Louis Latour Agencies

Classic Christmas Foods and Wine Matching… Part Two

09 November 2017

Tradition is one of the components that makes Christmas so much fun. You look forward to certain parts of the day and every family has their own take on how the days turns out. We will be posting a series of articles each focussing on a part of the day or a course. Within each we have taken a few favourites and matched them to a wine, both with a traditional pairing and with something more unusual. In the previous article we looked at Starters & Aperitifs but now it is time to focus on the main event!

 

Roast Turkey and all the trimmings – reds

Traditional match: Louis Latour Les Pierres Dorees 2015

The wine is bright and intense red colour with red-garnet lights with aromas of wild flowers, red berries and soft spices. On the palate it is crunchy, round and ample with great freshness underlined by concentrated black fruit flavours with a superb length.

Try something different: Seresin Estate Noa Pinot Noir 2012

The nose is aromatic, with cassis layered over fresh herbal and floral notes. On the palate, an intense core of fragrant red stone fruit, is underpinned by finely-expressed tannins, wood smoke notes and hints of spice. Delicate and feminine, but with a framework to age well.

 

Roast Turkey and all the trimmings – whites

Traditional match: Viu Manent Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2015

A clean, bright greenish-yellow colour, this wine has a fresh and fruity nose marked by ripe white fruits, citrus notes and salinity due to its proximity to the sea. The palate is refreshing and silky with tremendous body, very good balance, and a vibrant acidity that gives way to a lingering, intense, and enjoyable finish.

Try something different: Vidal-Fleury Côtes du Rhone Blanc 2016

This Côtes du Rhône is a blend of Viognier with Grenache Blanc and other traditional varieties. This wine is pale gold in colour. The nose is dominated by aromas of ripe apricot and yellow melon with some notes of almond. The wine has a freshness and acidity that continues through the palate characterised by fresh apricot and peach notes.

 

Beef Wellington

Traditional match: Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Jaraman wines are created from the fusion of two exceptional parcels of fruit from iconic wine regions in Australia. The result is a single variety wine which is multi-dimensional, highlighting and enhancing the nuances of both terroirs. This wine is blended 55% Clare Valley and 45% Coonawarra fruit. It is a well-balanced wine across the palate with fine, elegant tannins. Intense flavours of blackcurrant and cassis delight with subtle savoury French oak characters of cedar and spice. The finish is long and persistent.

Try something different: Viu Manent El Incidente 2011

This wine is a blend of 91% Carménère, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot. The grapes come from 3 different vineyards in the Colchagua Valley: Carménère from La Capilla vineyard, Malbec from San Carlos vineyard, and Petit Verdot from El Olivar vineyard. Deep and intense violet in colour. The nose is elegant, complex, and fruity with aromas of underbrush, black fruits, and game meat, as well as notes of black pepper (very characteristic of the La Capilla Vineyard) and blond tobacco. The palate has tremendous structure and complexity with the chalky tannins typical of the La Capilla terroir that leads a long, persistent finish.

 

Nut Roast

Traditional match: Vidal-Fleury St Joseph 2014

The Saint Joseph appellation is located in the Northern Rhone Valley on southern exposed granite slopes, Vidal-Fleury's Saint Joseph comes from the southern sector of the appellation. Aromas of blackcurrant, nutmeg and pepper dominate with subtle earthy tones. The palate has fine grained tannin and fresh acidity with soft bramble and plum fruit flavours and a rounded, winter spice finish.

Try something different: McHenry Hohnen Tiger Country 2014

This wine is a blend inspired by the tannins of the south. Comprising approximately 55% Tempranillo, 22% Graciano, 20% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of cherry cola, sarsaparilla and ripe black plum abound. Underlying sweet spice and savoury peanut husk notes complete the complex bouquet. A supple palate brimming with ripe plum and sweet cola nut fruit gives way to red strap liquorice and dusty cocoa tannins.