A slight change of approach for today’s Top Tips spot – and with an extra wine.
For anyone seeking out crowd pleasing red wine for a party or informal neighbourhood events, the post opens with a nicely crafted Portuguese offering.
Then, we increase the budget level a bit for a couple of seasonal masterpieces I think you will enjoy.
They represent two ends of the wine spectrum – a rich red at one end and a delicate but tasty white at the other.
Once again, pictures and hyperlinks are included where possible to make it easier to track down the wine in question.
Let’s start with that ideal party red
2024 Costa do Castelo Lisboa Red Blend (£6 at Tesco but £6.35 in Scotland and 13% abv):
Don’t be misled by the restrained bouquet of this Tesco newcomer – there is tastiness aplenty here.
Admittedly, it is encased in a lighter texture than many Portuguese reds are but that is no bad thing for informal drinking.
It delivers youthful, juicy cherry, raspberry and red currant flavours coupled with firm acidity – but soft tannin.
Supporting suggestions of violets, aniseed and bay leaves complete the picture of a great value option.
But if it is richness you want.
2024 Nero Oro Appassimento (from £10.50 at Majestic and 14%):
I would urge you to stretch the Top Tip budget a little (it is Christmas after all) and stock up on this sensational, rich, Sicilian.
It has benefitted from the appassimento technique – which involves using grapes that have been dried to concentrate their sugars and flavours.
Almost black in colour but attractively aromatic, it has a foundation of beautifully smooth, sweet-edged damson and cherry flavours.
These are accompanied by lingering acidity (but little tannin) and touches of tobacco and clove.
And for an accompanying white
2024 Domaine de Pajot Les Quatre Cepages (now £10.99 at Vintage Roots and 11.5%):
This delightful four variety, white wine blend is from Southwest France and it is not just the number of components that make it stand out.
The way the grapes involved (sauvignon, colombard, ugni blanc, gros manseng) harmonise is even more impressive.
Textured and with lemon peel aromas, the result provides soft apricot, green apple and melon flavours.
Despite that bit of texture, the overall package is commendably light yet also manages to incorporate lime and grapefruit acidity, a lingering finish and grassy hints too.
Join me again on Thursday for the final instalment of what to drink at Christmas.
4 responses
Agree completely on the Nero Oro.A fantastic red wine and one of the best value wines in the Majestic range.
Urged on by Brian, Paul’s reply & the Nero being on special at £8 gave me a great excuse to pre order & collect 6 bottles on a round Robin trip yesterday.
Xmas day Red wine 🍷 sorted.
Thanks Brian & contributors for all your steering efforts in 2025.
Regards 🍷
If you like rich reds, then that will fit the bill nicely. May be a tad powerful for turkey, but not if there are hearty accompaniments. Best to you and yours Richard.
I remember that 4 Cépages wine a few years back when we used to drink it in Angela’s, a lovely little seafood restaurant in Margate. It was always a perfect match for whatever they were cooking on the ever-changing menu.
The appassimento style wine from Sicily looks promising too. The style’s not to everyone’s taste but I picked up a couple of bottles of the M&S La Cascata Passivento reduced from £10 to £7 recently and enjoyed the typically smooth, rich taste. That ones made from 80% Negroamaro and 20% Primitivo. Hope it’s not discontinued and just rebranding.