Eight wines worth defending at a dinner party

Julian Pemberton

@julian_pemberton

8Items

Wealth management teaches you one thing: most spending is nonsense. Wine is the exception I've made peace with. These are the bottles I'll actually argue for after the second glass, from a Burgundy that dents the mortgage to an English fizz that's quietly stopped being a joke. No tasting notes about 'hints of gooseberry' here — just what I'd pour if you turned up unannounced.

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Eight wines worth defending at a dinner party — 8 items
Name	Comment	Region	Grape	Price Range
1Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet	The wine that makes people forgive you for talking about wine. Buttery, taut, over too fast. Save it for someone who deserves it.	Burgundy, France	Chardonnay	£120–£220
2Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge	The sensible sibling of a wine I'll never actually own. Still absurdly good. Decant it, then pretend you always drink like this.	Bordeaux, France	Cabernet Sauvignon blend	£150–£250
3Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin	Silky, brooding, expensive enough to require a small speech before opening. I give the speech anyway.	Burgundy, France	Pinot Noir	£180–£300
4Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo	Tannic enough to strip paint in its youth, gorgeous with a decade on it. I have the patience of neither, but I try.	Piedmont, Italy	Nebbiolo	£60–£100
5Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva	Reliable as a good accountant. Goes with everything the trattoria crowd argues about, including the carbonara debate itself.	Tuscany, Italy	Sangiovese	£25–£40
6Marqués de Riscal Reserva	The wine equivalent of a well-cut but affordable suit. Nobody's ever complained after a glass of this.	Rioja, Spain	Tempranillo	£18–£28
7Bollinger Special Cuvée	For celebrations, apologies, and Tuesdays that need help. Never once let me down, unlike most Tuesdays.	Champagne, France	Pinot Noir blend	£45–£65
8Nyetimber Classic Cuvée	English sparkling has stopped being a punchline, and this is why. Pour it blind and watch the Champagne snobs go quiet.	West Sussex, England	Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier	£35–£45