despite enjoying a richly
have everything ready for
food and wine can be exhausting. So to help
you decide on what wines to have with your
Festive lunch or dinner here are some of my
suggestions of what we will be enjoying on
the day.
a bottle or two of fine bubbly is a must. I am
partial to both white and rose and the two we
will be enjoying are the Boschendal Grand
Cuvee Brut 2009 and the Krone Brut Rose
2010. The Boschendal, made by Lizelle
Gerber, will tickle your palate with fresh
green apple and hints of citrus supported by
discreet almond biscotti and brioche typical
of Boschendal's bubbly style. Extended lees
contact has given the wine a full and creamy
mouth feel, elegant minerality, good balance
and a seamless finish.
rounded flavour together with a fine elegant
mousse. Layers of smoked salmon trout
drizzled with freshly squeezed lemon juice
and black pepper will harmonise admirably
with these two wines. For those who may not
enjoy bubblies I will have some of the excellent
Brampton Sauvignon Blanc 2013 with its
subtle yet focused tropical fruit flavour and
fresh clean finish.
due to the large number of family coming.
We will be up early on Christmas day firing
up the Weber for the stuffed turkey, but the
gammon we will buy fully prepared from our
wonderful butcher. As it's a special day we
include a rare roast fillet of beef served with
my special mushroom and rosemary sauce,
roast potatoes, various salads will make up
the rest of the buffet table and now we need
some wines.
will harmonise favourably with the food at the
same time. I have decided that it would be wise
to offer a choice of whites, roses and a couple
of reds. Starting with the whites I always
include a Chenin Blanc as it is a remarkably
I chose StellenRust's unwooded, yet full
flavoured Chenin Blanc 2013. When I think
of glazed gammon, I think of Rhine Riesling
and selected the Hartenberg Weisser Riesling
2011, which is crisply off-dry and should please
the palates who are looking for something
slightly sweeter.
its interesting dried peach aroma and velvety
smooth palate with a crisp clean finish delicious
with the stuffed turkey! However we will also
include a couple of roses which deserve a
place on the table especially as there will be
a poached salmon and will pair well with the
Gammon. The Morgenster Caruso Rose 2012
is made from Sangiovese and has a beautiful
deep salmon colour with gorgeous aromas
of plums and black cherries, with hints of
cinnamon in the background. The palate is
fresh yet complex and almost full bodied with
intense rich plummy, strawberry flavour and
shows a perfect balance between the acid and
sweetness of the fruit. My other rose will be the
Cederberg "Sustainable" Rose 2013. This is an
organically grown wine and has an attractive
salmon colour with subtle raspberry, cooked
strawberry with sweet red cherry aromas. A
long lively palate with natural acidity.
Johnson Elgin Pinot Noir 2011 in my cellar.
Served ever so slightly chilled, it is a gorgeous
medley of ripe strawberry and raspberry fruit
complemented by well-integrated oak. I also
love Merlot for its friendliness to most foods
including white meat like Turkey. Catherine
Marshall makes the superb Amatra Merlot
2012 which has enticing fresh fruit flavours
along with enhanced aromatics.
a few coins) as well as delicious spicy fruit-
based mince pies. Time to bring out a fine
dessert wine and I am fortunate to have a
collection of older Fleur de Cap Noble Late
Harvests in my cellar (the current 2011 vintage
is excellent as well). The rich palate of these
wines reward you with delightful tangy orange
marmalade flavour, which lingers seductively
on the finish.
Always a favourite is the Boplaas Vintage Port
and the current 2011 is outstanding. With its
heavy plum pudding fragrance, this acclaimed
wine has dark chocolate and ripe fruit flavours
with a luxuriously long finish.