What we’ve been drinking index
Oliver Styles
Deputy Editor, decanter.com
Egly-Ouriet, Brut Grand Cru 2000 Champagne
A serious, wine-lovers’ Champagne with body, length and interest. If you’re going to splash out on bubbly this Christmas, go for this. Great balance and length, with wonderfully fine bubbles, a big nose, and flavours veering into the domain of macerated apples. Sheer luxury.
Tina Gellie
Acting Assistant Editor, Decanter
Gonzalez Byass, Apostoles, Palo Cortado Viejo 30 Anos, Jerez, Spain
Looking for a warming nip after a virtuous run in the chilling wind and rain, I tucked into some of this greatly underrated Sherry. Flawlessly balanced, the heady Christmas spices, walnut skin and currant notes hang off a mouthwatering acid backbone – a perfect partner for pumpkin soup and an antipasto platter.
Stuart Peskett
Acting Assistant Editor, Decanter
Domecq, Capuchino Palo Cortado, 30 Year Old VORS
Fortified wine producers may rely on the festive period for a large chunk of their sales, but this amazing Palo Cortado should be flying off the shelves all year round. The nose is enticing, with rich, roasted hazelnut aromas. On the palate, the clean, nutty flavours dominate, with just a hint of sweetness. Overall, the acidity and richness are in perfect balance. Add to that the great length, and this is yet more proof that Sherry is the most undervalued alcoholic beverage going.
Adam Lechmere
Editor, decanter.com
Château Lagrezette, Le Pigeonnier, Cahors 2000
A legendary, inky-black, concentrated wine from the south of France. It’s absurdly expensive – you won’t get much change from £100 – but its opaque, dense black core and heady nose of liquor cherries and spice, followed by magnificent black forest fruits all lying on a deep and almost unyielding bed of tannins make it well worth it. Drink only with the finest red meats!
Guy Woodward
Editor, Decanter
Château Tour de Mirambeau, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2006 (white)
Every time I drink Bordeaux whites I ask myself why I don’t drink them more often. Fresh, characterful, fat – and relatively affordable. Plus, in the last couple of mediocre claret vintages, the whites have shone. The 2006 Tour de Mirambeau was a revelation on a trip to the Gironde last week, combining lively acidity and citric fruits with great density and depth of flavour.
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