £13.40.  Fear not these are modern style wines totally dry crisp and fresh.  They possess a similar acidity and I find work great with spices and will be a nice talking point at the table.

Cheese, Chocolate, Christmas pudding and all the sweet treats

You have indulged yourself all day, and in fact most likely all month so why not carry it on into the after dinner drinks!

Bertani Recioto Valpolicella DOC 2010 - I love a nice sweet red, it tends to be the sort of thing most of us gloss over in favour of a more established Port or a Sauternes.  For me a sweet red is the king of indulgences and so very versatile in its pairings.  I love it with chocolate but equally it goes with a light fruit tart or a cheeseboard. £21.52

Jean-Christophe Barbe 'Chateau Laville' 2009 - If a more traditional dessert wine is what you desire then this little sauternes is just the ticket.  Wild heather honey with that twist of spiciness is what we pick up.  Full flavour yet fresh and fruity. £16.97

Fonseca Aged Tawny 10 Year Old - It is no secret that I love a Pinot Noir, so it is no surprise that of all the Ports I love Tawny the best.  For me its lighter delicate nature works magnificently as an after dinner drink (especially when that dinner is a gargantuan feast) due to its lighter nature. £16.35

Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny - Well they say to save the best for last and this is no exception!  This Tawny Port-style wine is from the Australian Barossa valley (yes they have a rich history in Port wine as well!).  For me it is Christmas day in a bottle, rich mulled wine spices and an overwhelming taste of Christmas pudding.  This is one of our fastest movers year round so we are expecting big demand from this at Christmas. £22.21

News from Down at the Shop

After a very busy weekend in the shop and at our stall at the Chocolate Festival in town, we are now well and truly pumped up and ready for the festive season!

Our first gin tasting went down a storm at the shop on Saturday evening which had been organised for a local group of customers wanted to surprise one of their friends - and what a surprise she got!  

We had all four Edinburgh Gins to taste - the Original, Elderflower, Raspberry and the new Spiced Orange. These were accompanied by fever tree tonic and lime. 

Here is a quote from Laura who attended the tasting, 'We all had an absolutely cracking time at Exel Wine's first gin tasting evening on Saturday night. It was great to try so many different gins, and the shop itself has so much character (being surrounded by so many bottles is very tempting!) it felt like the perfect venue - just the right size for our group of pals too. The variation in flavour (not just in terms of the types of gin but the difference with and without tonic) was amazing and Graham was a first class host; we had a real laugh and he didn't seem phased by our craziness at all! If you're looking for a night out with a difference, definitely give this a whirl - we'd all highly recommend it! Gin's up! :-)'

As a result of this great success, we can safely say that you should look out for more Gin Tasting evenings coming in-store soon!

To add to this, we'd also like to announce that this Saturday we are giving away a 10% discount at the shop. So, whether you are looking for a special present or just want to indulge in a few bottles of wine for yourself this weekend then don't forget to pop in to the shop on Saturday for this one-day special. (T&C’s apply*)

This week I'ave been mostly drinking...

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

Sometimes less is more; especially so when it comes to week-ends. My superior 50% had a very long and tough week and just needed to chill and I'm always up for a bit of chilling myself. Well, warmth actually because we lit a log fire, turned the tv off (ignoring the howls of protest from son number 3) opened a bottle of wine and just relaxed the afternoon away. The missus is partial to a Merlot and suspecting she might need to unwind I had tried to find something a bit special. Apparently the Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Merlot Chile 2011 just flies off the shelves in our shop and I can see why. Just opening the bottle unleashes a heady aroma of autumn berries and the wine is beautifully rounded with more of the berries supported by a lovely soft vanilla flavour. Just the usual complaint; 75cl is simply not enough. So I have my orders; bottles are to be acquired for Christmas and I am not to succumb to the temptation of opening them before then.

Russell Wallace, General Manager

This week I ‘ave been mostly drinking…. My long time love, Pinot Noir. I guess that the first classification on this subject is that the wine in question is not actually Pinot Noir (I shall explain)! Since I first delved into the world of red wine my personal favourite grape has always been Pinot Noir. I crave the soft fruity flavour that just keeps going on the palette, but sadly it is a love I had forgotten recently. I would partly blame an expanding palette and part on an employment that requires me to investigate and delve into every varietal the world has to offer but I think the biggest reason is that as a grape variety Pinot Noir has just not really caught the limelight like Merlot, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and all the varietals that roll off your tongue.

Pinot Noir is, however, my tip as the next big thing and something that everyone should get into especially at Christmas time. Those of you that read what I have to say with any sort of regularity will know I am a simple sort, and I like to cut out all of the extended complication that surrounds wine. So back to the issue of Pinot Noir, what I have been drinking is a lovely Burgundy from Maison Champy, their Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains. Rather than the usual Burgundian Pinot Noir this is a Gamay. What is Gamay? Gamay is the principle grape within Beaujolais, much the same as Pinot Noir, often just slightly lighter. Yes there are many different technical aspects to the grape and its precise characteristics as you can imagine but as far as the “average”, if such a thing exists, consumer would be concerned they are much the same thing. So onto the actual wine! Maison Champy owned by Pierre Meurgey are based in the beautiful village of Beaune, where Pierre started life as a negocient, a buyer and seller of grapes for the main names, to produce their wines from. One day Pierre came across an old building, part of the historic Champy estate. Pierre set about learning the history of this building and estate discovering it to be Maison Champy the first estates, some 300 years earlier, to trade as a negotient in Burgundy. Discovering this Pierre made it his goal in life to revitalise this estate and make it once again produce the world’s best pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Passe-tout-grains is a rare example of a Burgundy made from this grape outside of its common homeplace of Beaujolais. I hesitate to use the term light to describe Burgundian reds, yes they are soft but the flavours are rich, complex and evolving and the word light just does not do it justice. Instead it is a wine you perhaps need to take your time, close out the world and just spend a moment considering.

News from Down at the Shop

There certainly has been a real buzz in the shop over the last week as customers are now getting started with their Christmas shopping and have been looking for our help with gift ideas that are a little bit different from the norm. We're gearing up too with lots of new lines coming in the shop daily, and we've been putting up our Christmas decorations in time for the town's Big Christmas light switch on in Perth this Saturday!

Talking of Saturday, why not join us in the shop this Saturday where you will have the opportunity to taste some of our wonderful Fortius Wines from Spain! 

And don't forget, our shop will open on a Sunday for the next four weeks between 12 – 4. So, why not pop by and see what we have on offer or what we can do for you! 

Wine of the Week - Chiantigiane

Le Chiantigiane Cantina Di Monteporzio Catone Frascati NOW ONLY £4.99 per bottle

Le Chiantigiane Vernaccia San Gimignano DOCG 2010 NOW ONLY £5.99 per bottle

Le Chiantigiane Chianti Riserva DOCG 2007 NOW ONLY £6.99 per bottle

Le Chiantigiane Morellino Di Scansano 2008 NOW ONLY £7.49 per bottle

Purchase any two bottles of our Wine of the Week during November and receive a free Rainbow Organic Chocolate gift (subject to availability*)

Ale of the Fortnight - Cromarty Brewing Co.

Cromarty Brewing Co. Happy Chappy, Rogue Wave, Red Rocker and Brewed Awakening are now all £2.75 per bottle

Our Malt of the Month brand new releases from Bruichladdich have been selling like hot cakes so don't wait until the last minute to pick up a bottle or two for yourself this Christmas!

We also have some incredible mixed case offers on right now to suit every budget so why not pop in and see us!

News from Down at the Shop

There's always lots to do in the shop at this time of year - everyone is starting to get geared up for Christmas, and we're no exception. New stock is arriving in to the shop daily, and Ally and I have been busy putting our Christmas displays and gift selections together so that we can offer our customers the best deals. Whether you are looking for a gift that is a little different, or you want to purchase all your Christmas wine and spirits for the festive season, we have some fabulous offers on right now. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

Wine of the Week - Biscardo

Biscardo Lugana 2011 was £11.99 NOW ONLY £9.99 per bottle

Biscardo Soave Lorenzo 2010 was £10.99 NOW ONLY £8.99 per bottle

Biscardo Valpolicella Ripasso 2009 was £13.99 NOW ONLY £11.99 per bottle

Purchase any two bottles of our Wine of the Week during November and receive a free Rainbow Organic Chocolate gift (subject to availability*)

Ale of the Fortnight - Innis & Gunn

Innis & Gunn  Blonde Oak Aged now £2.15 per bottle

Innis & Gunn Canadian Cherrywood Finish now £2.80 per bottle

Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask now £2.35 per bottle

Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged now £1.89 per bottle

Innis & Gunn Rum Finish Oak Aged now £1.89 per bottle 

Sparklers - Rocland Estates 

The Chocolate Box Sparkling Moscato (White Chocolate) was £14.99 NOW £12.99 per bottle 

Champagne - Denis Robert

Denis Robert Cuvee Brut Tradition just £18.49 per bottle

Our Malt of the Month features some brand new releases from Bruichladdich, including Bruichladdich Black Art 4, Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm 2007, Bruichladdich Octomore 6.1 Scottish Barley, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Heavily Peated and Bruichladdich Scottish Barley. So, if you're looking for that special gift for a special someone then these would be hard to beat.

We also have some incredible mixed case offers on right now to suit every budget so why not pop in and see us!

This week I'ave been mostly drinking...

Susan Ross, Logistics Manager

We all had a fabulous tasting with the brand ambassador for Innis & Gunn on Thursday evening in our retail shop.  However, rather than go home with an armful of beer for the weekend, which I think I’ll leave until nearer Christmas and stock up for some gifts and guests, I decided to try a couple of wines I haven’t yet managed to – we are in the enviable predicament that we are so spoilt for choice, it is a bit of a headache choosing which wine to take home for the weekend, never mind the potential headache once its drunk!

So the choice for Sunday dinner was Camillo De Lellis Biferno Rosso Riserva Doc.  All of our shop customers rave about this wine, and now I know why.  It is a great wine without the great price ticket.  It’s Italian, from the area of Molise which is one of Italy’s smallest and least developed wine regions, and this wine oozes rustic charm. Jammy on the nose and smooth and deep in flavour – a perfect pairing for Sunday Roast.

My other choice, and again, one I’ve chosen to bring in to sell in our shop but hadn't actually got round to tasting it yet was Miopasso Fiano and I definitely needed to try this one - I’m a great lover of Italian and Spanish wines, to me they offer something a little different from the norm and Fiano is no exception to this.  I wasn’t disappointed!  Fairly deep in colour, quite golden, so I was expecting it to be perhaps a bit heavy, however, no, it was quite light in texture with loads of fruit: peachy and pear flavours, with a nice crispy and refreshing finish.  

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

We're having a cracking Autumn in this part of the world. Although a handful of trees are bare there are many nearly in full leaf and a few of those are even still showing some greenery, so a stroll round the Perthshire hills will reveal a glorious panoply of greens, browns, reds, oranges and golds. Then there's the air - crisp, cold and clear; breathing it makes you feel extra alive and the clarity highlighted by the low sun means you can literally see for miles. Amazing. Now where was I? Oh yes, wine. I start craving hearty chunky soups and stews at this time of year- we had a delicious butternut squash and paprika soup at the week-end and I think that venison haunch in the freezer will work really well with some freshly picked hedgerow fruits which are in abundance at the moment. Something full and fruity is called for on the drinking front and as luck would have it, Russell's just put a full and fruity mixed case on our website.  I chose a bottle of the VinaApaltagua Huaquen Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Chile 2010 from said case. I've already tried and enjoyed the Carmenere from the same producer so expectations where high, and I wasn't disappointed. Most tasting notes mention strawberries but I got more black and redcurrant in a full and generous but not overpowering drink from an all too small bottle. Maybe I should have bought the whole case after all.

Dianne Barrie, Company Administrator 

This week I ‘ave been mostly drinking…whisky. Yes, that’s right, whisky! Since tasting the Old Perth some months back when it was re-launched at a tasting in our retail shop, I have started to “get in to” whisky. I am, of course, far from what could be described as a very ‘educated’ whisky drinker, but I am starting to become a little more familiar with the differences in whisky styles produced in different regions of Scotland. I have to admit that I do have a preference for the softer, sweeter, fruitier whiskies – I find that I haven’t quite developed a palate for the heavier smoky, peaty styles…yet. Anyway down to this week’s choice, which I learned was actually named after a long lost distillery that once produced whisky just up the road from here between Milnathort and Forgandenny! That distillery was Stronachie. Established in 1890, the distillery finally closed its doors in 1928 when, like so many others, was forced to close following a slump in the whisky industry after the First World War.  Only four bottles of the original Stronachie from the actual distillery existed, and the story of the name's revival started in 2002 when Dewar Rattray (now A.D. Rattray) bought a bottle of Stronachie from 1904 at auction. They decided to try and recreate a whisky from this lost distillery and distribute it once again. A sample was taken from the 1904 bottle which A.D. Rattray tried to link to characteristics of a distillery still in operation - Benrinnes Distillery in Speyside, which now supplies the whisky that goes in to Stronachie. I tried the 12 year old, which I found to be lovely and rich with a very enticing honey nut flavours. There is also a slight touch of smoke on the palate from this whisky, but for me this seemed to bring out the fullness of the endnote flavours of toffee, which were almost Muscovado sugar-like in quality. A very enjoyable dram.