In this week’s Tippings Tipples, MIKE TIPPING suggests what to bring to a dinner party.

Let’s establish some housekeeping rules before you come round to my house for dinner. Not that you would really want to dine chez moi, I’m a grumpy old so and so.

But just in case you do, rule one is that you bring a bottle of wine. I don’t care if you are a strict teetotaller, I am not and you are expected to present me with a bottle of something very drinkable on arrival.

Which leads me nicely into the second rule, please don’t forget that I am a wine writer and I know which ‘wines’ are available in the three for £12 ‘offer’ at the supermarket. I don’t want those.

Nor do I want that horrible, jammy, big name Californian stuff. Nor that Rioja that was £749.48 but is on promotion at £4.56.

So this is the deal. I am cooking you dinner. It is roast beef from my favourite butcher. It is not boil in the bag beef and it contains no horse. I would like a real bottle of wine to go with it. I don’t expect you to spend a fortune; a tenner would be about right. Here are some suggestions.

The Wine Society has Château Pey la Tour Reserve 2009, Bordeaux Supérieur, which is predominantly merlot. This is a full-bodied, modern-tasting, claret with a velvety texture. Cherry and plum fruit flavours abound, with notes of dark chocolate, spice and some smooth, supple tannins.

In a similar vein is Château Montplaisir “Mon Plaisir” 2010, from the Bergerac region which neighbours Bordeaux to the east. Rich and full-bodied, but with an elegance and freshness, it is super smooth with long flavours of plum and cherry, balanced oak spice and some structure too.

Or head to Portugal for Alianca Dão Reserva 2008, a Gold Medal winner in the 2011 International Wine Challenge.

I think it offers terrific value for money. A very approachable, smooth and balanced wine, it has juicy berry fruit flavours with notes of violet and toasty oak.


Château Pey la Tour Reserve 2009, £10.50 from the Wine Society 17/20.

Mon Plaisir 2010 Bergerac, £9.99 from Laithwaite’s Wine 18/20.

Alianca Dão Reserva 2008, £9.49 from Virgin Wines 19/20.