The best whites for serving with your Christmas dinner
Under £12 Gascony, SW France: Terra Sana Sauvignon Blanc 2017
I have never featured a Gascon white in my Christmas column, but this zippy, zesty new organic white is a great festive party bargain. Frenchman Francois Lurton clearly sees the potential of forgotten vineyards of Cotes de Gascogne near his Bordeaux homeland. With its grassy aromas, gooseberry fruits and vibrant acid, this reminds me of a cross between Loire and Bordeaux sauvignon.
£6.99, Aldi
Stellenbosch, South Africa: Bradgate Chenin Blanc 2015
Gary and Cathy Jordan have created a zippy, fresh, fruity chenin blanc from their cool south and east-facing vineyards of decomposed granite in Stellenbosch. Loved its tropical notes and creamy lees richness – and with bottle age it has matured into a succulent mellow white without losing freshness.
£9.99, Rude Wines
Under£20 Rheingau, Germany: Rheingau Riesling Trocken (Dry) 2016 Eva Fricke
I am a big fan of Eva Fricke’s German rieslings and this is no exception. Eva did not come from a winemaking family, but discovered her love of wine in South Africa – and has worked in Spain, Italy, Australia and France. She now tends her own 45-year-old vines on Rheingau’s slate and quartz slopes. Richer and zestier than her usual style with vivid floral and diesel notes. £16.95, Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com
Burgundy, France: Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2015 JM Brocard
In a line-up of ten chablis, this old vine example stole the show. From vines planted in the late 1940s just after the Second World War, Jean Marc and his son Julien Brocard produce this exceptional example of deliciously rich concentrated creamy citric-fruited chablis.
£18, The Wine Society
Over £20 Alsace, France: Herrenweg Pinot Gris 2010 Domaine Zindhumbrecht
If you like your pinot gris rich and intense, this mature Zind-humbrecht bottling is exceptional. Citric, almonds and honey aromas, real fruit focus, slight smokiness with gentle sweetness but no cloying notes – but like all great wines it finishes dry and clean.
£28, Laithwaites
Sonoma Coast, California: Ramey Sonoma Chardonnay 2013
David Ramey’s chardonnays are my current Sonoma favourites. He uses full Burgundian techniques from whole cluster pressing, wild yeasts, lees stirring and ageing in new French oak (and a little Hungarian oak) the result is intensely rich, elegant, honeyed, beautifully textured with well integrated oak. Shows how elegant Californian chardonnay can be. £39.99-£42, Berry Bros; Oddbins; Majestic