Christmas was the theme of our recent wine tasting with our scouting friends. Our HQ always looks lovely set up, the mural depicts our Group's history from 1914 in our original hut to the present day, a great back drop.
Each place has the wine list with tasting notes along with a place setting for two glasses (odd and even numbers to match the list). Everyone also had a small plate of nibbles for pairing with some of the wines.
All our wines were purchased at Tesco or Sainsbury's taking advantage of their '25% off six or more bottles'. Our first wine was Tesco Finest Blanquette de Limoux. France produces sparkling wine as well as champagne, the two main styles are Blanquette and Cremant.
Blanquette
The name 'Blanquette' comes from the Mauzac grape which develops a white down on the vines leaves - hence 'blanc' or white. Blanquette de Limoux must contain at least 80% of its primary grape, Mauzac. Other grapes included in the blend can be Clairette, Chenin Blanc or Chardonnay which is used to add highlights to the wine.
Blanquette is made using 'methode champenoise' having a secondary fermentation in the bottle before final bottling after nine months. This sparkling wine is fresh and dry with a yeasty edge. It has a pale yellow colour with glints of green. Blanquette de Limoux is slowly cooled to 6/7 degrees which produces flowing lines of brisk bubbles.
Cremant
This sparkling wine is predominantly made from Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc which produces rounded flavours with a fine mousse. The wine is matured on its lees for 12 months before final bottling, again using the Champagne method. Cremant de Limoux has a paler colour with yellow highlights and finer bubbles than those in Blanquette.
As an alternative to starting Christmas with bubbles our second wine was The Rose Garden produced by Boschendal. This light South African rosé has plenty of summer fruit with a subtle spice edge. Although probably more of a summer wine it was a perfect aperitif wine with its soft balance and fruit finish .
With Christmas in mind the next two wines were paired with Christmas dinner starters: seafood and pate. Paul Mas Heritage was our pairing for seafood - Lobster crisps were a substitute and did pair well with this Clairette wine. From Southern France, this wine had plenty of fresh fruit and apple flavour with blossom high notes.
The wine to accompany pate our red wine was Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Pinot Noir. From the Leyda Valley in Chile these grapes ripen slowly resulting in a deep red fruit flavour. Aged in oak barrels gives this wine soft tannins and a lengthy finish. It paired well with the pate but would be equally as good served with the main Christmas dinner.
It can be difficult to pair wines to Christmas dinner, do you match the meat which can vary from turkey to beef; or the delicious vegetables, stuffing or roasties? I decided to match to turkey and beef with everyone have two slices of each and importantly a little jug of gravy.
It isn't only matching the food but everyone's preferred wine style, therefore for each meat we tried two wines. With turkey our two white wines were Yealands Sauvignon Blanc for those who enjoy a dry crisp wine, and Bellingham Chardonnay for those who like a slightly creamier wine.
From New Zealand Yealands Sauvignon Blanc was full of crisp stone fruits with a super tropical aroma, It paired well with turkey but maybe without the gravy which slightly flattened the wines mineral finish.
My preferred turkey with gravy match was Bellingham's Chardonnay with it's creamy flavour of butterscotch and hint of orange peel. It added a depth to the turkey and gave a lovely citrus finish.
Our two wines for pairing with beef were Brancott Estate Merlot and Cru des Cotes du Rhone Vinsobres. Again it depends on individual palate preferences and with or without gravy. The Merlot was full of dark fruits with woody notes, soft tannins and a long finish. It was delicious with the beef and gravy but a little strong with the beef alone.
My favourite pairing was the French Cru des Cotes du Rhone from the village of Vinsobres. It was so inviting with its dark red colour and scarlet highlights leading on to warm fruit aromas. Its full fruit flavour with a hint of herbiness and lengthy finish really was delicious.
Our final wines were wines to enjoy with or without food, sitting home on a cosy night or enjoying with friends. Two white wines and two red wines to be enjoyed by everyone.
St Mont is a wine from the South of France that is not always available so when we see a bottle we buy one. A Tesco Finest wine that is made from Gros Manseng, Petit Courbu, Arrufiac and Petit Manseng. it's a light crisp wine that is full of citrus and white fruit. it is especially good with a cheese board but delicious unaccompanied.
Our final white was also from the South of France; Elegant Frog Viognier. This super wine from Jean-Claude Mas is aged in oak barrels which enhances the aromas of dried fruits and vanilla. Enjoyed on it's own or with food this Viognier for me is a must at Christmas.
Vina del Cura Rioja is quite a weighty wine which some may enjoy with Christmas dinner whilst others may prefer it as a wine to enjoy later in the evening. A Crianza Rioja with soft vanilla tones and peppery spice. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels it is full of ripe berries
Our final wine was 'Merry' Malbec from Trivento, a crimson red in colour with plum and raspberry aromas. This wine's vanilla notes are well balanced with sweet tannins and a smooth finish. Trivento Malbec is one of my favourite wines to drink unaccompanied.
All the wines were superb and although paired as if for Christmas Day they can be enjoyed on any occasion. Tesco Finest St Mont was the overall favourite white, a new discovery for many, however there was no overall red favourite with all being enjoyed.
Merry Christmas, enjoy the festivities with those you love enjoying good food and wine - cheers!
