8 Great Wines & Champagnes To See You Through The Festivities & Beyond
Created in partnership with Millésima
RED WINE
Red wine comes in a wide range of styles – and Millésima has something for every taste, from big and bold to smooth and elegant. With the usual array of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and pinot noir (common international varieties), customers can also shop red wines more representative of individual counties, like Spanish tempranillo or Californian zinfandel. Here are two bottles we recommend...
Château Marjosse 2020
£12.50/£150 for 12
Built in 1782, the estate of Château Marjosse in Bordeaux has a vineyard dedicated to the production of red wines like this – which sits in limestone soil and spans an immense 35 hectares. A blend of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and malbec, this 2020 bottle is dense with delicate fruity notes infused with liquorice.
Pairs well with: Rich red meats like beef and venison.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
San Felice Brunello di Montalcino Campogiovanni 2016
£45/£270 for 6
San Felice is based in Tuscany and this bottle comes from the 65-hectare Campogiovanni vineyard. Matured for 36 months in oak barrels, after bottling, it’s aged for another year before it then goes on sale – something that explains its deep ruby red colour and fruity fragrances, which are mixed with notes of tobacco leaf and tanned leather. Experts recommend serving this one at 18°C for an optimum drinking experience.
Pairs well with: Game, wild boar or cheeses like pecorino.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
WHITE WINE
Whether you're looking for something fruity and rich or dry and crisp, the range of fine white wine on offer at Millésima is unparalleled. Easy to browse and shop, the extensive range represents a number of winemaking regions and techniques, and while many of these wines are designed to be drunk while they're young, Millésima also makes it easy to see which ones can be cellared for longer. Here are two of our favourite bottles...
Clos des Lunes "Lune d'Argent" 2017
£13.33/£80 for 6
The Clos des Lunes estate near Sauternes offers some of the finest wines in the world, overseeing a vineyard of 75 hectares. Characteristic of the dry white wines of Bordeaux, this wine is full of citrus notes and exotic fruit aromas and on the palate, balanced by a beautiful acidity and mineral finish. While it’s still considered young, experts expect this wine to age well, and there are also limited-edition magnums available for those looking for an extra special bottle.
Pairs well with: Seafood dishes, especially lobster, crab and oysters. Foie gras is also a perfect partner.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
Domaine du Château de Meursault: Meursault 1er cru "Perrières" 2018
£80/£480 (was £570) for 6
Domaine du Château de Meursault is one of the most legendary wine estates in the Burgundy region and its vineyard spans 65 hectares from Puligny-Montrachet to Aloxe-Corton. This chardonnay is aged for 15-18 months in oak barrels and the barrels are blended before bottling, hence its gold yellow hue, floral fragrances, woody, toasted notes and mineral finish.
Pairs well with: Scallops, prawns, salmon sushi or Cantal cheese.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
ROSÉ WINE
Rosé's association has long been with summer, but these days, more people are choosing to embrace it year-round, including over Christmas and New Year. At Millésima, you can look through many of the classics from Provence, as well as more unusual varieties from Corsica and the Rhône Valley. Here are two of our favourite bottles currently in stock…
Studio By Miraval 2021
£10.83/£65 (was £70) for 6
You’ll probably have heard of Château Miraval in the context of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who bought the estate in 2008. The vineyards and terroir are highly influenced by the spray off the Mediterranean and this bottle also pays tribute to the local environment. A blend of cinsault, grenache, rolle, tibouren, we love the pale colour, as well as the grapefruit and floral aromas.
Pairs well with: Great as an aperitif or accompaniment to light starters containing fish or vegetables.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
Clos Peyrassol 2021
£30/£180 (was £200) for 6
A classic Provencal rosé, this comes from a vineyard that’s currently converting to organic farming by improving the quality of the soil and undertaking manual harvesting. They believe doing this will help them get the best out of the vines and produce the best wines. A blend of cinsault (40%), grenache (30%) and tibouren (30%), this is a beautifully pale pink rosé with aromas of white cherry blossom, citrus fruit, peaches and pears. Best consumed before 2024.
Pairs well with: A sea bream carpaccio or a squid ceviche.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
CHAMPAGNE
There’s nothing like a glass of champagne to get the party started and Millésima has an extensive collection from France’s famous region, including rare vintages and limited-edition bottles. Creamy, soft and mellow – never abrasive or loud – a good champagne should feel crisp and fresh in the mouth. Here are two of our favourites you can buy at Millésima…
Veuve Clicquot Brut Carte Jaune Ice Box
£50 (was £60) /bottle
Veuve Clicquot needs no introduction – fans will know the champagne house produces vintages that are recognisable in a single glance thanks to the iconic yellow label. Coming from one of the largest vineyards in Champagne, Veuve Clicquot's Brut Carte Jaune is a blend of 50-55% pinot noir, 28-33% chardonnay and 15-20% pinot meunier. Golden in colour with fine, delicate bubbles, notes of white and dried fruits are followed by vanilla and brioche.
Pairs well with: An ideal aperitif, this will work well with seafood, shellfish and salmon blinis, as well as hard cheese such as comté or parmesan.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
Dom Pérignon Vintage 2012
£230/bottle
Made from a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, Dom Pérignon Vintage champagne is made using only the best grapes, and depending on the quality, Dom will forgo the ‘vintage’ credentials if it’s not up to snuff. This year – 2012 – happened to be a great vintage for champagne, and you’ll taste the complexity in a potent combination of white flowers, apricot and plum aromas, and a beautiful minty freshness with subtle smoky notes.
Pairs well with: The elegant flavours of this vintage champagne pair well with foods like salmon, tuna, shellfish, lobster, beluga caviar or rich cheese platters.
Buy it at Millésima.co.uk
Check out these wines and millions more at Millésima.co.uk, where shoppers can pick up singles bottles, cases of six or 12 bottles, magnums and jeroboams alongside special editions and limited and rare wines. You can also create your own tasting case by selecting from the site’s loose bottles.
DISCLAIMER: Over 18s only. Always drink responsibly.
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