Wine Feature: Christmas treats

By Warwickshire Life on November 30th 2011

Wine Feature: Christmas treats

This month Anita Mannion of the Leamington Wine Company, drinks with Jonathan Smailes of Pol Roger UK, tasting wines for Christmas Day.

Anita: Jonathan, let me help you with those.

Jonathan: Hi Anita, thanks. You’re certainly a welcome sight.

Anita: Bad journey?

Jonathan: Yep, the M1 was heaving, but I’m here now and have brought some lovely treats.

Anita: Christmassy?

Jonathan: Just like you asked. Let’s start with something many enjoy early on Christmas Day – Champagne. It’s what we at Pol Roger are most famous for, well that and being one of the last Grande Marques still owned by the founding family. This is our Brut NV Champagne and as a non vintage is very accessible both in terms of taste and cost. It’s versatile too and is excellent champagne for Bucks Fizz too.

Anita: And was enjoyed by a special couple earlier in the year?

Jonathan: Yes, this is the champagne The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose for their wedding. A real honour for us.

Anita: So, that’s breakfast taken care of. A white next, something to go with a light starter or turkey?

Jonathan: I’m suggesting an unoaked Chablis. This is class through and through and is truly worthy of serving at the Christmas table. As with all of Drouhin Vaudon’s wines it’s Biodynamic, so has been made with incredible care. Such a wonderful fresh and citrusy nose.

Anita: It is very lively on the palate but still nicely rounded, real finesse. What about a Red, perhaps for people who prefer Beef for Christmas dinner, or to go with Cheese?

Jonathan: Ah, for that we have ‘Finis Terrae’ from Chilean producer Cousiño-Macul. This is a wonderfully balanced wine, very fruity on the nose, supple and well integrated in the mouth.

Anita: Oh yes, quite something. I can really pick out the cherries and dark fruit flavours. What a lovely long finish it has too.

Jonathan: I’m pleased you like it Anita. It is rather good isn’t it? Now, you can’t let Christmas pass without picking out something very special to go with the pud. This desert wine has cult status, almost mythical, so is very fitting for Christmas. Its origins have been traced back as far as the 16th century in its native Hungary. It’s still amazingly rare today, accounting for only a tiny fraction of all wine made in Hungary. Here we have Crown Estates Tokaji - 2008 International Wine and Spirit competition Silver Medallist.

Anita (eyes rolling): Hmmmm, Oh yes. You can understand why it has such an incredible reputation. This is simply divine. It’s marmalady, floral, and honeyed; so rich and so complex at the same time.

Jonathan: I know. You really can see why some venerate Tokaji as being the Royalty of Desert wines. It will go wonderfully with Christmas pudding, and blue cheese. A real Christmas treat.

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