Everyone in the wine industry spends an inordinate amount of time deciding which bottles make it onto the table for Christmas dinner. The murmured query “Christmas wines?” in our office means you can write off the next hour to heated discussion. If we were US Senators it would be our topic for a filibuster. You may not have the fortitude for one of these exchanges, but the upshot is we’ve thought about it so you don’t have to.
Champagne is undoubtedly special, but it is not the only choice when you’re looking to impress. Breaky Bottom owner Peter Hall was a hugely significant figure in the English wine industry, and a pioneer, having planted his first vineyard on the South Downs way back in 1974. Dedicated to his godmother, the brilliantly named Breaky Bottom Cuvée Marraine Pooks Brut 2016 is made from 100% Seyval Blanc grown on flinty, chalk-rich soils, just two miles from the English Channel. Extended lees ageing has endowed the wine with impressive complexity and texture, it is excellent when served with smoked salmon canapés and it will grace your lavish Christmas dinner with its versatility. A seriously rare treat as only 2088 bottles were produced!
Moving up through the courses, there are two wines that might interest the more curious amongst us who are looking for something more gastronomic or slightly off the well-trodden path! Le Faîte Blanc Producteurs Plaimont Gascony may tick those boxes. A fascinating blend of selected parcels of Gros Manseng, Petit Corbou and Arrufiac grapes that delivers a wine full of ripe opulence, creamy texture and mouth-watering acidity, which I can thoroughly recommend with turkey fricassée. It’s a star, and will work well with more challenging dishes throughout the festivities.
If you can’t treat yourself to a special bottle of wine at Christmas, when can you? A classic Bordeaux is the perfect centrepiece on a Christmas table — guaranteed to impress guests, pair well with meaty main courses, and enhance your end-of-dinner cheeseboard. I will be drinking Roc de Cambes — produced on the right bank of Bordeaux, this is a Merlot-dominant blend matured in 100% new oak. The resulting wine is rich and powerful, with luscious, plump fruit, layered with mocha and warming vanilla. Sounds like Christmas in a glass!
Barta Winery’s Oreg Kiraly Dulo Sweet Szamorodni Furmint offers a burst of freshness on the palate; marked lime and preserved lemon notes at the core are muddled together with orchard fruit hard-boiled sweets and a silky, moreish texture. Pair with panettone for an extra festive treat.
There’s no better way to round off a festive feast than with a glass of Corney & Barrow’s Finest Ruby Port made specially for us by Wine & Soul. Deep ruby in colour, this sumptuous Port bursts with aromas of blackcurrant and cherry, laced with a hint of pepper that continues beautifully on the palate. Silken tannins lend a smooth, luxurious texture, making it the ideal companion for rich and creamy cheeses. Elegant, vibrant, and indulgent – it’s the perfect way to toast the warmth and generosity of Christmas.
