​Phil Parrish has been bargain hunting for some great last-minute Christmas and New Year deals . . .

Happy Christmas and New Year from all of us at The Journal!

Left buying the wine for Christmas and the New Year until the last minute again?  Well,  here are a few recommendations that will have you glowing with the Christmas spirit – not least because they just happen to be real bargains as well as being very tasty drops.

I’d almost convinced myself that I wasn’t going to drink any Champagne this Christmas – like bankers’ bonuses,  it just doesn’t seem appropriate. Then I looked at some of the Champagne deals and did a second take . . . 

Bollinger  at £17.95? and Moet at £14.95?  I promptly changed my mind –  I’m easily swayed!

It was Morrisons that did it, and what a coup it was.  I’ve not seen Bollinger at that price for more than 15 years. Admittedly you were limited to three per customer and it sold out in minutes, but that was the bargain of the century. It also set off a Champagne price war – none of the subsequent deals have been quite as tasty, but this is the pick of what’s still on offer (although do check with your local branch first). 

Sainsbury’s Blanc de Noir nets down to £11.25 a bottle if you buy six bottles. Majestic Duval-Leroy Brut is yours for £12.81 as part of a multibuy and Lidl has the cheapest I have seen on offer in any of the supermarkets – £9.99 for their Comte de Brismand Brut NV, though I can’t comment on the quality, as I’ve not yet tasted it.

Intent on not getting left behind, even Marks & Spencer have nearly gone into the bargain basement – they are offering their delicious Champagne Oudinot for £13.99 a bottle – down from £18.99. M&S also have some dinky 20cl bottles of Champagne – brilliant little stocking fillers, down from £5.49 to £4.29 a bottle.

Champagne still likely to leave a nasty taste or dent in the pocket? Then it has to be Prosecco, although since it has become fashionable we have seen some steep price rises over the past year. But good value can be had with Prosecco Marca from Lidl at £3.50 a bottle. It’s a steal with its lemony fresh, light flavour.

Not sure about Prosecco?  Then this Cava might suit, but the maths on this deal are slightly complicated.  Buy the excellent prestige M&S Cava on a deal – two for £10. But, if you buy six bottles in total, it entitles you to a 25 per cent discount, giving a fantastic end price of £3.75 a bottle.

It’s more than a decent drop too – just the right-priced party fizz to be able to offer to friends and neighbours; even the friends’ neighbours if the mood takes you!

Don’t rush in too quickly to buy vintage Cava  – you might expect it should taste finer than the non-vintage stuff, but it rarely does, as nearly all vintage Cava suffers from an odd, wet wool nose and a flat (I don’t mean short of bubbles) dullish taste.

Still not excited by the ordinary bubbly?  Then try a bottle of the quirky Banrock sparkling Shiraz from Australia. It’s not a firm favourite, but I almost like it; it’s certainly different, with its deep red colour and fairly heavy and slightly sweet flavour. It would accompany goose quite happily, although I think it would baulk at Christmas pud. Available from most supermarkets at around £6.95 a bottle.

If you prefer sweet fizz to dry, then the Co-op (not one of my usual haunts, I’ll admit, but I’m liking them better, especially with all the Fairtrade and organic wines they offer) have a real Asti Spumanti NV at £4. Lidl have an award winning one, Asti Allini, at £4.36 a bottle.

I’ve said it before so it’s hardly news, but I’m bored with Australian wines, so if you have similar feelings, go back to France. Your taste buds will certainly be in for a treat. Majestic Wine Warehouses sell a delicious little red Bordeaux called Chateau Pitray. It’s soft and full, but it just taps the tonsils with a flicker of acidity as it slides down the throat to remind you it is still alive and kicking.

Buy two bottles as a part of a mixed case and the price comes down from £8.99 to £7.99, or you could just buy a magnum of the same wine for £14.95 – it looks really impressive in this two-bottle size. 

If you are in the mood to splash out on a really good red Bordeaux, you could do a lot worse than 2004  Reserve du Leoville Barton, the second wine of Chateau Leoville Barton – this is claret with style and finesse, and Majestic Wines have it on special offer, at £22 a bottle.

If, even if in this season of good will, you still cannot bear the thought of buying anything French, but still want Old World style, then Spain is the place. M&S have the 2006 Balcón de la Villa Toro for £5.99. They also  have a classy old style Rioja, the 2004 Contino Estate, one of my all time favourite Riojas. It is so delicious now, with its brick red colour and warm strawberry and toast fruit, that it would melt the coldest of hearts and costs £18.99.

Finally, if my last drink on Christmas night isn’t port, then it is a mouth-watering glass of sloe gin. If you didn’t manage to make your own this year (I did – there  was an abundance of sloes) then there are some delicious locally-made examples out there.

The Grange Range of fruit liqueurs are made at Skirlaugh, not far from Beverley. Christine Jackson sells her home-made and extremely competitively-priced liqueurs at various farmers markets throughout the region (telephone 01964 562306). 

Be a bit careful with these fruity delights; they are so moorish and, if opened, they barely last out Boxing Day!