There’s nothing better to liven up a Christmas dinner table than a vibrant bottle of red or golden white wine, but as well as looking great, it has to taste spectacular. We’ve sampled some award-winning wine options from fifth-generation winemaker Laurent Delaunay, from a sumptuous chardonnay to a playful pinot noir, which we think will make the perfect addition to your festive feast.
Edouard Delaunay Bourgogne Aligoté 2020
£24
Aligoté is a less well-known grape variety from Burgundy, but Edouard Delaunay is looking to put it firmly back on the winemaking map. Bourgogne Aligoté 2020 is created using grapes grown in one of the highest vineyards in Burgundy that are hand-picked once they reach peak ripeness and acidity. They’re then pressed and fermented in oak barrels, where the wine remains on the lees for four months before early bottling.
It’s easy on the eye, with pale, straw-yellow colouring. There are fresh notes of citrus on the nose, with the lemon and mandarin melding with floral and cut straw. The flavour opens out further on the palate, revealing more orchard and stone fruits and a hint of honeyed sweetness. The long finish has a touch of salinity that keeps you coming back for more, and makes it crisp and clean in flavour.
Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon Chardonnay Le Village 2022
£20
Chardonnay Le Village is produced by Abbotts & Delaunay on the 25-hectare Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon Estate, located in the Languedoc’s Haute Vallée de l’Aude. The estate organically produces grapes which make top-quality chardonnay and pinot noir wines.
This young chardonnay is complex yet well-balanced, thanks to the production method, which sees 75% of the cuvée aged on lees for eight months, with the remaining 25% aged in stainless steel vats at low temperatures.
On the nose, plenty of ripe fruit with peach and citrus is inviting you in. There’s also a touch of sweetness there, and with the floral notes, it has a warm summer feel to it. Once on the palate, a nutty hint adds a more woody edge to the flavour. The fruit continues, with a little tropical banana rounding out the mouthful.
It’s hard to go wrong with a good chardonnay, and this is no exception. It is fresh with just a hint of acidity, and with its pale gold hue, it’ll be a great addition to any festive table.
Edouard Delaunay Gevrey-Chambertin Le Village 2019
£66
Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest wine-producing village in Burgundy, producing a classically intense pinot noir. Grapes are selected from various plots that grow at an altitude of 250-300 metres before undergoing the vinification process. They’re then aged in barrels, of which a third are new oak, for 16 months before being blended and bottled.
The result is a rich, deep red glassful. On the nose, there’s a hint of peppery spice with dark red fruits — cherry and raspberry — to start the flavour journey. The fruits are carried through onto the palate and joined by citrus and liquorice, which further deepen the flavour. A hint of almond and a touch of coffee in the long finish make it a great glass of warming Pinot Noir for the festive season.
Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon Solaire Pinot Noir 2017
£27
The name Solaire alludes to the 17-year-old vineyard from which the grapes were harvested for this single vineyard wine from Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon. Once the grapes have been collected and prepared, they are fermented in an open tank for a few days before the full fermentation and maceration process takes place. The resulting liquid is then matured for around nine months in young oak barrels before being bottled.
This fairly complex process produces a fabulously deep-coloured wine, which has an earthy aroma, with those same tones initially enlivening the palate. There are hints of woodland peat and mushrooms, but then the floral tones creep in. Once in the mouth, the liquid blossoms, bringing red fruits and berries, and even a touch of rich chocolate to the profile.
A depth of richness lingers, with a touch of aromatic spice and liquorice in the long finish. It’s rich and elegant, with a depth that will compliment red meats well, or that after-dinner cheese board — if you’ve any room for pudding.
Domaine de la Métairie d’Alon Pinot Noir Le Village 2019
£20
Le Village Pinot Noir is produced from high-quality, hand-picked organic grapes, which are perfect for producing an excellent pinot noir. The grapes are cultivated at a high altitude, benefiting from both low nighttime temperatures and plenty of warm daytime sunshine, so the slow ripening of the grapes creates a well-balanced wine.
To ensure the grapes retain their freshness, 60% of the wines were aged at a low temperature in stainless steel for nine months, while the remaining 40% of the blend was aged in 3-4-year-old barrels for six months, adding complexity to the finished bottle.
Once you uncork the bottle, the red berries and floral notes waft up to greet you with a warmth that encourages you to pour. The delightful red colour of this pinot noir reflects the vibrancy of its character well, and as it hits the palate, the freshness of the dark cherries and berries is elevated by peppery spice and liquorice root before the long, elegant, slightly earth finish. It is the perfect accompaniment for Boxing Day leftovers or a bowl of flavour-filled pasta on a chilly winter evening.
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