Berry Bros. & Rudd William Pickering Tawny Port by Quinta do Noval

What is it? Port is the most old-school of wines, but – if you’re not quite yet ready to plunge into the world of Reserve, Crusted, LBV and Vintage – then Tawny is an excellent “gateway” to the category. And when it comes to Tawnies, you can’t get much better value than this.

Why’s it different? From the dramatic, terraced slopes of the Douro, this wine is created exclusively for us by the team at Quinta do Noval – the house behind the legendary Naçional. It’s a blend of different wines – each one adding a layer of richness and nutty complexity – that have an average age of 15 years old (sadly there is no 15-Year-Old category for Port, so the label can only legally state “Special Aged Reserve”). Filled with notes of dried fruit and nuts, the wine’s caramel sweetness is countered by vibrant acidity making it deliciously moreish.

What should I eat with it? Our Buyer Catriona Felstead MW suggests a chunk of blue Dolcelatte cheese, which sounds ideal (although we might be tempted to sample a whole cheeseboard). It’s also one of the rare wines that works with chocolate (particularly something like caramel truffles). Equally, it’s delicious and complex enough to sip on its own.

How much? £1 for a taste, £26.95 for a bottle

Throughout December, you can taste any of our Staff Recommendations for just £1 in our London shop at 63 Pall Mall.