Out & About December 2017

OA food & drink

Season’s Greetings to you all. Christmas is almost upon us and I’ve selected some interesting and very nice wines from our local wine merchants. Pairing food and wine at Christmas is really difficult. While the turkey would suit a lighter red such as a Pinot Noir or even a full-bodied white like a lightly-oaked Chardonnay, there are obviously other, stronger flavours around such as stuffing, chestnuts, bacon and sausages. Probably the best rule here is simply to drink the wine you like.

Chateau Peyreblanque, 2014 Graves Unusually for a white Bordeaux this contains no Sauvignon Blanc. It is made with 80 per cent Muscadelle and 20 per cent Sauvignon Gris. If you start off your Christmas dinner with a plate of smoked salmon, try this instead of champagne, the combination of acidity and toasty oak with this white wine and the smoky, oily salmon is a match made in heaven. Grapesmith, Barr’s Yard, Hungerford £18.90 Chateau Beau-Site 2010, St Estephe 2010 was an all-time great vintage, and wines from St Estephe notoriously need some bottle age before drinking at their best. This is now drinking beautifully, dark fruits mingling with a lovely unctuous richness that lingers on the palate. Grapesmith, Barr’s Yard, Hungerford £22.40

Château Lamothe- Bouscaut, Pessac- Léognan Blanc The nose offers fresh citrus and floral notes. Well-rounded on the palate, with grapefruit and pineapple flavours. The oak is subtle and well-integrated, giving the wine body and balance. Innathome, Newbury £28.95 Dandelion Vineyards, Red Queen of the Eden Valley, Shiraz A complex, dark, brooding character, red and black fruits, pepper and spice, with liquorice and tar on the nose. Elegant tannins and lingering acidity help extend the finish and the overall

Côte de Brouilly, Domaine Gilbert Chetaille 2016

Chateau Cassagne Haut-Cannon, 2006, Canon-Fronsac

The 2016 has a beautifully bright, purple-ruby colour, with enticing raspberry-scented aromas. The palate is medium bodied and vibrantly flavoured, recalling pure, crunchy red berries. Haynes Hanson & Clark, Whitchurch £12.65 per bottle (plus 10 per cent case discount) Bodegas LAN Rioja Vina Lanciano Reserva The bouquet of ripe, red and black fruits is enhanced by herbal notes of mint and fennel. The palate is silky and elegant, showcasing ripe fruits and finely integrated tannins. Innathome, Newbury £26.95

From a small estate rated ‘very good’ by Robert Parker, this little known gem offers gorgeous ripe fruit just starting to give way to complex, leather and spice notes. Laithwaites, Theale £17.99 Salatin Millesimato 2016 Valdobbiadene DOCG, Italy With two Golds and 94 Points from The Prosecco Masters, Salatin Millesimato is real step up in sparkling wine. From one of the finest cru areas for the fizz, it is bursting with apple fruitiness with hints of jasmine. Laithwaites, Theale £13.99

balance is impeccable. Innathome, Newbury £46.95

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