The National Off Licence Association (NoffLA) runs a tasting every year to select its ‘Gold Star’ wines, which are then heavily promoted in all the members’ stores. The wines are divided into categories such as: ‘New World Red under €8’, ‘Old World White under €14’ and so forth. The resulting selection, which runs to 15 wines this year, can be a bit hit and miss because a selection such as this is only as strong as the best of the wines submitted by suppliers for consideration by the judges. So if there is a weak field in a particular category then the ‘winner’ will be weak also. That said, there can be some real treats as well.

Having participated in the judging process on a number of occasions I can attest to the fact that it is scrupulously well organised, with no chance of any undue influence being brought to bear on or by the judges. This year’s top treat is Veuve Clicquot champagne, and before you groan that champagne is now way beyond your budget hear this. NoffLA, in conjunction with The Irish Times, have three ‘Gold Star’ collections, of 15 wines each, to give away to lucky competition winners.
(See: http://comms.irishtimes.com/goldstarwines/competition/.ashx)

Also included in the collection is a Jacob’s Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2009, a label that people love to sneer at but I have always found that the ‘Reserve’ range punches its weight and more. Indeed it is a shame that the Jacob’s Creek sparkler didn’t make it into the collection rather than the Campo Viejo Cava. I reckon the former is one of the best value drops to be had at the moment. In the reds the San Donaci Contrada del Falco, Rosso Salento 2009 caught my eye. If you are stuck for something with a bit of substance to serve with the yuletide feast this shouldn’t let you down.

Tags: Veuve Clicquot, NoffLA, Jacob's Creek