The best New Year drinks to bring in 2020
cash queens.
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, £7.50, The Co-op
A heady, fruity bouquet with an exotic taste that had a hint of guava and blossom. Full of character and taste.
Verdict: Top notch 9.5/10
The Best Marques de los Rios Rioja Reserve, £11, Morrisons
Dark, rich red with a heavy fruit whiff. It tasted of dark berries and had a spicy kick.
Verdict: Not for the fainthearted 7/10
Extra Special Albarino Rias Baixas, £9, Asda
A dry Spanish wine that was crisp, sharp and citrusy and played out a flamenco on our taste buds.
Verdict:
Waspish little number 6/10
Tapa Roja Old Vines Monastrell, £7, Marks & Spencer
Smooth, fullbodied and fruity with a bold berry taste and a nice hint of plum. Very easy to drink.
Verdict: A very decent wine for the price 10/10
Exquisite Collection Pinot Grigio, £5.49, Aldi
A strawcoloured wine with a clean, apple taste but just a little rough around the edges.
Verdict:
Needs to be smoother 6/10
Taste the Difference Gaillac Rouge, £8, Sainsbury’s
A very pleasant, fresh berry smell. Had a good blackberry flavour with a nice little peppery kick.
Verdict:
Medium bodied and fruity 9/10
Gavi, £8.49, Waitrose
Elegant and classy with a light bouquet that flirted with pear and citrus and was a pleasure to drink.
Verdict:
Understated and chic 9.5/10
Baturrica Gran Reserva 2013, £4.99, Lidl
We found it a bit sharp and unpleasant. It was disappointing as we struggled to get any distinct flavour.
Verdict:
Boring and bland 5/10
Finest Chablis Premier Cru, £15, Tesco
Slightly oaked which gave it a richness and depth that reminded us of long gone smokefilled clubs.
Verdict: A tapestry of delicious tastes 10/10
Colossal Reserva, £7.45, Iceland
Full-bodied and dry with a strong berry aroma. Had a rich blackberry and warm spice flavour with juicy tannins.
Verdict:
Good intense flavour
THE countdown to 2020 has started and it’s time to stock up on tipples to toast the New Year.
While the choice of bubbles has never been greater, ranging from under a tenner to more than £20, it’s difficult to know which are the real sparklers and which will just fall flat.
To help you pick a winner and celebrate in style, we put 10 bestselling bottles through the ultimate Cash Queens taste test to find the corkers.
And if fizz isn’t your favourite, we’ve also put red and white wine through their paces so you can sup fine wine instead of plonk.
Chin-chin and a Happy New Year. * All prices correct at time of going to press
Abel Charlot Brut Champagne, £20, Marks & Spencer A lively cork but surprisingly not as bubbly as the others. Pale, pretty colour and very pleasant, fresh, fruity flavour.
Verdict: Bubbly but not too fizzy 9.5/10
Les Pionniers, £18, The Co-op Very lively with a deep straw colour and deliciously rounded with a hint of strawberries that reminded us of tennis and Wimbledon.
Verdict: A taste of summer 9/10
Extra Special Louis Bernard Vintage, £25, Asda Tangy and sharp – a bit like a Granny Smith – and it lingered for longer than we expected.
Verdict: Punchy so make sure you sip slowly 7/10
Taste the Difference Blanc de Noirs Champagne, £21, Sainsbury’s Warm, creamy colour with lots of lively bubbles. It had a strong fruit flavour and left a sweet biscuity taste.
Verdict: Pleasant bottle of fizz 8/10
Veuve Monsigny, £12.49, Aldi Pale, light and crisp with fruity undertones and a burst of bubbles, it was a delightful pickme-up that was easy on the palette. Verdict:
Bargain crowdpleaser 9/10
Comte de Senneval Champagne, £11.49, Lidl Very pale colour with a good fizz. Crisp, yet creamy flavour that was fresh and light and lovely.
Verdict: The bottle emptied a bit quick 9/10
Maison de la Rougerie Cremant de Bourdeaux, £8.75, Iceland Lovely pale colour with fast and furious bubbles. Light, fresh and it tasted sweet, creamy and fruity.
Verdict: Gave the posher champers a run for their money 9/10
Champagne Brut, £19.99, Waitrose A subtle and stylish bubbly that just slipped down and wouldn’t be out of place at a top event like Ascot.
Verdict: A thoroughbred 10/10
The Best Premier Cru Champagne, £21, Morrisons Pale and elegant with lots of fine bubbles. Fresh and crisp with a nice citrus and apple flavour.
Verdict: Very drinkable and easy to quaff 8/10
Finest Premier Cru, £20, Tesco It was light but had a tart backdrop that made it difficult to drink, yet it didn’t have any other characteristics. Verdict:
Cru-some 3/10