The Luxury Festive Cellar

The festive season invites a certain grandeur—moments when the table gleams a little brighter, the conversation stretches a little longer, and the wines deserve to be every bit as memorable as the occasion itself. This year’s selection brings together bottles of genuine distinction: wines shaped by exceptional vintages, meticulous craftsmanship, and the quiet confidence that comes only from producers at the top of their game.

From English estates pushing the boundaries of cool‑climate brilliance to Champagne houses refining elegance into an art form; from the saline precision of coastal Spain to the poised luxury of South Africa’s finest cuvées—each bottle in this collection has been chosen for its ability to elevate a celebration into something extraordinary.

Whether you're curating the perfect Christmas Day table, seeking a statement pour for New Year’s Eve, or simply indulging in a moment of seasonal opulence, these wines are designed not just to accompany the festivities, but to define them.

The English Ascendant - Candover Brook Brut (Hampshire) £38.00 Candover Brook, (£43 in gift box), The Naked Grape, The Wine Yard
There’s a poise to good English fizz that feels tailor‑made for winter: taut, orchard‑fruited, and chalk‑etched. Candover Brook Brut shows classical English tension—green apple, conference pear, and lemon zest—wrapped in a fine, insistent mousse. A hint of brioche whispers rather than shouts, allowing the brisk acidity to keep things lifted and pure.
Pairing: Smoked salmon blinis, gougères, or oysters with a squeeze of lemon.
Occasion: The welcome pour—bright enough to sharpen appetites, refined enough to set the tone.

Harrow & Hope Brut Reserve No.9  (Buckinghamshire) £34 Laithwaites
Harrow & Hope has become a reference point for ripeness and complexity in the Chilterns. Expect riper orchard fruit—baked apple and quince—layered with toasted hazelnut and a savory, pastry‑cream undertow from extended lees ageing. The balance lands beautifully: generous mid‑palate, crisp finish, and precision that stands up to food.
Pairing: Turkey and all the trimmings (especially the stuffing), or a rich fish pie.
Occasion: The main meal companion—serious sparkle that anchors a festive spread.

Champagne Class in a Vintage Key - Taittinger Brut Millésimé 2016 (Champagne) £60.00 – Waitrose | Champagne Direct | The Champagne Company | Ocado | Fortnum and Mason | The Finest Bubble
2016 is a vintage that rewards those who enjoy elegance over force. Taittinger’s house style—Chardonnay‑led finesse—shows in the silvery line of citrus, white blossom, and a chalk‑dust delicacy. The palate is creamier than the nose suggests, with a filigree of almond and pastry, then a clean, mineral finish. This is Champagne for those who love precision without austerity.
Pairing: Lobster, butter‑poached turbot, or a simple roast chicken with tarragon.
Occasion: Christmas Eve sophistication or the hush after the feast, when conversation and nuance matter.

Atlantic Sparkle, Saline Precision - Mar de Frades Sparkling Albariño Brut Nature (Rías Baixas, Spain) £28.50 from VINUM.CO.UK
Albariño’s signature—peach skin, lime zest, and sea‑spray salinity—translates beautifully to bubbles, especially in a Brut Nature style that keeps sugar out of the way. This cuvée is all crystalline focus: citrus pith, green peach, and a maritime mineral edge that practically begs for seafood. The nose suggests a coastal walk; the palate is brisk, fragrant, and mouthwatering.
Pairing: Shellfish platters, scallops with lemon and fennel, sushi, or tempura.
Occasion: Christmas seafood night or New Year’s Eve canapés with a briny twist.

Prestige from the Cape - Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2018 (South Africa) Wine Direct - £45.50 | VINVM - £41.95 
Graham Beck’s Cuvée Clive is South Africa’s answer to the prestige cuvée: meticulous fruit selection, long ageing, and a luxurious texture without heaviness. Expect layers—baked apple and lemon curd, toasted brioche, crushed almond, and a chalky, linear finish. The mousse is velvet‑fine; the balance is impeccable. If your festive table demands a statement wine that also plays well with food, this is it.
Pairing: Roast goose, truffled mashed potatoes, or mushroom vol‑au‑vents.
Occasion: The showstopper—mid‑feast or when toasting the year’s best moments.

An Innovative English Blend – Oriana Golden Spur Brut (England) Weybourne £45.00; Farr Vintners £48.00
Oriana is a name that signals the creative side of English sparkling—winemakers experimenting with varietal composition and dosage to craft distinctive house styles.  Oriana Golden Spur is a pre-release of the 2022 vintage - which is showing great maturity relative to its 2 years on lees.  The 2022 vintage was a spectacular year marked by the hottest and driest summer in recent history.  This led to high quality, clean fruit with exceptional flavour and high yields.  Conditions really were perfect for the growing of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.” In the glass, expect bright English fruit (apple, citrus), a touch of white flowers, and a pastry‑tinged mid‑palate. The emphasis is on drinkability and lift: lively, engaging, and food‑friendly.
Pairing: Canapés—goat’s cheese crostini, smoked trout pâté, or leek-and-cheddar tartlets.
Occasion: Aperitif to conversation—nimble, versatile, and inviting.

A Marlborough Icon Reimagined – Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (New Zealand) £26.50 Waitrose & Sainsburys; £29.95 Jeroboams; £30.00 Majestic

Cloudy Bay remains one of the world’s most recognisable fine‑wine names—an estate whose pioneering spirit helped define Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for an entire generation of drinkers. Founded in 1985, the winery has always married adventure with precision, and its pursuit of excellence continues across its Marlborough vineyards and, since 2010, its Central Otago holdings. Now part of the Moët Hennessy fine wine portfolio, Cloudy Bay approaches each vintage as an opportunity to refine, elevate, and express the natural beauty of its landscapes with crystalline clarity.

The 2025 Sauvignon Blanc is a striking example of this philosophy at work. On the nose, it’s open, bright, and immediately expressive—layers of peach, elderflower, lime and freshly squeezed lemon unfolding with vivid freshness. The palate follows with a lifted, almost textural energy: lemon‑curd richness balanced by white nectarine and a subtle saline thread that gives shape, poise, and a lingering, elegant finish. It’s a wine that balances vibrancy with finesse, combining purity of fruit with a quietly luxurious sense of polish.

Pairing: Perfect with simple fish and shellfish dishes, citrus and green herbs, salads (even notoriously tricky tomatoes), and fresh goat’s cheese.
Occasion: Ideal for the festive table when clarity, freshness, and refinement are what the moment calls for—an aperitif that awakens the palate or a versatile companion to elegant seasonal dishes.

A Sculpted Expression of Cabernet – Pasqua ‘Lui’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Veneto, Italy) £25 Majestic

Pasqua’s ‘Lui’ is a testament to the estate’s ambition: a Cabernet Sauvignon shaped with precision, intensity, and a distinctly Italian sense of poise. Crafted from high‑altitude vineyards and aged to develop depth without sacrificing freshness, the 2018 vintage shows how Veneto can deliver Cabernet with both structure and style.

In the glass, the wine opens with dark‑fruited generosity—blackcurrant, wild blackberry, and damson—layered with graphite, cedar, and a subtle cocoa‑dust warmth. The palate follows with impressive definition: ripe yet taut fruit, finely grained tannins, and a savoury undertow that hints at tobacco leaf and dried herbs. The finish is long, composed, and quietly confident, revealing the precision behind its winemaking.

Pairing: Rich winter dishes—beef short rib, porcini risotto, venison loin, or chargrilled aubergine with herbs.
Occasion: A fireside red for deep conversation; the bottle you pour when elegance and gravitas are called for.

A Statement Wine of the Veneto – Pasqua Mai Dire Mai 2020 (Valpolicella, Italy) £32 Harrods

Mai Dire Mai (“Never Say Never”) represents Pasqua’s most visionary project—an exploration of Valpolicella at its most elevated and expressive. Produced from hillside vineyards rich in ancient basalt and characterised by low yields and meticulous selection, this cuvée is crafted in limited quantities to showcase power balanced with refinement.

The 2020 vintage is striking: aromatically complex, with layers of black cherry, plum skin, violet, balsamic spice, and a whisper of incense. On the palate, it is both velvety and architectural—dense fruit framed by sculpted tannins, vibrant acidity, and mineral drive. The interplay of richness and precision gives the wine a long, resonant finish that speaks of its volcanic soils and the ambition behind its creation.

Pairing: Truffle pasta, slow‑roasted lamb shoulder, aged Parmesan, or wild mushroom dishes.
Occasion: A centrepiece wine—ideal for Christmas dinner, New Year’s indulgence, or any moment worthy of a grand, quietly luxurious red.

Granite‑Born Intensity – Château des Jacques Moulin‑à‑Vent Roches Rouges 2022 £20 Waitrose

Moulin‑à‑Vent is the most powerful and age‑worthy of the Beaujolais crus, and in Roches Rouges it finds a particularly expressive form. Château des Jacques draws on its network of prized granite parcels to craft a wine that marries depth with finesse—precision winemaking, long maceration, and a thoughtful balance of concrete and oak ageing giving Gamay a Burgundian sense of structure and poise.

In the glass, the 2022 vintage shows a vivid, sculpted profile: vibrant redcurrant and crushed strawberry lifted by savoury notes, flickers of black‑plum richness, and an undercurrent of chalky minerality. A gentle graphite edge and fine, well‑gathered tannins bring shape and tension, offering a wine that is both immediately charming and clearly built to evolve. Critics describe grilled‑meat and red‑fruit aromatics, supported by youthful firmness that softens beautifully with air.

Pairing: Its combination of spice, fruit purity, and mineral drive makes Roches Rouges a versatile festive red. Roast duck with winter herbs, game dishes, mushroom‑based mains, and soft, creamy cheeses all play effortlessly with its structure and savoury depth. Retailers highlight its plush red‑fruit character with a hint of pepper, making it equally at home with relaxed seasonal entertaining.

Occasion: This is a wine that bridges casual luxury and classic refinement—a poised choice for Christmas Eve suppers, Boxing Day feasts, or a quietly indulgent New Year’s table. Decant to let the granite‑etched aromatics unfurl, or cellar a few years to allow the tannins to melt into even greater harmony. Its ageing potential is consistently noted across expert reviews.

A Classic of Tension & Depth – Dow’s Vintage Port 1997 (Douro, Portugal) £75 Davys Wine Merchant

Dow’s 1997 channels the house’s hallmark, slightly drier style into a wine of impressive drive and longevity. Sourced principally from the Symington family’s great river‑bank quintas—Bomfim and Senhora da Ribeira—the vintage was generally declared and widely lauded for producing full‑bodied, harmonious Ports with real staying power. Expect a dark, opaque core, a spicy lift, and intense black‑fruit tones (blackberry, blackcurrant), carried by ample structure and a long, mouth‑coating finish.dows-port

In the glass: Brooding black fruit layered with anise, espresso and bittersweet cocoa; the palate has enormous weight, firm tannins and superb balance—classic Dow’s poise with a touch of youthful sinew still in reserve.wine

Pairing: Blue‑veined cheeses (Stilton or Beauvale), 70–85% dark chocolate, roasted walnuts; sublime with a Christmas pudding course.

Occasion: The contemplative nightcap for Christmas week or New Year’s fireside conversation—decant generously and let the detail unfurl.

Sumptuous, Silken, Enduring – Graham’s Vintage Port 1997 (Douro, Portugal) £74 Davys Wine Merchant

A benchmark for modern‑classic Graham’s, the 1997 marries luscious richness with a refined, claret‑like elegance. Drawing on the estate’s top sites—Quinta dos Malvedos and Lages (with fruit also from family properties Vila Velha and Vale de Malhadas)—this is intensely coloured, deeply scented Port, shaped by layers of ripe fruit, firm yet polished tannins and a long, caressing finish. 

In the glass: Luscious floral perfume, black cherry and blackberry on the nose; on the palate, a full‑bodied, richly textured wine with impressive concentration and length—power enveloped in total richness, with balancing acidity keeping everything precise. 

Pairing: Fig & walnut tart, aged Comté or cheddar, or a square of single‑origin dark chocolate; also superb with a hand‑cut chocolate truffle selection.

Occasion: A centrepiece bottle to crown Christmas lunch or New Year’s Eve—sumptuous enough for grand desserts, elegant enough to sip on its own.