Chris' Christmas Recommendations
You have so many decisions to make this holiday season; let the team at Love Wine make some of them for you. Each team member has thoughtfully selected a mixed case of wine for this holiday season, and you'll want to try them all.
As the nights got darker and we were waiting for the first sound of Mariah Carey and the first twinkling of Christmas lights, the Love Wine team gathered at the round table to select our annual mixed case selections.
It's our version of "fantasy football", where we each pick our finest balanced selection to match whatever you might be enjoying on Christmas Day.
So where best to start than the man who puts the "Chris" into Christmas.
Chris Recommends Mixed Case:
Your Case will include:
Because it must be Champagne on Christmas day, right? Since the start, Duval Leroy has been with us and is still one of my favourite Brut Nonvintage Champagnes. Enriched with around fifteen crus and a generous quantity of reserve wines, Duval Leroy Brut Reserve confirms its complexity and is recognised for its consistency. It draws out flavours of dark chocolate, cinnamon and roasted yellow figs, expressing its subtle, melt-in-the-mouth vinosity. No wonder it is house Champagne for the Relais Chateaux group.
2019 marks the maiden vintage of the Flower girl Albariño – one of only three wines currently crafted from this Iberian grape varietal in South Africa. Intense aromatics of white peach and pink grapefruit follow through on the vibrant palate. The wine will pair wonderfully with first courses such as prawns, smoked salmon but can also roll seamlessly into your turkey course if needs be!
Yes, Blanc, it’s not a typo. You can get some exceptional white wines as well as red from Chateauneuf du Pape! Domaine des Senechaux Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a very pretty, yet broad-shouldered wine. It brings aromas of lemon peel, spicy herbs, orange blossom and dusty minerals. This has a lovely rich texture which is balanced by mouth-watering acidity straight through the finish. There’s enough weight here to work very well with not only turkey but roast ham as well.
Powerful in flavour but light in weight, Pinot Noir is a go-to match for Christmas dinner. The 2017 Nautilus Pinot Noir is dark ruby in colour. The complex nose displays dark fruits, earthy notes and a touch of toasty spice. The palate is concentrated and elegant with a fine, dense core of tannins and a long, savoury finish.
Coste del Vivo is the personal project of winemaker Toby Owen. Made from a Sangiovese-led blend of 2015, 2016 and 2018 wines, it’s the third edition of Toby’s Rosso No 1. It continues in the same vein as the previous two stunners, combining complexity, structure and drinkability in a wine that sings ‘TUSCANNNYYYYYY!’ in a tremendous Pavarottian vibrato. Thus, there’s enough power here to see you nicely through the main and onto the desert!
Whether you have a pudding or Cheese, to finish your meal, a great Port will deliver. Crusted Port is carefully blended from Vintage Ports of two different years aged 2 to 3 years in wood. Crusted Port is delicious on its own after dinner; also excellent with plum pudding or strong cheeses such as Stilton and Camembert. Save the natural sediment or crust for seasoning meats and adding to sauces.
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