Grape vine
JANE CLARE selects some of the best festive fizz to make Christmas and New Year go with a bang
CHAMPAGNE
WM Morrison Champagne Brut NV (Morrisons, £15, down from £19 until January 1): This is a silver winner at the International Wine Challenge. It has honeysuckle, ripe red apples, vanilla, cream cake and a summer breeze on the nose. It is soft and subtle with gentle flavours and acidity and the juiciness stays with you long after the last sip.
NChampagne Comte De Senneval (Lidl, £9.99): There are aromas of fresh apples with a touch of cinnamon and baked apples too, with some sweet temptation of a baking cake. It’s not in your face though, it is subtle. Apple flavours are very refreshing, and the bubbles, well, they’re happy little bubbles. Les Pionniers Champagne Brut NV (the Co-operative, reduced by £1 to £15.99 until January 3): This super-reliable champers is named after the Rochdale Pioneers who founded the Co-operative movement. With a reputation of beating big names in blind tastings, it has a nose of biscuit, brioche and apples, and tastes of toffee-dipped green apples. Very drinkable.
PROSECCO
Taste the Difference Conegliano Prosecco Superiore, (Sainsbury’s, £10): One of the nicest proseccos I have tasted, and I’ve tasted a few. With apricot and citrus flavours it has a fruity taste which is very refreshing. There is no bitter aftertaste either, which you can get with some proseccos. A superior prosecco, this is great for getting the party started.
NBelletti Prosecco Extra Dry DOC (£5.39, Aldi): I was at the Aldi till clutching prosecco and someone said there was a cheaper one, which her pal had for wedding toasts. It would have been rude not to try it. Here it is – the Belletti is sweet, fresh and fruity on the nose, but crisp and clean too. It has apples and pears, a touch of lemon, a sherbert flirt with peach and almost a candied note. Very party y friendly.y Tesco Finest Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut DOCG (£10): This boasts the DOCG label which denotes the highest standard of prosecco. It’s not bone dry – ‘crisp’ is the word – but it’s more refined than the average prosecco. There are aromas of apple and pear with a hint of peach in the mouth. A lively, fresh-tasting wine.