Tesco Christmas in July

A tasting of Tesco Christmas wines - in July

Sometimes the snow comes down in June
- Save The Best For Last, Vanessa Williams

What could be more Christmassy than a steaming hot day in July?

Fortunately, to set the Christmas scene, Tesco had arranged a walk through a (slightly disorientating) magical winterland.

The general impression of most of these wines was pleasant enough, perhaps a little underwhelming - which is no mean feat for a large supermarket at this price range.

However, a range of under-the-table Italians plus a couple of dessert wines at the end proved worthy of searching out.

Fizz

A Blanquette de Limoux and, new to me, a Pignoletto; both fresh, elegant and pleasant.

Whites

With a Maconnais Burgundy, an Aussie chardie from Yarra and a d'Arenberg white blend (zippy Sauvignon and Riesling with waxy Marsanne and Rousanne), these were again all pleasant, with the New World wines being perhaps the more accomplished.

Reds

Again, a broad range of styles from a light, cherryish Burgundy from Mercurey, an harmonious cherry-and-spice Aussie Pinot from Yarra, a fuller Ripasso, a more-summery bbq d'Arenberg GSM blend.

The Italian Job

Of more interest was a trio of Italian wines, all at £9 before seasonal offers, that held together more convincingly:

Tesco Finest Greco Beneventano ripe orchard and melon fruit; fresh with some richness and length.

Tesco Finest Falanghina fresh and citrussy with orchard fruit and good length

Tesco Finest Aglianico smokey prunes, some gaminess, dark chocolate and mocha, spice; harmonious and balanced with some firmness

The stickies

However, the cherry on top was two ridiculously good value dessert wines that should not be saved for Christmas.

Tesco finest* Dessert Sémillon 37.5cl (£6) made by de Bortoli, this warm-climate sticky has roasted peaches,beeswax, roasted spices, savouriness and extensive botrytis. A really impressive, complex and classy full-on dessert wine at an amazing price.

Good.

Match with treacle tart, mince pies and blue cheese.

Tesco finest* 10 Year Old Tawny Port 75cl (£12) from the excellent Symington family, this has everything a tawny should; cherries, eucalyptus and freshness. Complex and substantial.

Good.

Christmas pudding in a glass, match with mince pies, Christmas pudding or hard yellow cheese.