Michael's Festive Picks 2025
When choosing my festive favourites I cant help but start by thinking about all the wonderful festive food I will be enjoying over the Christmas period. If I only drank these wines over the festive season and no others, I would be happy. Where to start with this lot - Its a complete mixed bag of wines but they all bring something to the table and they will be on my table this Christmas season!
Cococciola Poderj
Abruzzo, Italy
75cl Bottle
This has the same profile as Albarino. It is crisp and fresh, clean and gorgeous. There is great acidity here which makes this wine perfect for lemon sauces, smoked salmon or roast meat dishes as well. A real star of a wine that I am positive everyone will enjoy, even if they can't pronounce the name - Ko-Ka-Cho-La!
Graves Blanc, Chateau des Gravieres
Graves, Bordeaux, France
75cl Bottle
White wine from Bordeaux gets overlooked because the reds are so well known. An unknown fact with white Bordeaux is that it is almost always Sauvignon Blanc with a little small proportion of Semillon. The Sauvignon Blanc is fresh, zippy and vibrant, but the Semillon can add a softer component, which helps the wine to age. The Semillon builds roundness and richness which becomes more textured as the wine ages. This really sublime and it would be a great wine for Christmas dinner.
Mercurey Clos Bussieres Blanc, Maison Chanzy
Burgundy, France
75cl Bottle
A clos means a single vineyard in Burgundy. In this case that vineyard is in the town of Bussieres. Any single vineyard wine you can get from Burgundy is worth getting. The wine is stunning. Yes, it is a treat, but at €37 it is a fraction of what you can pay for a single site wine in the most expensive appellation in the world!
Sangiovese Tenute del Pojo
Terre di Chieti, Italy
75cl Bottle
This wine is a workhorse. It over-delivers in every way. At just €13.50 it reminds me of Chianti and it is my go to wine every time we have pizza or pasta at home. It has soft ripe cherry fruits, black olives and a lovely length.
Chateau Couteleyre Graves
Bordeaux, France
75cl Bottle
Made by Irish woman Emer Kirwan-Buckley in Bordeaux, Chateau Couteleyre is just south of Bordeaux City. This is an approachable, juicy and structured wine. Made of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, it has notes of lead pencil, consistent with the freshness and minerality which this area is known for in its wines. Delicious!
Jaffelin Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Burgundy, France
75cl Bottle
Christmas Day in my house is incomplete without Burgundy. I love the house of Jaffelin because their wines are well priced and quality focused. This Pinot Noir is juicy and elegant, with a little tension and grip, just enough to keep me really interested and coming back for more. It is special with food and light enough not to overpower things. Christmas Day is long enough already, so I like lighter wines that don't hit me in the face with acidity, alcohol or too much fruit. This is one of those wines!
*From time to time vintages/wines may become unavailable, it is rare but in this instance we will replace the wine with a similar wine of equal or greater value.
