Christmas drinking with the Raffles
What we are Drinking for Christmas Day Turkey Lunch
One of the most frequently asked questions from our customers is where do we recommend to eat in Norfolk and London (more of that later) and what we shall be drinking on Christmas Day.
Christmas day as with most people I will be dusting off some special wines saved in the wine rack, definitely not every day drinking wines but a special selection to savour with the forth coming feast.
Breakfast of Panettone will be served with Ayala vintage champagne this small champagne house is owned by Bollinger is the ultimate real treat from my local wine merchants Peter Graham, we are both now hooked on vintage champagne an expensive addiction, but once tried utterly delicious with its creamy soft yeasty flavours.
Mid morning Nigel will of course be in the kitchen preparing lunch with a large glass of his favourite Oloroso sherry not far from his hand.
Seating down for the starter of smoked salmon we will serve the lovely white Burgundy St Aubin 1cru Giles Bouton 09 a great vintage, creamy with peachy undertones a good alternative to the more expensive Chassagne Montrachet.
For the Main course Turkey, this is when it get difficult to choose between Crozes Hermitage Chapoutier 2008 with lots of silky jammy fruits or the lesser known
Seguret Les Coteaux Shisteaux 2007 a blend of Syrah and Grenache form the Southern Rhone just lovely with its black cherry and vanilla flavours.
Or for something of a wild card a new wine from a small wine growing region in Italy Molise, Biferno Rosso Riserva 2007, again soft silky tannins rather like a cross between Beaujolais and Pinot Noir with all the ripe soft fruits .
For Pudding we always need to take a break to allow room for Christmas pudding and the wonderful but slightly wacky
“ The Wild One” Tawny Langhorne Creek Australia an eclectic mix of 10 year Grenache Shiraz and Verdelho ruby red in colour and a great foil for all the rich fruits
Well that’s a day in the Raffles family: Detox in January!