Take the hassle out of Christmas with Cameron Douglas’s excellent drinks selections

Take the hassle out of Christmas with Cameron Douglas’s excellent drinks selections
Getting ready to have a good time but not sure what wine to bring ... or even if it will pair well with the food you’re about to enjoy?

Let MiNDFOOD’s Cameron Douglas take the hassle out of choosing with some excellent selections to buy and imbibe.

Piper-Heidsieck Rosé Sauvage NV

Aromas of cherry and raspberry, moments of cherry and baking spice, baked goods and a fine leesy autolysis. Crisp, balanced, refreshing, dry, a lovely texture with tension and firmness from acidity. Youthful and refreshing. Drink from today and through 2025. $79.99.

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV

Classic bouquet of brioche and fruit spice, citrus and white fleshed tree fruits. There’s a moment of strawberry and white flower. Crisp, youthful, refreshing and dry with flavours that mirror the nose. Best drinking from purchase and through 2025. $64.99.

Quartz Reef Methode Traditionnelle Rosé NV

Central Otago

A captivating bouquet with scents of red apple and apricot, fresh strawberry and cherry. A seam of minerality and fine autolysis is showcased on the palate. The mousse adds finesse. Drink from today and through 2024+. $43.

Akarua Vintage Brut 2016

Central Otago

Enticing with a mineral and autolysis centric bouquet. Aromas of apple and baked goods, grapefruit and white flowers. The autolysis is central to the bouquet leading to a palate packed with citrus and blossom. Delicious. Drink from now and through 2027+. $55.

Lindauer Prosecco Rosé NV

Italy

Flavours of light red berry fruits and cherry, moments of rose and red apple with a light ginger-lees autolysis. Crisp and dry with a fine mousse texture, fine acid line and flavours of red berry fruits on finish. Best from purchase and through 2023. Chill for service. $18.99.

No.1 Cuvée Adele Méthode Traditionnelle 2016

Marlborough

The bouquet is seductive and complex, rich in scents of autolysis and roasted stone fruits, butter brioche and nut. Fantastic on the palate. Harmonious, complex, seductive and delicious. The perfect gift. $270.

No.1 Reserve Méthode Traditionnelle NV

Marlborough

A fantastic bouquet of fresh citrus and white flowers, complex lees autolysis with brioche and burnt butter. Totally delicious and sophisticated. An exemplar that showcases the best of this producer and NZ. $98.

No.1 Assemblé Méthode Traditionnelle NV

Marlborough

Aromas of baked goods, peaches, grapefruit and strawberry. A fine lees complexity and autolysis with intensity and sophistication. Crisp, refreshingly dry and balanced. Best drinking upon purchase and through 2025. $32.

No.1 Cuvée Méthode Traditionelle NV

Marlborough 

Wonderfully enticing bouquet with aromas of ripe grapefruit, white peach, lemon then brioche. Salivating and deliciously fresh. As good as any wine you might source from Champagne. Best from day of purchase through 2027+. $36.

No.1 Rosé Méthode Traditionnelle NV

Marlborough

Floral and gently fruity, quite seductive. Aromas of light red berry, cranberry, cherry and red melon. Crisp, fresh, refreshing and dry. Delicious, lengthy, fruity and delightful. Best drinking from today and through 2028+. $47. 

Lindauer Prosecco D.O.C NV

Italy

Flavours of fresh red and yellow apple, lime and green pear. Crisp and refreshing with a just-dry mouthfeel as wine touches palate. Lots of effervescence with a core of fruit and balanced finish. Best from purchase and through 2023. Chill well before service. $18.99.

Lindauer Special Reserve Blanc De Blancs NV

New Zealand

Enticing aromas and flavours of baked goods and fresh white peach, red apple and white flower. On the palate: a dry wine with a core of sweet citrus and white fleshed stonefruit flavours. Best from 2021 through 2025. $18.99.

Cloudy Bay Pelorus NV

Aromas of lemon and apple, a fine lees autolysis, white peach and a harmonious elegant synergy. Wonderfully explosive mousse with a youthful fresh energy, quite captivating and fresh with flavours of citrus and white fleshed tree fruits. Best drinking from purchase and through 2026+. $36.99.

Cloudy Bay Pelorus Rosé NV

Brioche and cherry, baked goods and red melon, a deep and fine lees autolysis, a mineral earthy quality and overall developing complexity. Fine, fresh, crisp, leesy and abundant in elegant flavour and finesse. A delicious wine ready for drinking from purchase and through 2026+. $39.99. 

Mission Estate Fête Hand Harvested Sparkling Cuvée NV

Flavours of ripe apple and citrus, a cereal and biscuit layer then white stone fruits and fresh pear. Fine bubble and plenty of effervescence. A crisp and refreshing finish, balanced and well made with best drinking from 2021 through 2025. $22.

Seifried Family Winemakers Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Nelson

Complex, fresh and varietal. Aromas and flavours of apples and lemongrass, white nectarine and fresh herbs. A lively texture with a youthful acid line. Well made and delicious. Best drinking from purchase and through 2026. $20.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2021

A super-classic with aromas of fresh basil and green apple, pink grapefruit and wet slate mineral scents. Vibrant and fresh on the palate with an abundance of acidity and mouthfeel. Balanced, salty and well made. Drink now and through 2025. $39.99.

Kinross ‘Holy Schist’ Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Gibbston, Central Otago

Distinctively savoury and mineral scents leading the bouquet with aromas of hay, wild thyme, stony soils then citrus and tropical fruits. Excellent mouthfeel and finish with best drinking from purchase and through 2025. $29. 

Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Marlborough

Classic, expressive bouquet and familiar with a core of apple, citrus and tropical fruit punch. Fresh herbs and fruit melt together on the palate pushed along by a decent acid line and salty sea air textures. Ready to drink now through 2025. $19.99.

Jules Taylor Wines Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Marlborough

Powerful, fragrant, intense, floral and varietal. Aromas and flavours of pink grapefruit, fresh red and green apple. Great balance and length, purity of fruit and power. A delicious wine. Drink upon purchase and through 2025. $25.

Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Central Otago

Pure, fragrant, varietal and distinctive with aromas of citrus and sweet green herbs, green pear and pineapple. A delicious wine with a pure expression, tropical twist and lengthy finish. Best from purchase and through 2026+. $27.50.

Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc NV

New Zealand

Aromas and flavours of sauvignon blanc tell the story of this variety’s unabated perfumes of tropical fruits, apple, citrus, fresh herbs and spices. The palate has a core of fruit and contrasting acidity for texture and a lengthy finish. Best from purchase through 2022. $17.99.

Amisfield Fumé Blanc 2019

Central Otago 

The fumé style is signified through aromas of wood smoke or soil. This attribute adds depth and character. Aromas of fresh citrus, apple and fresh herbs of sage and thyme. On the palate: dry, crisp, salivating and complex. Plenty of charm. Best from purchase through 2025+. $45.

Yalumba Samuels Collection Eden Valley Viognier 2018

Barossa

A core of fresh peach and apple, layers of flowers with a vibrant, aromatic and seductive perfume of yellow flowers and exotic spices. Delicious, fresh and ready. Best drinking from today and through 2025. $24.99.

Jules Taylor Wines Marlborough Chardonnay 2020

Marlborough

Complex and alluring bouquet with aromas of ripe white and yellow fleshed stonefruits, red apple, quince and honeysuckle. On the palate: weighty, smooth and fine with a satin cream texture. Best enjoyed through to 2026. $25.

Mission Jewelstone Chardonnay 2019

A youthful expression with flavours of heirloom peach and grapefruit then a fresh cashew nut. Textures from fruit and wood tannins layer in a balanced mouthfeel and foundation supporting flavours of fresh stone and citrus fruit. Best from 2022 through 2028. $40.

Forrest Grüner Veltliner 2021

Marlborough

Delicious aromas of exotic flowers and light herbaceous notes, then citrus, ripe apple and stone fruit scents, a touch of white spice and minerality. A lovely topline of acidity, mealy texture and long finish. Great drinking from purchase through 2025. $28. 

Forrest Albarino 2021

Marlborough

Aromas of sun-warmed peach flesh, ripe citrus, salty air and dry stone minerality. Texture on the palate is slightly spicy, flavours of white peach transition through citrus accentuated by acidity. Well made with best drinking from 2021 through 2026. $28. 

Astrolabe Comelybank Vineyard Waihopai Valley Pinot Noir Rosé 2021

Waihopai Valley

The year 2021’s fine vintage is reflected in the bouquet of this rosé with aromas of red berries, tropical fruit punch and peaches. Well made and ready with great drinking from purchase and through 2023. $32.

Astrolabe Marlborough Rosé 2021

Marlborough

An enticingly ripe bouquet of strawberry, red cherry, red apple and roses. On the palate: fruity, crisp and just dry. Well suited for by the glass drinking or with first courses off an à la carte menu. Best from purchase and through 2023. $28.

Maude Rosé 2021

Central Otago

Fantastic colour and bouquet of sweet rose and ripe cranberry, red cherry and Pacific Rose apple. Pure, fresh and enticing. Delicious on palate. So much to like including a rose and mineral complexity. Best from purchase and through end of summer 2023. $28.

Taylors Pinot Noir Rosé NV

Adelaide Hills

Delicate and fragrant with scents of sweet peach and apricot, red apple and a whisper of red cherry. Soft and silky as the wine touches the palate, in a just dry style and fleshy juicy mouthfeel. Best from day of purchase and through end of summer 2023. AU$19.99

Pinot Noir

Amisfield Pinot Noir 2019

Central Otago

Tense, ripe, varietal and loaded with primary fruit and mineral energy. Bright red and dark cherry, raspberry and redcurrant. Baking spices of oak with a vanilla and cedar suggestion. Quite powerful and youthful on the palate. Drinking best from 2023 through 2030. $55.

Amisfield Pinot Noir 2019

Central Otago

Tense, ripe, varietal and loaded with primary fruit and mineral energy. Bright red and dark cherry, raspberry and redcurrant. Baking spices of oak with a vanilla and cedar suggestion. Quite powerful and youthful on the palate. Drinking best from 2023 through 2030. $55.

Akarua ‘Kolo’ Pinot Noir 2018

Bannockburn

Intensely floral and complex, a core of ripe red berry fruits with fresh raspberries and sweet plums. Equally intense on the palate with flavours to mirror the bouquet led by raspberry. Finesse and charm, fantastic mouthfeel. Great from  purchase and through 2030. $90.

Akarua ‘The Siren’ Pinot Noir 2018

Bannockburn

Captivating bouquet of complexity, minerality and core of fruit led by raspberries and red cherries. There’s no mistaking the energy and pinosity presented.  Best from purchase and through 2030.   Investment recommended. $110.

Palliser Estate Single Vineyard ‘Hua Nui’ Pinot Noir 2019

Martinborough

Ripe, fruity, rich in aromas of dark red berries and fine oak with toasty wood spices. A delicious wine with power, a core of fruit and lengthy complex finish. It is also young so no rush with best drinking from late 2022 through 2030. $85.

Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2016

Barossa

Blackberry and baking spices of clove and nutmeg, raspberry and toasty wood smoke layers. Very expressive on the palate. Best drinking from late 2022 through 2030. Decant for service. $54.99.

Te Mata Bullnose Syrah 2019

Hawke’s Bay

Look at that colour! Dark purple and pink rim. Rhone-like bouquet with spices and meats, dark berries and oak follow. Fantastic bouquet overall. Warm and generous on the palate. Excellent wine. Invest if you can. Best from late 2022 through 2030+. $75.

Taylors Jaraman Shiraz NV

Clare Valley, McLaren Vale

A very satisfying wine with classic, ripe, fruity and spicy flavours of blackcurrant and dark plum, clove, black pepper and toasty wood. Dry on palate with moderate tannins, a tobacco and smoky complexity, powdered baking spices and generous lengthy finish. $32.

Mission Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Very enticing bouquet of fresh black berries and cassis, black currant and plum moments with toasty barrel spices and unmistakable scent of gravel soil. Dry, weighty, tense and youthful with firm tannins and plenty of acidity. Contrasting core of black fruit and brown spices of toasty barrel then earthy stony complexity. Decant for service with food or cellar until 2023. Best from 2023 through 2029+. $29.00

Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port 2016

Portugal

Youthful bouquet with layers of raspberries and brown spices, a violet perfume, dark plum and just dried raisin, then a fine lees  autoylsis. Refined and engaging textures from tannins. Delicious, lengthy and ready. $49.99.

Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port

Portugal

Aromas of raisin and black forest cake, kishmish and cinnamon spice. There’s a heady exuberance and familiar package of plum and prune, blackcurrant and sweet lift of alcohol. Lush, delicious and ready. $66.99.

Strange Nature Premium Grape Gin 2020

New Zealand

A significant bouquet of fresh sage and thyme, juniper and hints of gooseberry and pineapple.  Smooth on the palate with spiritous impact that calms to reveal juniper, citrus, herbs and spices. Great with ice or with bespoke tonic. $89.99.

Joiy Wine Seltzer Pineapple NV

Aromas of fruity white wine meet the scents of pineapple, cold stone mineral and yellow flowers. The spritz texture that touches the palate first showcases the pineapple then yellow fruit flavours of wine. Refreshing and crisp. Drink now and through end of summer 2023. Four-pack $19.99.

Joiy Wine Seltzer Lime NV

Aromas of crisp, ripe white fleshed fruits of apple and pear then citrus, wet stone mineral and a highlight of white flowers. Flavours are mirrored on the palate with a light fresh squeeze of lime then peach, apple and lemon. Refreshing with a light spritz bubble, moderate acidity and balanced, even finish. Drinking well now and through 2023. Four-pack $19.99.

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