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benchmarkwinessg · 4 years

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Best Wines for Christmas Gift

Wines are a great option to gift on Christmas. Firstly, they don’t take up a lot of space, secondly, their contents are enjoyed by everybody and thirdly, they can be discarded off pretty easily. So, looking for the perfect wine bottle to give your loved ones on Christmas? There’s no better way to enjoy the festive spirit with the traditional meal and a wine glass to complete the celebration. Although Christmas this year will be a little different and parties won’t be happening like before, wines are always a good idea to have on this special eve.

Usually, people enjoy red french wines, dessert wines, or sparkling wines to drink on Christmas. But, if your wine lover friends are having a light dinner, for example, a delicate fish or chicken dish, then you can’t go wrong by gifting a bottle of white wine. Even rose wines go very well with some dishes and the Christmas celebrations. So you have a lot more options than you think. Another thing to consider is discussing your friends’ wine preferences. Some of them can be very particular about it. It will also be easier for you to choose the wines that you are going to give them. So, it’s a win-win for everybody!

Reds

The most wonderful time of the year is the perfect time for a bottle of red wine. It has a lot of different styles and structures and a wide range of flavours that go well with different types of delicacies. A lot of people prefer red wines on Christmas Eve because, with the traditional dinner, there tends to be a lot of rich and heavy food on the plate. And red wine is especially known for its firm structure that pairs well against strong flavours. For instance, steak and Cabernet are classic pairings with which you can’t go wrong. Traditional tomato-based Italian dishes go very well with Italian red wine, keeping up with the old notion, “What grows together, goes together”. One of the rare options that pair with spicy food, is Shiraz red wine that complements and lets the spicy gravies shine through. It has a high fruit profile with some smokiness that won’t overpower the distinctive dishes. Don’t worry, you can give a red wine that goes well with turkey as well. Just choose a lighter option like a Spanish red wine, which has a moderate acidity to it.

Battle of Bosworth Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 14.5% 12x750 ml

Sight: This French Bordeaux wine has a deep inky purple colour to it Smell: Blue and black fruits on the nose with pleasant vanilla and oak mixed amongst it. Taste: Lovely medium-bodied red wine. Blackcurrant and blackberry on the palate with a fine tannic structure and long finish.

Berthaut-Gerbet, Dom. Fixin Les Crais 2011 13% 12x750ml

Sight: Deep and clear cherry red colour with an orange tint on the edge Smell: Fruits like strawberries and raspberries on the nose along with an earthy aroma. Taste: Mellow and acidic throughout with strong taste of cherries, raspberry, blackberries, and liquorice.

Cape d'Estaing Premium Shiraz 2004 14% 6x750 ml

Sight: This Shiraz red wine has a dark, reddish-brown colour to it with bright rose colour on the edge. Smell: The nose gives out an immediate acidity. There is the smell of ripe cherry and plum and later gives out a whiff of candy and cinnamon. Taste: On the tongue, there is plum, cinnamon, and coffee with a hint of sweet vanilla and oak giving out a long lingering mouthfeel.

Green Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 14% 12x750 ml

Sight: Brown red and deep garnet in colour Smell: The wine has the scents of cassis, pipe plums, and blackberry with a hint of cloves and mocha. Taste: It has a lovely start with blackcurrant, cherry, tobacco, as well as vanilla and black pepper notes. Having smooth tannins with medium acidity and body, it gives a long finish.

Whites White wine is much more than the red wine’s summer sibling. That’s not to say that we don’t love a chilled glass of refreshing Italian white wine, but they can also be complex and expressive. Think of the layered flavours of a floral Riesling or a white Bordeaux. Whether you choose a mellow white or one which is crisp and bright, white wines are a go-to for celebrations and gifting. They also tend to be food-friendly and wallet-friendly than the reds, partly because they can be drunk younger. They are indeed easy to drink and enjoy, even by those who are not too familiar with the world of wine. Moreover, a bottle of full-bodied white wine will pair really well with roast turkey rather than the red wine. A white wine with high acidity also goes really well with fatty options like a goose. So check out some of the best white wines that you can give your friends and family for Christmas eve.

Battle of Bosworth Chardonnay 2019 13% 6x750 ml

Sight: Pale straw-coloured Chardonnay with hints of green Smell: This wine has stone fruits and citrus on the nose with a hint of butter for a balanced richness. Taste: There is a hint of nut, stone fruits and cashews along with citrus and a little bit of oak that gives out a complex and delicate flavour.

Bellvale Athena's Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 12.5% 12x750 ml

Sight: The wine has a lovely bronze gold colour to it. Smell: It has a flinty and buttery nose with subtle soft vanilla and hints of tropical fruit. Taste: A well-balanced taste of fruits like melons, nectarines, and peaches with a secondary flavour of oak makes this Chardonnay tightly structured and crisp to drink. It has a long finish with a balance of fine acidity and rich concentrated flavours. Bodegas Penafiel Alba de Miros Verdejo 2017 12.5% 6x750 ml

Sight: The wine has a bright greenish-yellow colour with a waxy tinge Smell: The nose reveals hints of tropical fruits, green apples and herbs. Taste: It has an elegant bouquet of fruit flavours, floral notes with fresh, crisp acidity and a trace of spicy bitterness. It also gives off a smooth, silky, long finish.

Harwood Hall Pinot Gris 2018 13.5% 12x750 ml

Sight: The wine has a straw-yellow colour with hints of light golden colour Smell: It has a lifted nose of white and yellow stonefruits along with hints of whiteflorals. Taste: This wine has flavours of pear, guava, and melon layered with lemon and grapefruit to give it a fresh, clean finish.

Rose While folks gear up towards traditional options of burgundy wines or Chardonnays for their Christmas feast, there’s a lot more choice out there for a heightened taste experience. Now, with the rose wine, there is a certain stigma that it cannot be paired with a traditional Christmas meal. Or it should only be enjoyed during the summer. But you’ll be surprised by the truth. Just like other wines, rose wines stretch across the whole spectrum of flavour- from complexities to boldness and acidity to freshness. In short, there are many wonderful ways to enjoy a rose. Sometimes the trouble with the reds is that they overpower the subtle food flavours, like the bread sauce. Similarly, a dry white wine can end up being too acidic or too full-bodied. This is where the rose wine shines. It works wonderfully with all sorts of foods- be it chicken, seafood, steak, or most importantly during Christmas, roast turkey. Whether it’s the subtle textures from the juicy and succulent turkey or the robust flavours from the gravy, salted roast potatoes or pigs in the blanket, you’d be surprised with how diversely a rose can stand up to a Christmas feast.

Rose is a safe bet when choosing it as a gift. Whether your friends are total wine geeks or who appreciate a good ol’ wine, rose never disappoints. With lighter versions to complex varieties, and even aged and oaked rose, there’s a lot to be excited about. Nowadays, even organic rose wine is gradually making its place in the aisles. And unlike reds and whites, rose doesn’t even come with a hefty price tag either. So don’t hesitate to buy a rose wine for your loved ones to celebrate this Christmas eve. Spring Seed Morning Bride Rose 2020 12.5% 12x750 ml

Sight: It has the palest of the pink colour to create a delicate effect in the glass. Smell: This rose has a nose of strawberries and watermelon rind with a hint of ginger. Taste: The palate is crisp and dry with refreshing flavours of watermelon and strawberries.

Soumah Brachetto 2019 10.5% 12x750 ml

Sight: The wine has a gorgeous pink salmon colour to it. Smell: You get a sweet bouquet of bright strawberry, lollypop, and rose petals from the nose Taste: The sweet flavour of strawberries and rose water in the wine has a fresh and clean finish. The wine has soft bubbles and slight sweetness, making it ideal from start to the end of the meal.

Ch. d'Esclans 'Whispering Angel' Rose 2019

Sight: It is a very pale salmon in colour and is dainty looking in a glass. Smell: The wine has a delicate nose with a hint of peach as well as pink grapefruit. Taste: It has a fine and fresh flavour of crisp strawberries, stone fruit and some herbal notes while being bone dry with a long, smooth finish.

Paxton Rose 2020 12.5% 12x750 ml

Sight: The colour of this wine is pale coral colour in the glass that lures you in. Smell: Refreshing aromas of raspberry, watermelon, and Turkish delight Taste: The wine is crisp, refreshing, and flavourful offering subtle tastes of white nectarine, watermelon and guava along with a zesty and acidic finish.

Sparkling Nothing shouts celebration like a bottle of bubbly. And what better way to celebrate Christmas in style! There is a wide range of prices to choose a sparkling wine from. How they are priced has a lot to do with their process of making. This brings us to a very common question- how the hell do they add bubbles in them!? Well, the short answer is secondary fermentation. Sparkling wines are made in a similar way as white wines but at a point where white wines are sold, sparkling wine is added with sugar and yeast for it to undergo secondary fermentation. As a result, the carbon dioxide builds up in the bottle or in the tanks. For higher priced bottles like Champagne, the secondary fermentations in bottles according to Methode Champenoise. In prosecco and other higher end bubblies, the vintners use stainless steel tanks to contain the carbon dioxide buildup.

The amazing thing is that you can actually taste the differences. Bottle-aged sparkles are generally nutty and yeasty and have tinier bubbles. Whereas tank-aged sparkles have larger bubbles and a lot fruitier. There are also organic sparkling wines available over the globe that are made using grapes which have no chemicals and fertilizers. So you can choose a fizz to gift from a wide range according to your budget, your friends’/family’s taste, or sustainability. Astoria Lounge Prosecco Brut N.V. 11% 6x750 ml

Sight: Light straw yellow colour Smell: The bubbly has an elegant and clean fruity bouquet with a slight hint of yeast. Taste: It has clean flavour of apple and mineral and gives a long, acidic finish with adequate density and mouthfeel.

Spring Seed Wanderer Sparkling Red N.V. 13% 12x750 ml Sight: This elegant sparkling red wine had a vibrant bright purple colour Smell: It has a fruity nose of blueberries, black cherry, and a hint of violet. Taste: The wine is full-bodied and has a robust mix of tannin and fleshy dark fruits with an underlying flavour of sweet spice.

Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne NV

Sight: This bubbly has a bright golden yellow colour with a foaming necklace of tiny bubbles Smell: It has fruity aromas of peach, pear, and mirabelle plum with the underlying whiffs of vanilla and toasted brioche Taste: It has a fresh taste of lemon followed by pear with hints of toffee and apple finishing long, lacy with almond taste.

#organic sparkling wines #rose wine #burgundy wines #best white wines #Italian white wine #Shiraz red wine #French Bordeaux wine

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benchmarkwinessg · 4 years

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Best Red and White Wines to Gift in 2021

Gifting a wine bottle is never going out of style and is perfect for almost any occasion. Nowadays more and more people have started enjoying wine- be it a date with a special someone, or a casual evening with loved ones, and of course, the solo pours to drink away the corona blues. It is also a great option when you don’t know someone too well such as your colleagues or your boss.

But how do you decide which wines to gift? Well, below are a few fantastic options to choose from reds and the whites that are popular and loved across the world.

Red Wines

Bordeaux: Bordeaux wine is a popular wine produced in the Bordeaux region in France. It is one of the most popular and not to brag, the best French red wine among the wine lovers. Its success and popularity can be boiled down to one factor: its location. The Bordeaux region’s soil and climate are ideal for high-quality viticulture.

A cherished option to gift is Ch. d’Anvichar Grand Vin de Bordeaux 2018. This full-bodied, velvety, and fruity dry red wine from Chateau Anvichar is grown on low-yielding 30-years old vines that result in boosted flavours and notes of plum and black currant in the bottle. It is truly a treat for the fans of modern-style Bordeaux wines.

Sight: Deep scarlet

Nose: Ripe plum, raspberry, and tobacco leaf aromas

Mouth: Velvety mouthfeel with dark plum notes with a hint of oak and solid tannins.

Another one is the Haut Badon, Ch. Grand Cru St. Emilion (Bordeaux) 2011 that is made with a mix of Merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. With a bright ruby red colour, it gives out a fruity aroma and notes of vanilla, tobacco, fig, and toasted almonds.

Sight: Bright ruby red with garnet

Nose: Tobacco, raspberries, spicy aromas

Mouth: Currant, juniper berry, with notes of fig, vanilla and toasted almonds after the tannic bitterness.

Barolo-Nebbiolo: If you want to gift an expensive wine that is big, bold, and tannic, then Nebbiolo based Barolo is a great Italian red wine to choose. Born in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, these unusual wines are notable for their complex flavours, subtle aromas and intricate nuances in appearance and taste.

The Barolo 'Gramolere' Giovanni Manzone 2012 is one such wine that has been aged in oak barrels for 24 months, has pleasant aromas of spices, and sumptuous tannins. With such a large amount of tannins, you would want to pair it with dishes that feature fat, olive oil, and butter- so pretty much a filling Italian spread! The wine also goes well with several savoury Chinese and spicy Asian dishes.

Sight: Ruby red with garnet reflections

Nose: Intense and complex with dried herbs, cherries, licorice, strawberry and toasty aromas. Has a balsamic and spicy finish

Mouth: Ripe cut fruits, licorice, candy and some chocolaty palette with crumbly tannis and long juicy finish

A second option is the Giovanni Manzone ‘Il Crutin’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2017 that was produced in one of the premium vineyards. The aroma of this wine hits with vanilla, tobacco, oak, and red fruits. Whereas its taste profile is wonderfully dry, acidic, and tannic, the notes are of red fruits like cherries, raspberries, and strawberries along with black fruits like plums, blackcurrants, and blackberries. Paired very well with foods like beef, poultry, lamb and game, this Italian Nebbiolo wine truly stands out.

Sight: Deep rosy ruby

Nose: Some hits of blackberry and blackcurrant with notes of vanilla, oak, red fruits and tobacco

Mouth: Bold flavours of tobacco, red fruits, black fruits, oak, and vanilla with high silky tannins.

Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir is one of the most loved wines among sommeliers and wine enthusiasts. It is light to medium-bodied and is relished for its smooth finish. It is a crowd-pleaser that everyone in the room enjoys. But while being wonderful, it is more on the expensive side due to its complex flavours that compliment rich meats like a duck, and yet, is light enough to have it on its own.

A great one to gift is the Soumah ‘Hexham Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2018. It is an award-winning wine that is deep red with tinges of purple. It has a lovely aroma of red fruit, dark cherries, sweet spices and forest floor that give the feel of little Christmas in the bottle. The flavour spectrum also follows a similar pattern to that of the aroma and is truly pleasing to taste. Matured for 9 months in the French Oak barrels, this Australian Pinot Noir will have you hooked!

Sight: Deep red with shadesof purple

Nose: An inviting bouquet of dark cherries, dried orange peels, red fruit, sweet spices like clove and forest floor.

Mouth: Savoury and spicy red fruit with wild cherries, crushed leaves, and aromatic herbs finishing off with structured tannis and hints of oak.

Another pinot to go for is the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2019 from South Africa. It is made with almost 80% purchased fruit due to a tragic fire in Hamilton Russel’s own vineyard, it has a pleasant amount of dryness and tasty acidity to it while being slightly fruity and soft with a complex fruit perfume.

Sight: Pale ruby

Nose: Youthful nose of ripe cherry, smoke, and olives.

Mouth: Cherry, strawberry, oak, vanilla and earthy flavours with a pleasant amount of dryness and medium tannins.

White Wines

Chardonnay: Chardonnay is the most popular white wine on earth and the most widely produced one too. The grapes are like a blank canvas- capable of being produced in many climates and easy to work with. So, it can taste different depending on the location and the methods used. But generally speaking, chardonnay is a dry-medium wine with noticeable acidity and flavours of pears, green plum, and apple.

A really elegant French Chardonnay to gift is the Madame ‘F’ Blanc 2018. It is a delicious wine with a balance of ripe fruits and notes of minerality. What makes it alluring is that it is made with grapes of two different places- one hot and one cool. Not ageing in barrels gives it a creamy, fresh, and citrusy feel to it.

Sight: Bright golden colour

Nose: Creamy ripe peach, honeysuckle, and apricot with a hint of spice.

Mouth: Crisp, rounded, and a touch of citrus, pineapple and spice.

Another one for your friends who care about the environment, Paxton Organic Preservative Free ‘NOW’ Chardonnay 2020 is the suitable organic white wine to gift. It has a delightful aroma of honeycomb, butterscotch, white peach and pear, with a mouthfeel of lemon sorbet, rock watermelon and a creamy palette in the middle.

Sight: Bright greeny straw

Nose: Butterscotch, honeycomb, pear and white peach

Mouth: Mouth-feel of lemon sorbet, rock watermelon, and creamymid-palette finishing with citrus notes

Semillon: Originally from France, Semillon is a light to medium-bodied now planted throughout Australia. With primary flavours of lemon, pear, green papaya, and apple. Depending on the place and climate it is grown, Semillon can be a perky palette cleanser or a rich, creamy and lemony.

A great white to gift in this category is the zesty Tim Adams Semillon 2017. It is a wine full of aroma and fruity, floral notes with a hint of vanilla, oak, and butter. It can very well be paired with seafood and pasta dishes.

Sight: Light yellow

Nose: Rich, strong, grassy nose of stone fruits, citrus, oak, butter, and vanilla

Mouth: Balanced dry palette of zesty citrus, floral and white fruit

Sauvignon Blanc: Often referred to as “grassy”, Sauvignon Blanc is quite popular for its high acidity, crispness, and low sugar. Originally from Bordeaux, the grape travelled all over France and finally to New Zealand, Chile, Canada, Australia, and California.

For gifting the host at his/her refreshing summer soiree, Harwood Hall Sauvignon Blanc 2018 is perfect for the occasion. It has beautiful aromas of passionfruit and lime zest with citrus and tropical notes of pineapple, grapefruit, and lime. It goes really well with shellfish, goat cheese, and various vegetarian dishes as well.

Sight: Bright straw-yellow colour

Nose: Passionfruit, lychee, lime over gooseberry and lemon

Mouth: Dry and a well-balanced palette with notes of tropical fruits, passionfrut and fresh herbs

#organic white wine #best french red wine #best red wine in singapore #wine online shopping

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