Wines for Christmas gifting and Christmas drinking

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With less than 2 weeks left until Christmas, it’s time to stock up on wine for Christmas gifting and Christmas drinking. We asked French wine importers in Australia to recommend French wines for Christmas gifting and for Christmas drinking across 3 budgets: under $50, under $100 and over $100.

Wines for Christmas gifting Wines for Christmas drinking

 

Clos Cachet Fine Wines

Ashleigh from Clos Cachet recommends wines for Christmas gifting and for Christmas Day drinking.

 

Wines for Christmas gifting

Under $50

Les vins à offrir pour noël Wines for Christmas gifting Domaine Le Petit Saint Vincent – Cab à Bulles Rose Méthode Ancestrale Pet Nat – $42

This is the perfect celebration wine when on a budget. Gifting this bubbly Cabernet Franc is perfect for someone that likes a party. “Cab à Bulles” by Dominique Joseph is the quintessential Pétillant Naturel, and is made for enjoying on a deck with fresh prawns and seafood, dips and aperitif snacks.

 

Tasting Notes: This bouquet is lively and energetic with bright red berries with lively phenolics. The palate is bone dry with delectable red fruits, herbaceous green peppers and pretty bubbles. Drink now. 100% Cabernet Franc.

 

Under $100

Les vins à offrir pour noël Wines for Christmas gifting Chateau de Bel-Air – Lalande de Pomerol 2016 $75

As mentioned in the Cocks & Feret guides as one of the best wines of the appellation as early as 1922, Château de Bel-Air is the perfect wine to treat your friend or family to. As a delicate wine that perfectly partners refined dishes, it is a lovely gift for Christmas. Sourced from a vineyard with historic quality, Michel de Laet Derache’s latest vintages will be a delight for anyone to open at Christmas.

 

Tasting Notes: On the nose, Château de Bel-Air presents notes of red fruit and floral aromas; on the palate, a harmonious balance between flesh and tannins means it can be enjoyed after just a few years of cellaring. It can be drunk now or cellared until 2022+. 73% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Over $100

wines for Christmas giftsJean-Luc Jamet – Cote-Rotie “Les Terrasses” 2017 $215

Enjoy with hearty dishes like red meat-driven lasagne and ragu.

 

Treat someone this Christmas to a bottle of Jean-Luc Jamet “Les Terrasses”. As an undeniable icon and celebrated producer, he crafts some of the most exquisite wines in Côte-Rôtie. With his point of difference being his ability to blend more than ten different plots from the best, northern sites of Côte-Rôtie, the receiver of this gift would never have tasted a wine quite like Jamet’s.

 

Tasting Notes: The bouquet is bold and structured, with a spectrum of red-to-dark berry fruit alongside an iron earthiness. The palate delivers waves of dark berry fruit, savoury cured meat across the mid-palate, before bakers spice and menthol on the aftertaste. Drink now with a one-hour decant before serving or lay down till 2030. 100% Syrah.

 

Wines for drinking with the Christmas meal

 

Under $50

Wines for Christmas drinking /Les vins à boire pour noëlRougeot-Dupin – Bourgogne Chardonnay 2019 $46

Here in Australia, we all enjoy a nice hot summer’s day for Christmas, and the perfect wine comes in the form of a Chardonnay by Domaine Rougeot. It pairs brilliantly with cured meats on a charcuterie board before a big feast. Or pour a glass when dishing up your seafood lunch.

 

This Rougeot-Dupin wine is made from purchased Chardonnay grapes, carefully selected from sustainably grown vineyards in Cote de Beaune and Cote Chalonnaise, to ensure the highest quality wine for your enjoyment.

 

Tasting Notes: The wine has a subtle nose of white stone fruit, fresh hazelnut, almond and a hint of butter. It’s perfect to open when it’s young, in its first one to four years. 100% Chardonnay.

 

Under $100

Wines for Christmas drinking /Les vins à boire pour noëlChateau le Coteau – Margaux 2016 $90

For those that enjoy the heartier Christmas feasts this full-bodied Bordeaux blend is perfect to consume alongside your lean meats and charcoaled vegetables, even a firm fish with red wine sauce if you prefer.

 

Château le Coteau is one of the very last family estates within the prestigious Margaux appellation. It has been in Eric Léglise’s family for at least six generations, and now he is the proud custodian of the estate, working with passion and humility. He always applies methods that respect both the environment and his terroir: his vines have always been ploughed and have never received a drop of pesticides. Enjoy this guilt-free Bordeaux blend at your next Christmas dinner.

 

Tasting Notes: Château Le Coteau has a beautiful bouquet, very expressive, with red ripe fruits, blackcurrant, blackberries, some very fine spicy notes, and torrefied coffee beans. On the palate the wine has an enchanting, silky structure, very harmonious and dense. The finish is long, and balanced with great acidity and freshness. Drink now or cellar up until 2026+. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.

 

Over $100

Wines for Christmas drinking /Les vins à boire pour noëlDomaine Rougeot – Meursault 1er cru “Les Charmes” 2019 $215

If you’re wanting to treat yourself to the best of the best, serve up this Meursault Chardonnay with the white meats and seafood. Domaine Rougeot has a long history of making superb white wines out of the famed village of Meursault and the Meursault 1er Cru “Les Charmes” is one of the most incredible Premier Cru of the village.

 

Tasting Notes: The “Les Charmes” Chardonnay has a profound gold colour and a very complex taste of almond, pear and fresh apricot. It is ample, full bodied and rich with a very long finish. The Meursault “Les Charmes” is known to be Meursault’s most elegant wine. You can cellar it for up to 10 to 12 years but if opening it on Christmas you just need to decant it for thirty five minutes before serving. 100% Chardonnay.

 

Clutch Wines

Henri from Clutch Wines shares his recommendations of French wines for Christmas gifting.

 

Wines for Christmas gifting

 

Under $50

Les Deux Moulins Rosé

A little French rosé from the Loire Valley, simple, fruit driven and dry finish.

 

 

 

Des vins à offrir à NoëlOver $50

2014 Domaine Bohn Riesling Schieferberg ‘Biodynamic’

Summer down under is always nice and hot. Nothing better than refreshing ourselves with a classic Alsatian Riesling with a little bit of age. 

Dry, Mineral, biodynamic vineyard

 

Des vins à offrir à NoëlOver $100

2011 Domaine Gatinois Grand Cru Champagne

A stellar drop from a grower in Champagne. As a world celebratory wine Christmas can’t go by without a great bottle of champagne.

Very limited, Only 2 bottles available.

 

 

Cyrano Wines

Jean-Francois from Cyrano Wines shares his recommendations of wines for Christmas gifting and wines for Christmas drinking.

 

Wines for Christmas gifting: all under $50

 

Pic St Loup “Joseph” 2018 from Mas de Figuier     

AOC Pic St Loup/Syrah/Organic

Price inc. GST : $47.00

 

One of the best terroir in the world for Shiraz in the world!

  

Crémant de Limoux « Eugénie » 2018 from Maison Antech   

12.0%/ Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac

Price inc. GST : $33.00

 

So close to Champagne for half the price!

 

 

Wines for Christmas drinking : all under $50

These wines are the perfect match for a Christmas roast.

 

Wines for Christmas drinking /Les vins à boire pour noël« Galets » Rosé 2020 from Château Mourgues du Grès

AOP Costières de Nimes/Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre/Organic

Price inc. GST : $24.00

To be enjoyed chilled before the meal and then with dishes such as grilled fish, red tuna or pork roast.

Luminous rose colour, Intense red fruit aromas and flavours finishing with subtle spicy notes and a distinct sensation of minerality.

Palate is fleshy and crisp.

A serious foodies rosé!

 

Rivesaltes Ambré « Réserve personnelle » 2011 from Jeff Carrel

Vin doux naturel/18.0%/Maccabeu, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris

Price inc. GST :  $33.00

Made by the mutage method (addition of grape spirit to stop fermentation and retain natural sugar), followed by oxidative maturation.

 

Very complex wine with such aromas and flavours of dried fruit, nuts, resin, vanilla, chocolate, caramel, browned sugar, honey….

 

Excellent with Christmas chocolate and dried fruit. Also pairs very well with cheese.

 

Jean-Francois also recommends the two wines recommended for gifting also for drinking with the Christmas meal

 

Crémant de Limoux « Eugénie » 2018 from Maison Antech 

12.0%/ Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac

Price inc. GST :  $33.00

A round and delicate wine with fine bubbles.

Distinctive aromas of white flowers with toasty and honey notes on the palate.

Perfect for festive pre dinner drinks or with summery desserts.

 

Pic St Loup “Joseph” 2018 from Mas de Figuier

AOC Pic St Loup/Syrah/Organic

Price inc. GST : $47.00

Profusion of aromas such as ripe red berry, liquorice, pepper, vanilla, and black chocolate.

A full bodied yet balance wine, with silky tannins and remarkable mouth length.

Perfect red for the Christmas roast.

 

Which wines are you gifting and drinking this Christmas?

 

For other French Christmas ideas, check out these articles:

French Christmas gifts for everyone on your list!

Gift vouchers for French Restaurants and Cafés in Australia

 

And to find out where to buy the Buche de Noel near you:

It’s time for the Bûche de Noël 2021

 

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Wines for Christmas gifting Wines for Christmas drinking

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