Best red wines to drink with turkey this Christmas
I have to confess: at Christmas dinner, for me the red wine is the main event.
Food-matching obsessives might quibble over drinking bigger reds with turkey - pinot noir is maybe more logical - but I think any of these will work, as would the chardonnays or the white Chateau Musar I recommended last week.
Cellier des Dauphins Cuvée Traditionelle 2007, Côteaux du Tricastin (ASDA, reduced from £7.98 to £4 until 28 December)
Mostly grenache with a dash of syrah, this Rhône from the far north of Provence is as good a bargain red as you'll find anywhere: simple, but its peppery, baked, juicy fruit is most quaffable.
Château Capelle 2006, Sainte-Foy Bordeaux (Stone, Vine and Sun, mail order only, £6.95, www.stonevine.co.uk. You can mix cases, delivery £5.50 for first case)
A modest but enjoyable claret from one of the more obscure Bordeaux appellations, in the far east of the region. The fruit - half merlot - is juicy and the tannins are surprisingly mellow. Good value.
Berberana Viña Alarde Gran Reserva 2002, Rioja (Majestic, £12.99 or £7.99 each when you buy two)
At least while on offer, this is good-value mature Rioja - classic leathery tannins, tobacco notes and sweet fruit.
Domaine la Garrigue, Cuvée les Trois Cyprès 2006, Vacqueyras (Majestic, £11.99 or £9.59 each when you buy any two Rhône wines)
Regular readers will know that I'm a sucker for Vacqueyras but this really is beautiful: deep, spicy fruit and fine aromatic, savoury notes.
Castle Rock Syrah 2007, Russian River (Cellar and Kitchen, 26 Hill Rise, Richmond, 020 8940 8684, £11.99 - low stock!)
Sweet, pure fruit, very soft, quite oaky but nicely balanced, this Californian syrah is very attractive.
La Bastide Blanche 2007, Bandol (Waitrose, £12.99)
A Provençal red is made mostly from mourvèdre, and you can taste it in this wine's power and wildness: baked, rich fruit but with firm tannins and herby, mineral notes. Full-on but I love it.
Craggy Range Te Muna Pinot Noir 2008, Martinborough (M&S, £14.99)
This New Zealand pinot would be a fine match for goose: red berry fruit and good acidity, with real depth and a pleasing savoury edge. Classy.
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Napa Valley (Majestic, £19.99 or £14.99 when you buy any two Mondavi wines)
Hugely enjoyable Californian cab: as sweet, rich and concentrated as you'd expect, yet it has beautiful balance and finesse too. The Mondavi Napa pinot noir (£14.99) is also excellent.
