SWEET AND FORTIFIED

NV Morrisons Pedro Ximénez, Jerez, Spain £6, half bottle, reduced to £5 until Dec 31, Morrisons ABSURDLY sweet, this is such a quirky wine you will need a reality check after sipping it because there is nothing in this world to compare to the flavour of ‘PX’. Like dribbly, drunken, syrupy raisins and plums at an all-night rave, covered in molasses and burnt toffee, this is a wine to sip and then grin with. Once tasted, never forgotten. NV Tesco finest* Amontillado Sherry, Spain £6 for 50cl bottle, Tesco WITH more depth of flavour than a fino sherry style, this amontillado is a richer, nuttier wine with a bone-dry palate and it is exactly the wine to pair with Spanish ham or other intensely flavoured cold meats. It can even handle pickles and cornichons, if you are partial to these little flavour assassins. NV Finest Reserve Port, Portugal (£12, reduced to £7, until Jan 1, Marks & Spencer) THIS is not a typographical error! While researching the prices in preparation for writing this piece, I was told that the price will fall to a paltry £7 for Christmas — and I nearly fainted on the spot. You must make it your mission to buy this wine. It is everything you can imagine — and more. It is one of the finest Christmas ports, and I love everything about it. NV Taylor’s, 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal £22, Morrisons THE tawny port category is taking off right now, and this is because the wines are smooth, hauntingly scented, nutty, not too hefty and also extremely moreish. Unlike other fortified wines, this style is more ‘wine-like’ and less alcohol-heavy and Taylor’s is in the driving seat with this hedonistic wine.