Henry Rymill

We recently asked the Spectator Wine Club's six merchant partners for their festive wine picks.  Here are the 12 bottles they selected, along with links to purchase them: Esme Johnstone, fromvineyardsdirect.com -- Le Reserve de Leoville Barton, St Julien, Bordeaux, 2004 - £18.95 per bottle Wonderfully rich claret that is drinking really well now. -- Mas Belles Eaux 'Les Coteau', Languedoc, 2005 - £12.95 per bottle The best red wine to come out of the Languedoc for the last 5 years - rated 91 by Parker, which is an understatement. Perfect with beef, game, venison. Jason Yapp, Yapp Brothers -- The Crémant de Limoux - £8.95 per bottle This is an inexpensive and versatile fizz from a Champagne blend that is a failsafe crowd-pleader.

Over at the new Spectator Wine Club, we've got a discussion board on which you can instantly post and respond to threads on any aspect of the wine world.  The debate's already kicked off - so click here, sign up, and make sure you don't miss out!

The new, online incarnation of the Spectator Wine Club has just been launched - you can access it by clicking here, or by using the tab at the top of this page.  We've partnered with the very best merchants to bring you some of their finest wines at prices to suit your palette.  And there are also feature articles, tasting notes, insider tips from wine-sellers, and even a discussion board.  To find out more, just read my full introduction here.  Cheers!