Tanners Top Ten Turkey Wines

Much as I want to find a truly Turkish wine to authenticate this blog, (let’s face it, you may have been searching for ‘wines from Turkey’ when you came across this article!) we have none to partner the Christmas bird. We’re on the hunt, but the right Buzbag, let alone Kalecik Karasi or Okuzgozu has yet to be unearthed. Keep checking the list, but at the moment…here’s a nice range of more familiar names to grace your Christmas table.

Let’s start with whites, and a Champagne in fact. Don’t stop after the intro or aperitif, carry on through to the main attraction with the fruity yet balanced pure Pinot Noir of Jean-Francois Clouet’s Grande Reserve (£24.50) This is simply a terrific Champagne, plenty of depth and the character to cope with all those extras. Hog the bottle!

If you’re after a more traditional white, then I think Chardonnay is the answer, and I would point you towards the mellow, supple, lightly-oaked Saint Veran of Jean Luc Terrier (£12.20), or the un-oaked, limey loveliness of House of Certain Views Chardonnay (£8.95) from Australia. Either works, depending how much you go for oak.

For an exceptional alternative, (and fresh from a superb performance at our recent Christmas Tasting,) the obscure but delicious Albarino, Lagar de Cervera (£14.80) from North West Spain is a revelation. Great peachy fruit, slightly spicy but stacked with class, it is a top wine – just the sort of wine you’d expect Tanners to source. It really is fantastic with poultry, and fish of course.
Tanners Rosé (£6.95) must get a mention. It is ridiculously easy to drink, yet has the depth to cope with food and that hint of ripe strawberries just sets it off so well. Great value too.

On to the reds, and I’ll be dipping into the delights of brilliant Beaujolais, and specifically the Chénas from Rémi & Paola Benon (£10.80) which has subtlety, super flavour and silky fruit. It’s my top choice.

Close behind is the juicyness of a modest Claret, Château Malbat (£80 for 12 bottles), which on current form is a wow, and superb value, particularly with the special offer for purchasing a dozen.
A big step up in class, and price to be fair, is the best Chianti Classico (£15.40) that I’ve tasted this year. Riecine is a fabulous estate, Sean O’Callaghan a magical maker, and the current offering is sublime. Splash out if you can, you wont be disappointed.

Burgundy is a good partner, but it has to be good and have a bit of maturity on its side. Beaune 1er cru ‘Bastion’ 2006 (£25.80) is from Domaine Chanson, a house roaring back to form and you’d have to pay a fair bit more from other addresses. The aromas, the smooth seductive feel and the length of flavour make it well worth the money if Pinot Noir is your thing – and for many people this is the king of grapes.

Finally, if you want a ‘big’ wine (which may overpower the bird, but what the heck) the best balanced comes from Margan Shiraz (£15.40) from the Hunter Valley, a generous Shiraz from Australia with plenty of alcohol but surprisingly balanced and loaded with flavour. This is a wine that always impresses on tasting, and has fans coming back for more.

For other Tanners wine recommendations to match a whole host of Christmas foods including Goose, Ham, Salmon, Christmas Pudding,  Oysters, Roast Beef, Stilton & Chocolates – see our homepage and click on the foods that you’re thinking of having for lots of delicious ideas.

Related articles

• Susy Atkins picks Tanners Wines for Christmas in Delicious Magazine (tanners-wines.co.uk)