Description

Christmas Day:

Jean Diot Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France

A delicious Blanc de Blancs Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes.  It is fresh and elegant with notes of butter, citrus and brioche. Aged for 36 months on the lees this wine is beautifully soft wih no aggresive bubbles. Great with lobster, scallops or goat cheese.

Domaine Vallet Auxey-Duresses Blanc, Burgundy, France

This delicious Chardonnay shows rich butter, smoke and vanilla spice on the nose and a creamy palate underpinned by fine minerality. Great with lobster (and any rich fish dishes), turkey or creamy cheeses.

Berthemelot Monthelie, Burgundy, France

This wine has all the hallmarks of an expensive Pinot Noir with rich cherry, tart damson, subtle spice and wonderful texture. Lovely with beef, duck, venison or hard cheese like Comté.

Krohn LBV Port, Oporto, Portugal

Deep rich ruby color with an intense nose of crushed berries and dark fruits. Rich and elegant on the palate with spice, raisins and red fruit flavours. Lovely balance with a velvety mouthfeel and a luscious finish. Perfect with Stilton, Christmas Pudding or mince pies.

Whites:

Terras Gauda O Rosal, Galicia, Spain 

Albariño from Rias Baixas, Galicia is arguably Spain’s best white wine. Bodegas Terras Gauda is one of the best wineries producing vibrant wines with rich apple, pear and citrus character. Perfect with seafood, chicken or sheep’s cheese like Manchego.

Seguinot Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France

Everyone loves Chablis and this is a really good one. Excellent with shellfish, fish. turkey and creamy cheeses.

Cedric Bardin Sancerre, Loire, France

A steely and fresh Sauvignon Blanc with sharp, citrus, gooseberry and a whiff of mineral smoke. Classic with goat cheese, but also great with most fish dishes.

Reds:

Chateau La Tour de By Medoc 2014, Bordeaux, France

Soft and mature Cabernet Sauvignon that will sit perfectly with lamb, beef or hard cheese.

Chante Cigale Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France

This is how Châteauneuf-du-Pape should be: intense, perfumed and spicy with layer upon layer of lush black fruits. Delicious with grilled meat or stews.

San Felice Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany, Italy 

This is a fabulous wine from one of Tuscany’s best vintages in recent years. Complex and refined with dried cherry, savoury herbs and cooked meat. Drinking well, but could be aged for a further 5-8 years. Great with wild mushrooms, truffle or calves liver.

Ontañón Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain

A wonderfully mature and silky Rioja with complex notes of cigar, prune, cedar and redcurrant. The finish is long, velvety and savoury. Best paired with game, wild mushrooms or mature hard cheese. Great with lamb, beef or hard cheese.

Boutinot Cotes du Rhone Les Coteaux 

Côtes du Rhône can be hit and miss, but this one is a classic. The blend is enriched with specially-selected grapes from the superior vineyards of Séguret, Sablet and Cairanne, giving brambly fruit notes and spice – a lick of  star anise and sweet cinnamon. The perfect winter warmer it will suit hearty casseroles, strong cheese and is perfect for mulling.