Wines of the Week: The best bottles to match with cheeses over the festive season

Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy

Port and cheese is one of the great food matches over the festive season. But which port? And with which cheese?

For aged, hard cheeses such as cheddar, manchego or Parmesan:

Taylor’s Quinta De Vargellas Vintage Port 2002

From a stunning, remote Douro estate, the foot-trodden grapes maturing gloriously in the bottle. Richly warming and smoothly satisfying, with concentrated fruitcake and gently spicy flavours. Needs decanting. £29.99, Waitrose, ocado.com; £30, majestic.co.uk

For Stilton, Roquefort and other blue cheeses

De Bortoli Old Boys 21-year-old Tawny

OK, so it is made by Italians in Australia’s Yarra Valley, but it’s long barrel-aged, has all the nutty, mellow, dried-fruit flavours of tawny port, and is the perfect foil for a plate of blue cheeses, home-made chutney and walnuts (as well as Christmas pudding). £21, amazon.co.uk; £22, Oddbins

For soft goat’s and creamy cheeses

Quinta Noval Black

The most difficult cheeses to pair with red grapes, but this youthful, powerful port should cut through the lactic tastes. Boisterously fruity and peppery, but easy to drink, particularly for port novices. And try it chilled. £13.19 (until 29 December; normally £16.49), ocado.com; £17.99, cellarandkitchen.adnams.co.uk