What I’m actually drinking for Christmas… probably
There’s a bonus post this week containing some proper consumer advice regarding wines to drink over the festive period. Christmas bonus!
Christmas is the best of times and the worst of times for a wine writer with a regular column. On one hand, it’s the one time of year when you might be given some extra space and even put on the cover, on the other hand, it’s hard to find something new to say about what to drink with your turkey and Stilton.
The first article I ever wrote as a professional wine writer back in 2010 was a list of Christmas recommendations for The Lady magazine. I remember thoroughly enjoying it but gradually found the Christmas column harder and harder to do. Each year they seemed to get increasingly tenuous. In my time I’ve written a ‘new world Christmas, a ‘Victorian Christmas’, and one year a festive column about Richard Nixon. And the worst thing was, it was all lies. Every year I went to my parents house and drank whatever I was given - usually some nice Burgundy.
But this year it’s different as we’re hosting my parents so I get to choose the wines and I’ve already ordered them. Most come from my employer Master of Malt where I get a discount but even at full price, I think they’re good value.
So without further ado, here’s what I will actually be drinking for Christmas. Probably. There’s every chance my father might turn up with some nice Burgundy and then all bets are off. I’ve also got a magnum of Rioja somewhere which which would look splendid in my claret jug…
Bosman Cinsault Twyfeling Cinsault 2020
When I took part in a cinsault tasting a couple of years back, the 2019 vintage of this South African came somewhere near the top. It’s a wine that combines big spicy flavours and sweet fruit with delicacy and freshness (despite being 14.5%). It’s just the sort of thing that takes turkey, ham, stuffing, and cranberry sauce in its stride as well as being lovely to sip on its own.
I haven’t actually tried this but loved the 2021 of this Cape blend of chardonnay, sauvignon and semillon. I wrote that it tasted peachy, with a grassy refreshing quality and a creamy texture - whatever that means. I’m hoping the 2020 will be like this but more so. My favourite whites at the moment seem to be Cape blends. In fact, pretty much everything I’ve tasted recently from South Africa has been wonderful.
I bought this for a song from Master of Malt. Sadly it’s now out of stock but it’s easy to find elsewhere. I recommend decanting (carefully, there is a lot of sediment) this the night before as it’s still quite meaty and tannic. The next day you get all the fragrance, red fruit and heady North African spices. Lovely.
Langham in Dorset is perhaps my favourite English sparkling wine producer - though it’s a tough call. And this is probably its best wine, an all chardonnay cuvee that’s rich and nutty, none of that razor sharp acidity here, and it really changes in the glass rather than falling aparrt. Best of all, it’s under £40 which is a bargain for a wine of this quality.
My father has some of this tucked away and is planning to bring it out. I knew the name Henriot but I don’t think I had quite realised how amazing its NV is - if you like a richer style of champagne then you will love this. It tastes much more expensive than its lowly price (for champagne).
That’s it. Merry Christmas drinking.
I would very much enjoy seeing a re-run of this "very Richard Nixon Christmas" at some point during the miseries of January.
Was that the Langham sparkler served at your English wine book launch? If so, then yes it’s a cracking drop!