WHAT TO DRINK AT CHRISTMAS 2012
CANAPES & BUBBLY
Whether you enjoy tasty canapés or crisps or nuts you can’t let Christmas day go past without a glass or two of bubbly. Some nibbles and a glass of champagne is the perfect way to give everyone a lift, whet the appetite and get the festive food orgy underway.
Great news is that most supermarkets, Majestic and many wine outlets have champagne on special this year. Morisons, Asda, Waitrose, Majestic and Tesco have all had good reductions and half price deals available recently. Grand Marques such as Veuve Clicquot or Taittinger are excellent champagnes around £35 with Lanson Black Label, Piper Heidseick and Pommery in the £25 to£30 mark are also very good options. If you are looking for something which is almost as good as champagne at around a tenner, why not try Jacobs Creek chardonnay pinot noir which is a brilliant methode champenoise for around a tenner and is widely available.
Pink champagne always impresses but it is so easy to make Kir Royal by adding a little splash of Crème de Cassis liqueur to champagne or even cava. Readily available from supermarkets for about £9 for a 50cl bottle Crème De Cassis will add just a touch of sweetness and if you keep the bottle in the bottom of your fridge it should last for yonks. Or go Italian with a Bellini made from Prosecco and peach juice.
STARTERS
My rule for starters is always to serve white wines which are dry and light. A good sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, a chenin blanc from South Africa or a viognier from Chile or Australia are good new world choices. Sauvignon blanc with its’ dry minerally flavour and a touch of citrus, particularly grapefruits is ideal with smoked salmon, prawns or cured meats. Closer to home try a steely Sancerre from the Loire or choose an Italian option by going straight for a Gavi di Gavi and avoiding pinot grigio.
To serve something really special on Christmas day, you can dig a bit deeper into your pocket and go for a clean and light chardonnay from Burgundy such asRully, Mercurey and Montagny. The appellation of Mâcon-Villages, produces a softer style at a slightly lower price with Macon-Lugny a favourite. Another good choice is a steely Sancerre.
MAINS
Main courses at Christmas mainly fall into two categories roast turkey and the rest. Looking at wine options to go with roast turkey, chipolatas, pigs in blankets, rich gravy, sprouts, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce and sundry accoutrements raises quite a challenge. Normally you would associate white wines or light red wines such as pinot noir with white meats but with all those strong tastes going on at once you need something with a fuller body. Why not go for something special from the Rhone Valley such as Chateau Neuf Du Pape. 2006 and 2009 have been hailed as two exceptional years for Rhone wines and Chateau Neuf Du Pape hit its’ peak in those two years. If you like something a bit lighter with a touch of oak and vanilla, why not try a Spanish Rioja, especially a Reserva or a Gran Reserva which are smooth, rich and complex. There are some good Rioja Reservas listed below. If you have a penchant for Italy a Chianti Classicocould fit the bill.
If you have opted out of roast turkey and will enjoya juicy steak or a nice rich steak pie New World reds will provide that mouth filling rich fruity flavours with touches of oak and tannin which compliment red meats. Why not seek out a cabernet sauvignon from Chile or Australia, a Malbec from Argentina, a Pinotage from South Africa or a weightier Syrah or Durif from Oz. Carmenère from Chile and Argentine is the new up and coming grape with lots of flavour with round soft tannins. Returning to Europe a smooth Amarone or Primitivo from Italy can provide a soft full bodied alternative or a big wine from the Rhone - Vaqueyras, Crozes Hermitage, Gigondas or the heavy weight St Joseph.
PUDDINGS
There is nothing better to go with puddings than a sweet white wine. Top of the tree comes Beaumes de Venise or Sauternes from France or an Icewine from Austria or Canada which are best served well chilled. The ripe, unctuous sweet flavours offer a complex compliment to most desserts. Alternatives from Oz are available and I recommend the Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora. If you are looking for something different go no further than a chilled bottle of Asti Spumante which will bring another sparkle to the festivities.
CHEESE & AFTERS
When the digestive system starts to cope with the previous 4 courses there is always room for a nibble from the cheese board with a bunch of ripe red grapes. Wines to follow are really a personal choice depending on the cheeses available. A glass or two of a full bodied red wine or rich tawny port can finish the meal perfectly. There are a number of very good Port houses which offer a range of tawny, LBV or vintage ports which will do the job. You really can’t go wrong with Noval, Taylor’s or Cockburn’s ports which are widely available.
TO FINISH
If you have not succumbed to that warm, cosy after meal siesta then there’s always time for another port or a warm, smooth and mouth filling malt whisky. If like me you prefer smooth, round whiskies with a sweeter aspect opt for a dram from Scotland’s most northerly distillery in Orkney, where a 12 year old Highland park will do the job. A hearty Glenfarclas 15 year old from Speyside, a smooth lightly peated 12 year old Bunnahabhain from Islay or an even lighter 12 year old Aberfeldy from the Highlands are superb alternatives. If you want to push the boat out and have deep pockets there is a wide selection of great malts which have matured well into their teens and early twenties. Three that top my list without being overly expensive are 18 years olds from Smith’s Glenlivet, Highland Park or Glenfarclas.
SOME WELL TRIED & TESTED RECOMMENDATIONS
BUBBLY
Taittinger Brut Champagne – NV – Widely Available
Lanson Black Label Champagne – NV - Widely Available
Veuve Clicquot NV Champagne – NV - Widely Available
Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée NV –Morisons, Tesco & Other Stores
WHITES
Mâcon-Lugny Domaine des Terres Gentilles – 2011 Burgundy France - Majestic
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc - 2011Marlborough, New Zealand - Readily Available
Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc – 2011 Marlborough, New Zealand - Asda, Morisons, Tesco & Other Stores
Nobilo Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc - 2011 New Zealand - – Morisons, Tesco
Viña Mayu Sauvignon Blanc – 2011Chile – Morisons & Asda
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay – 2011 Casablanca Valley, Chile - WidelyAvailable
Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay – 2011 Casablanca Valley, Chile - Majestic
Yalumba Y Viognier 2011 South Australia – Majestic& Morrisons
Tesco Finest Gavi 2011 – Italy - Tesco
REDS
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Cotes du Rhone Village –2010 Rhône, France – Sainsbury
Tesco Finest Vacqueyras, Ets Jean-Paul Selles, Southern Rhone -2008 Rhône, France - Tesco
M&S Les Closiers Châteauneuf-du-Pape - 2008 Rhône, France – M&S
Stella Bella Shiraz - 2008 - Margaret River, Western Australia – Alliance Wines
Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa Valley – 2009/10Australia – Majestic
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon - 2009 – Chile –Morisons
Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier - 2011 South Australia –Tesco & Morrisons
Casillero del Diablo Shiraz - 2011 Rapel Valley, Chile – Morisons, Tesco & Other Stores
Black Stump Durif-Shiraz - 2012 - South Eastern Australia - Laithwaites
Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva & Gran Reserva 75cl – 2006Spain – Sainsbury, Tesco & Other Stores
Lagunilla Reserva Rioja – 2006 Spain – Morisons, Tesco & Other Stores
Viña Mayu Sangiovese –2011 Chile –Morisons& Asda
Viña Mayu Syrah Reserva – 2009 Chile - Asda
DESSERT & PORT
Yvon Mau Tesco Finest Sauternes – 2009 France - Tesco
Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora 2009 Australia - Majestic& Waitrose
Noval Late Bottled Vintage Port 75cl – 2005 - Tesco& Ocado
Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny Port 75cl – NV – Tesco, Majestic & Other Stores
Cockburn's Special Reserve Port 75cl – NV – Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury & Waitrose
Cheers & Enjoy but drink sensibly
Stonefield World of Travel
Sommeliers & Gourmands of Distinction
