Weekend wine with Blake Creedon

WHETHER you’ve a late change of plan or unexpected extra guests, you can still put together a cracking wine list for Christmas dinner if you get moving early today.

Apart from Aldi, M&S and Lidl, which stock only own-label wines, the stores here should have the upper tiers of great names such as Villa Maria, Cono Sur, Peter Lehmann, and good bubbly too such as Marques De Monistrol and Jacob’s Creek. The bigger branches of the chains below will of course have wider ranges. It gets more complicated with Centra and SuperValu, where the selection depends on the local franchise owners and what market they’re setting out to serve: some match the best specialist wine shops.

Off-licence chains such as O’Briens and O’Donovans are among the best hunting grounds for classy wines in a hurry, and provide most of my highlights below, as are independents such as Bradley’s, North Main Street, Cork; The Corkscrew, and Redmonds of Ranelagh.

Aldi: White: Freeman’s Bay New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2010, €8.49. Red and white: The reserve and single estate tiers (around €8 to €10) of the Bushland range.

Fine Wines: Red and white: One word: d’Arenberg.

Lidl: Red: St Emilion Grand Cru 2009 down from €11.99 to €9.99 (offer ends today). Chateauneuf Du Pape 2009 €12.49.

M&S: Red: Tasmanian Pinot Noir 2009 (€14.99). White: Corriente del Bío Sauvignon Blanc 2010, &€9.49.

SuperValu Red and white: Look out for the upper tiers of the Nugan range priced at about €12.

Tesco: White: Tim Adams Semillon 2008, around €18. Red: Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon, €12.99

Superquinn: White: La Croisade Reserve Chardonnay, €15.99. Red: Domaine De Brunely Vacqueyras, €17.99.

* On New Year’s Eve, I’ll be picking out some festive fizz here. Two final thoughts: since Thursday’s winter solstice, the days have started getting longer. Happy Christmas!

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Independents and Tesco, around €12

Wine for your seafood and salads should offer more than acidity: the contrast between zing and richer fruit flavours work a treat here. Or, if you find them, trade up to higher tiers of Villa Maria or to Lawson’s Dry Hills Sauv Blanc 2010, an outstanding rewarding Kiwi in independents at around €19.

Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc 2006, Independent wine shops; €15

This is so different to the foregoing sauv blancs: a barrel-aged sauvignon sémillon blend, it offers dramatic contrasts, from fresh citrus to pears bedded in a lovely round-textured body and all set off with spice.

Masi Masianco 2009, €12 at selected independents

Here’s something unexpected: inspired by their ancient red ripasso style, Masi relatively recently introduced this rich, dense style, with plump verduzzo and fresh pinot grigio — a great white choice (if you’re so inclined) to go with the fowl and trimmings of the traditional Christmas main course.

d’Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz 2006, Fine Wines and some independent off-licences, €18

If the eclectic d’Arenberg range has a signature, it’s all about wresting expression from the grapes, and at the upmarket end of the range, even more so. This one’s outstanding. Accessible but crisp, dark, fruit laced with spice and vanilla.

St Hallett Faith Shiraz, €13 to €14 at independent wine shops

Top class. And if they’ve got it, and you can stretch to it, please do trade up to St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz around €20. And M&S have Ebenezer and Seppeltsfield Shiraz 2009 from the same winery at €14.99.

Conde De Valdemar Crianza 2006, Independents, €14.95

Good well-aged Spanish reds provide another classic Christmas choice. This one’s elegant, rich and bright with cherries and layers of delicious savoury spice. Imported by Febvre, stockists include Donnybrook Fair; The Corkscrew, Redmonds of Ranelagh, Sweeneys of Glasnevin and Bin no 8, Clonskeagh. Or choose a widely available! Marques de Caceres Crianza 2008 at around €14. or Marquès de Romeral Rioja at M&S.