Wine expert Peter Lunzer offers some guidance on selecting wines for Christmas.
(Above: Peter Lunzer talks wine at the Capreolus Club event at H&H)
As Christmas looms you may be thinking about the perfect way to induce the festive feeling with some soothing wines. There is no doubt that as the days shorten and temperatures fall , we could all do with something warming and at Lunzer Wine Club, we have selflessly been tasting our way through quite a range to see what may grace our tables during the festive season.
The answer in general at this time of year, is to avoid the weak and flimsy wines which in the Summer are politely referred to as refreshing. They have their place but this season calls for a bit of Oomph which is perhaps, not a frequently used wine descriptor, but I hope that you get the gist.
I have begun my selection with the thought of Christmas morning and a restorative glass of Champagne Pol Roger. This was Winston Churchill’s fizz of choice and I have quietly admired the fact that he knocked back most of his supply before noon each day. The Whites, Rosé and Reds are all chosen with flavour uppermost but value for money being the key.
Wishing one and all a very jolly festive season, whatever your choice of tipple.
PS. Always a huge fan of Warre’s Otima, Tawny Port (serve slightly chilled) and noticed that Waitrose Cellar are offering it at less than £10 a bottle!
Lunzer Wine Club’s Christmas Suggestions (minimum order 12 bottles - can be mixed)
Champagne
Champagne Pol Roger, NV Brut £25.50
The relationship between Champagne Pol Roger and Sir Winston Churchill dates back to a providential meeting at a luncheon given by the British Ambassador to France some months after the liberation of Paris. The Champagne House has a deservedly strong reputation and we feel that the Royal Warrant from HM The Queen is entirely justified.
White Wines
Sancerre Domaine Millet Roger 2014 £12.00
Franck Millet took over here some years ago and, ably assisted by his wife Betty, he has worked wonders both amongst the vines and in the cellars. The Domaine lies in the heart of the region at Bué, one of the very best of the Sancerre villages, on limestone/clay soil which gives the wine all the ripe, exhilaratingly fresh, gooseberry flavours that you could ask for.
Pouilly Fuisse aux Chailloux Domaine Jean Pierre Seve 2012 £19.95
This small but impeccable family property lies on the steep slopes overlooking Solutre, one of the finest of all the Pouilly Fuisse villages and the very core of the appellation. Sylvie and Jean Pierre Seve, the current generation, use oak carefully not to create oaky flavours but to allow an exchange between oxygen and the developing wine, with spectacular results. It was Pouilly Fuisse such as this that gained the commune worldwide acclaim originally.
Rosé Wine
Whispering Angel Chateau d’Esclan Provence 2014 £13.75
Whispering Angel has received, most deservedly, more critical acclaim than any other Rosé ever produced. This 2014 is a wonderfully fresh and delicate pink with excellent length and perfect balance. A very high-class Rosé for the price.
Red Wines
Bourgogne Pinot Noir Maison Antoine Geoffroy 2012 £12.50
If you are looking for an introduction to one of the most interesting and prestigious wine regions look no further than this light fruity Pinot Noir a true classic. Supple and fresh Pinot Noir from Burgundy. All about red fruits. A tender wine with very soft tannins. A thirst-quenching, pleasurable wine.
Reserve de Chateau Angludet Margaux 2011 £17.95
Deeply coloured with a richly layered bouquet that marries blackcurrant and blackberry fruit with the toasty vanilla notes of the oak barrels. The dense, warming palate is refined throughout, with an elegant, tannic structure and perfect acidity.
Chateau Lamothe Cissac, 2009, Magnums £29.90
A short distance away from the boundary of Pauillac and the vineyards of Mouton Rothschild, this Chateau consistently punches way above its price weight. The Magnum format is ideal for a small gathering and these wines are drinking well now, but will cheerfully last until next Christmas and beyond…
If you would like to enquire about any of the above wines, follow this link for a copy of our Order Form: Christmas-Offer-CDM-Order-Form and email to:
If you would like to join the Lunzer Wine Club or for more information about what we offer, please email our Membership Secretary,
County Deer Stalking is proud to support the Lunzer Wine Club. Peter Lunzer also kindly appeared at the Capreolus Club event at Holland & Holland. To read more about that event follow this link: holland-holland-welcomes-the-capreolus-club
Alternatively to read more about Peter’s choice of Red Wine for Venison click here: what-is-the-best-wine-for-venison
