Simon Hoggart

Christmas Mini-Bar Offer

This is the first of our Christmas offers — a little early

issue 28 October 2006

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This is the first of our Christmas offers — a little early, I know, but a chance for you to stock up on pleasingly discounted bubbles for the festive season. It’s a very flexible offer from Armit of Notting Hill — you can buy most of the wines by the half-dozen, or acquire our two tasting cases: the Luxury and the Grand Luxe. The only requirement is that, for free delivery, you have to order at least a dozen bottles.

The Prosecco La Riva dei Frati NV1 is a delicious example of this plump, moussy, zestful and fruity wine, from the Prosecco grape, of course. It needs to be drunk this year, and will be perfect for parties on its own, as a Buck’s Fizz or as the classic Bellini with peach juice. Reduced by £1 a bottle to £8.35.

You would be hard put to tell the difference between a traditional champagne and the 1682 Brut NV from Steenberg in Constantia2. It’s made in the classic champagne style from classic champagne grapes; is in part barrel-aged and left on its lees, so that it has all the multi-layered complexity of champagne at a fraction of the price. Reduced by 13 per cent to £10.95 and again exactly right for generous party hosting.

Armit’s own brand NV3, from the house of Boizel in Epernay, won the Best Value Champagne award earlier this year in Decanter magazine, and when you taste it you’ll see why. Rich, biscuity, smooth and with lovely crisp bubbles — if it were a grande marque, you would expect to pay at least half as much again. It is about to rise by £2 a bottle, but you can buy it for the present price of £14.95.

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