An Extra Special Christmas with the Whitehalls
Michael Whitehall, dad of Jack Whitehall, was so shocked to discover the wines he loved in a blind taste test came from Asda we had to bleep out his reaction!
Between now and December 31 we’re offering a third off a selection of our Extra Special wines – and his wife Hilary tricked wine connoisseur Michael into overcoming his preconceptions and finding out just how good they are.
Television personality Michael, who's famous for the Travels With My Father Netflix series with their son Jack, correctly guessed three out of the four wines, including Asda Extra Special Vintage Champagne (now £17.33), Asda Extra Special Châteauneuf-du-Pape (now £9.99), Asda Extra Special Sancerre (now £9.67) and Malamado Fortified Malbec (now £11.33) but couldn’t believe that the wines were from Asda, telling his wife to “f*** off” when she revealed where they were from.
However, rather than turn his nose up at the surprise, Michael vowed to stock up on the tasty tipples for the holiday season, saying of the Champagne: "I could easily go through a caseload of it … not all in one go, obviously."
Watch the video of Michael's taste test here:
Hilary said: “It’s safe to say Michael can be a bit of a wine snob, so I knew I’d have to trick him in to trying supermarket wine. His face was an absolute picture when I told him it was all from Asda. It’s fair to say Asda is not the only four-letter word he used! But the past 40 years have taught me not to expect anything less."
Michael said: "It’s not exactly what I had in mind when Hilary blindfolded me, but I was absolutely astonished at the sheer variety and quality of these wines. I would never have never believed they were from a supermarket nor would I have believed the price.
"My top picks from the tasting were the Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Extra Special Vintage Champagne. That one in particular felt very high-end; it was deep and full-bodied, nothing like that Prosecco all the young ones rave about. I’ve already ordered another case to see us through the festive season."
| Product Name | Country | Grapes | ABV | Vintage | Tasting Notes | Food Pairing | Was | Now |
| ASDA Extra Special Chateauneuf-du-Pape | France | Grenache Syrah, Mourvedre | 14.5 | 2020 | Powerful bouquet of red fruits and spices like pepper and thyme. | Slow cooked beef stews or strong cheeses. | £15.00 | £9.99 |
| BAROLO, Castel Boglione | Italy | Nebbiolo | 14 | 2017 | A complex nose combining plum, mulberry, ripe strawberry and brown spice with delicate floral and violet notes. The tannins are firm and pleasingly supported with plump fruit and a rounded texture. | Roast meat, Game, mature cheese | £15.00 | £9.99 |
| Oscar Brilliant Sancerre | France | Sauvignon Blanc | 13.5 | 2019 | Gooseberry, melon and guava flavours with a tense mineral finish. | Sushi or fresh goat cheese salad. | £14.50 | £9.67 |
| Bourgogne Hautes Cotes fe Beaune Blanc, Bernard Lagarrigue | France | Chardonnay | 13 | 2019 | Taut lemon and white peach with toasty spice. | Smoked salmon, roast turkey chicken or nut roast. | £14.50 | £9.67 |
| Clos des Moines Lalande de Pomerol | France | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | 13 | 2016 | Complex with dark plum, tobacco and toasted spice. | Roast veal, duck breast or mature cheese. | £12.00 | £7.99 |
| ASDA Extra Special Louis Bernard Champagne Vintage Brut | France | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | 12.5 | 2012 | Rich, elegant lemon and toast notes. | Smoked salmon or a mixed salad. | £26.00 | £17.33 |
| Arthur Metz Brut Crémant d'Alsace Cuvée Spéciale | France | Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Riesling, Pinot gris | 12 | NA | Expressive with notes of white flesh fruits, delicate bubbles and crisp freshness with notes of apricot. | The ideal accompaniment to all your gastronomic meetings, celebrations and aperitifs | £12.00 | £7.99 |
| Malamado Fortified Malbec | Argentina | Malbec | 17.5 | NA | Totally delicious - Christmas Pudding in a glass | Perfect as an aperitif or to go alongside seafood. | £17.00 | £11.33 |