RAISE A GLASS

WITH JANE CLARE

I’ve brought you reds and whites in recent days for your festive enjoyment; here’s a handful more. It’s the season of giving after all!

CLASSIC REDS FOR CHRISTMAS:

If a bold red with statement is your thing, then this wine could be perfect: Contino Reserva 2017 (RRP £23.55, Waitrose, Waitrose Cellar, M&S, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Wine Society).

The wine is a joy of fresh red and black fruits, with depths of spice, toast and dark dried fruits from aging. Both French and American oak were used, bringing subtlety of vanilla and coconut.

From New Zealand, I bring you Scott Base Pinot Noir Central Otago New Zealand 2020 (£19.99, or £17.99 in a buy 12 deal online at finewinesdirectuk. com). Central Otago vineyards are the most southerly in the world and pinot noir wines from here are divine. The tannins are light, the colour is ruby and transparent, and the wine is full of red berries, cherries and wild herbs.

CLASSIC WHITES FOR CHRISTMAS:

Sauvignon blanc is from the Loire Valley and Aldi has this smashing classic in its range, Winemaster’s Lot Sancerre (£12.99). It’s not a shouty NZ sauv blanc, it’s a subtle and elegant style. The wine is riveting on the palate with citrus and crisp, bright, exciting acidity, with an upright note of flint running through it.

And my final white for your Christmas choices is Ghost Pines Chardonnay (reduced to £16.90 online at thebottleclub.com). Its a wine from California and oh my, I love Californian chardonnay. This is no exception; ripe bruised buttery apples play with vanilla, pear and peach. The acidity refreshes and entices you to dip into the glass for more of those flavours.

A CHRISTMAS GIN

This is more of a Christmas gin than most. It is a limited edition: Cotswolds Cloudy Christmas Gin (RRP: £34.95 70cl from

cotswoldsdistillery.com). Yes there are lots of Christmasthemed gins around, with mix and match flavours and flecks of glinting gold to shake. But I like this one. It’s a take on the Cotswolds’ classic cloudy gin, with some extra festive twists – bursts of clementine, warm spice and the must-have juniper taste. There’s a selection of offers on the gin – which turns cloudy as you add ice and tonic – over at the website.

Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.