Nice red for Xmas dinner?

missmatty

Hi everyone,

Trying to think of a nice red to have on Christmas Day, the family will drink anything but i'm fussy and usually pick out a nice bottle to bring home for myself.

In the last while I've mainly been into full-bodied Spanish wines including tempranillo, garnacha, syrah or blends of those etc. Lately though I had a lovely french red at a Christmas party although i haven't much idea what type of grapes were in it (Cotes du Rhone, Domaine La Borie). So i'm open to suggestions! I

like the above types of grape and also love pinotage, don't mind merlot but not a huge fan of Cab Sauv unless in a nice blend with Syrah or something similar. Would I like Pinot Noir-don't think I've ever had it?

Any suggestions welcome! And possibly helpful if you can tell me where to get it. Can't really get to Superquinn although i live near some nice wine shops in the Rathgar area.

tSubh Dearg

O'Briens down in Darty Village (Upr Rathmines Road) do some good wines and the guys in there are very helpful. The Vintry (I think that's the name) in Rathgar village does some good wines too. Maybe go in and chat to the staff in wither place.

Pinot Noir is a variety of Burgundy which would be mainly what we would have for Christmas dinner in my house. (Burgundy, not necessarily a Pinot Noir)

I got a good Pinot from O'Briens recently for making Coq au Vin (which you do need a good wine for otherwise it tastes horrible) But I can't remember the name other than it started with a V.

I'm afraid I can't be more helpful as I always forget the names of wines I like and my dad isn't around to pick his brain (he and my mum are big into wine tasting).

Blub2k4

Try O'briens at the moment for one called "los vascos" it's lovely, a lafitte rothschild, really really tasty.
I have two bottles at home for Xmas day.

missmatty

What type of grapes in it (know nowt about french wine) and roughly what cost (sounds impressively expensive!)?

Blub2k4

Can't remember the grape, it sounds expensive only cos of the Rothschild I suspect. I'll have a look at the grape when I get home and let you know.
I think it's a shiraz, am not sure. Price was about 12.99 I think.

Nevyn

The rothschild shiraz was very nice, the name is expanding and you can get some very nice reds under the name of one of the sone.

Judt

For a red, I'm a fan of Faustino V at the moment (haven't tried the reserve, but the normal stuff is about €20, depending on where you shop.) Doesn't taste like vinegar, which is always a treat To borrow a phrase, it goes down easy.

Wishbone Ash

Rosemount Estate - Diamond Label (Shiraz) - very good IMO and moderately priced - €11.50

missmatty wrote:

the family will drink anything

LOL Thanks for giving me a laugh missmatty. I have visions of you spending Christmas Day locking away every liquid in the house.

mikep

Ch. Musar works well with the roast dinner!

tSubh Dearg is right about the Burgundy...if you can afford a good one it is sublime!!

Tesco are doing a "half price" Rosemount Founders selection Cabernet Shiraz which is nice for the price....

Enjoy....

milltown

What sort of budget are we talking? Also, is it just one bottle, for yourself, with dinner? Or is it to be the red wine option for the rest of the evening?

If the budget will stretch that far I'd recommend a good Amerone, probably from about €40 upward. Shared a bottle with the father in law last xmas and it was divine, but that was an €85 bottle that I got as a present.

If it's going to be a couple of bottles for dinner and onwards then I think Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz is a great value for money option, €10 - 12 a bottle here, or about £5 up north.

Blub2k4

Ok sorry, it's a cab sauv, but it's a cracker.

Los Vascos.
Cabernet Sauvignon.
2004 Grand reserve.
Chilean.

Best wine at the value I've had in a while.

Also it looks to be an O'briens exclusive cos their stamp is on it.

monkeyfudge

Barolo would be my favourite. It goes down wonderfully with a good meal... it can be pricey though.

missmatty

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! What I mean by the family will drink anything is that what they know about wine could be written on the back of a stamp and my mother always has cheap chilean cab sauv's (yeuk).

To Milltown, i only meant one bottle for me not several for the family for the whole day and i'm not quite heading towards a budget of 40 quid.

Actually, I won a bottle of Beaujolais Villages last night in work so that will prob be what I will have for xmas dinner, anyone any comments on that as I have never tried Beaujolais.

Blub2k4

Personally I don't like Beaujolais, any I've ever tried are young and sour and crap.

Campo Viejo do some lovely grand reserve riojas, although the good years are all gone by now.

missmatty

Yeah might grab a backup bottle of Spanish just in case! Interweb says Beaujolais is from Gamay grapes (?) and young light and fruity. Prob ok but not what i tend to be mad about.

azezil

I quite like Wolf Blass, Yellow lable. Its nice and quite affordable at €15 a bottle.

bigears

Another vote for Pinot Noir, it's a lovely style to have with traditional Christmas dinners an alternative to white wine. A lot of other reds will overpower your turkey.

New Zealand produce some lovely examples (Tesco actually do a nice one under their 'Finest' label for about 12/13 euro). With a Pinot Noir you can chill it for 10 minutes before drinking if you like.

Theta

A nice Ripassa would go down a treat. Zenato Ripassa is quite tasty!

hargo

Blub2k4 wrote:

Ok sorry, it's a cab sauv, but it's a cracker.

Los Vascos.
Cabernet Sauvignon.
2004 Grand reserve.
Chilean.

Best wine at the value I've had in a while.

Also it looks to be an O'briens exclusive cos their stamp is on it.[/QU

Bought a few boxes last year they had this reduced it was 2002 and very nice must try the 2004 now. Mmmm

missmatty

In the end the Beaujolais Villages was absolutely crap and I got a nice Barolo in Lidl (!) for 14 squids and it was pretty nice.

What did everyone else try?

rediguana

Amarone! Sorry, I know it's a it late.