Whether you love Christmas or suffer, like me, from CADDAD – Christmas Affected Doom Depression and Despondency – we can agree on one thing: get the bloody booze right. I’m confident we’ve done exactly that with this belter of an offer from Corney & Barrow, each bottle chosen by me and our very own Christmas elf, Chloë Ferrari, with the big day in mind.
The C&B Sparkling Blanc de Blancs NV (1) is a fantastic festive fizz. Made in the traditional method from Chardonnay, Colombard and Ugni Blanc, it’s fresh, lively and enticing, and great on its own or sloshed into cocktails. £13.05 down from £14.50.
The 2025 C&B Côtes de Gascogne Blanc (2) is so easy-going that it’ll suit the youngsters and unexpected drop-ins to a tee. Light, fresh, fruity and off-dry, you should have several in the fridge just in case. £8.55 down from £9.50.
Moving up the scale, the 2022 C&B Bourgogne Chardonnay (3) from 16th-generation vigneron François Carillon was our elf’s pick of the tasting. Drawn almost entirely from Puligny-Montrachet, it’s full of peaches and pears with just a touch of creamy vanilla. £32 down from £35.55.
The 2024 C&B Quincy (4) is 100 per cent Sauvignon Blanc from Domaine de l’Épine in the Loire. Crisp, pure and focused, it’s a kindly priced delicious alternative to Sancerre. £17.96 down from £19.95
The 2023 Mâcon-Verzé Domaines Leflaive (5) is so soft, so creamy and so full of baked apple, peach and honeysuckle that it’s impossible to resist. This is far more than simple Mâcon: this is Puligny in all but name and we adored it. £39.56 down from £43.95.
Perfect for smoked salmon blinis is the 2025 C&B Provence Rosé (6), from Ch la Tour de l’Évêque. It’s a deliciously appealing blend of organic Grenache and Syrah, full of wild strawberry fruit with a long, creamy finish. £14.63 down from £16.25.
Moving on to the reds, the 2025 C&B Rouge (7) is as affable a house red as can be, a blend of old vine Carignan and Grenache from Minervois in the Languedoc. With rich, yet fresh, vibrant fruit, it’s the party red par excellence. £8.55 down from £9.50.
The 2020 C&B Reserve Claret (8) from Maison Sichel shows just how fine red bordeaux can be at this price. Bung it in a decanter and let it show off. It won’t disappoint. £14.63 down from £16.25.
The 2023 C&B Côtes-du-Rhône (9) is a Grenache/Syrah blend from the Gonnet family of Châteauneuf-du-Pape fame. Rich, juicy, fruity, peppery, spicy, it’s just so darn drinkable. Yum! £13.46 down from £14.95.
The 2018 C&B St-Émilion Grand Cru (10) from J-P Moueix, no less, is a blend of Merlot and Cab Franc and has raspberries, blueberries, plums, mint and spice wrapped in the kindest of tannins. The elf and I thought it would be another tenner at least. £19.76 down from £21.95
The 2022 C&B Rioja Crianza (11) from Bodegas Zugober is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano/Macabeo that spent 14 months in American oak. Soft, mellow, full of cherries ’n’ vanilla, it has a languorously long finish. £13.05 down from £14.50.
The 2018 Ch. Lagrange (12), from the Moueix family, is indubitably this Pomerol château’s finest vintage. Deep, intense and concentrated, it’s stunning. My tasting note simply said, ‘Wow!’ The Christmas elf’s said, ‘More!’ £38.25 down from £42.50
Oooh, we also loved the 2022 C&B Sauternes (13) With apricot, pineapple, barley sugar and a touch of marmaladey tarte tatin, it’s so tasty and so versatile, and as fine with starters and cheese as it is with pudding. £14.63 per half bottle down from £16.25
Anyone who buys two of the mixed cases below will get a free half bottle of the Sauternes. Delivery is free for both mixed cases and for orders over £150.
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