John Wilson: French wine bargains for Easter

The O’Briens French Wine sale, which began last week, provides us with a great opportunity to stock up for our Easter celebrations. All French wines have a minimum discount of 20 per cent, and more in some cases. There is plenty of choice both from the classic regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, along with the Languedoc, Loire and southwest France.

For white wines, I would head straight to Domaine Begude Terroir 1130; at €13.50 (down from €17.95) this delicious, lightly textured, refreshing Chardonnay is a match for many white Burgundies at twice the price. If you are a fan of Chablis, the Brocard Chablis (€21.95 down from €28.95) has mouth-watering crisp green apple fruits and a dry finish. Either would make a great match for a plate of oysters or smoked salmon.

Château Fourcas-Hosten 2012, an old favourite of mine, is a very tempting €23.95 down from €33.95. Elegant, with some fine tannins on the finish, this would go perfectly with your Easter lamb. If you prefer the wines of the Rhône, the lightly peppery Caves Saint-Désirat Syrah with its smooth blackcurrant and dark cherry fruits is a real bargain at €10.95 (down from €15.45). The sale runs until May 2nd.

Also from the sale, I have chosen two classic French wines, a white Burgundy and a red Bordeaux.

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Mâcon 2020 Bourcier-Martinot (€15.95 reduced from €19.95)

A light to medium-bodied wine with refreshing juicy pear and red apple fruits. Enjoy it solo before dinner or serve it with prawns, scallops or baked salmon.

Château Janoy la Bellevue 2020 Bordeaux (€10, down from €15.95)

Ripe, supple blackcurrants and red cherries with light tannins on the finish. This would go down nicely with most red meats, firm cheeses, or a veggie burger. Great value.