What’s the secret to the Merriest of Christmases? Why, it’s having the perfect bottle of wine for every imaginable occasion throughout the festivities, of course. With Christmas coming, and our waistbands loosening in anticipation of the impending gluttony, getting stocked up on wine to match should be high on the to-do list. When it comes to Christmas tipples, it’s important to cover all the bases. Provide your guests with a selection of wines, from versatile reds to adaptable, zesty whites, as there’s fussy buggers among us, and the veritable Christmas feasting demands a variety of flavour pairings.
Turkey, as a light meat, is a versatile food to match with wine, and can be paired with a light red or full-bodied white wine. The roasted accompaniments will benefit from a crisp, and acidic wine to cut through the fat.
There are a few options available to us in this resepct. Burgundy produces great white and red wines perfect for your Christmas roast, and the New World has some interesting alternatives. We’ve picked out a good red and white from France and the rest of the World, as well as a blockbuster for each, if you really want to celebrate in style. So, with the wine list taken care of, all that’s left for you to do is relax, don your favourite festive jumper and try not to burn the turkey… simple! Here are 5 IDEAL wines to pair with your Christmas turkey this year.
Viré-Clessé Vieilles Vignes 2010/2011 Christophe Cordier – The classic white match for roast turkey is Burgundy and Cordier is a renowned producer. Making wines from less reputable appellations by finding the best fruit available, this is one of his finest works at the modest price of £14.99.
Côtes-de-Nuits Villages 2011, Nicolas Potel – A great value Burgundy at £16.99, which is something of a rarity. Tart and fresh on the palate with an interesting gamey edge, this a finely balanced complement to your Christmas feed.
Pieropan La Rocca Soave 2010 – Simply one of the best white wines we’ve ever tasted. Ripe tropical fruit is balanced by a refreshing almondy tang and a pronounced streak of minerality. You’ll struggle to find better at any price, worth all of its £25.
Martinborough ‘Te Tera’ Pinot Noir 2011, New Zealand – Kiwi Pinots have great purity and concentration to their fruit, and this is no exception. Soft ripe tannins and a long finish mark this wine out as a real crowdpleaser at a relatively modest £16.99
Domaine Louis Latour Corton Grancy Grand Cru 2002 – It’s not cheap but everything is relative and £35 for a mature Grand Cru Burgundy is an absolute steal. Pop the cork a couple of hours before to let it open out and you’ll be overwhelmed by complexity, depth of flavour and a fantastic evolving finish.
If you want to take your love of wine a step further, not only for consumption but as an investment, you’ll will also need to arrange luxury wine storage so that the wine’s quality and value is preserved. Octavian Vaults are a very capable choice, as they will ensure that the wine is expertly housed, kept safe and in correct conditions while it accrues in value. Just a thought in the run up to Christmas.