Christmas pudding, other desserts and cheese
For the Christmas Pud, with all its richness and savoury character, I would recommend any of the bold examples below, subject to your budget. A 50cl bottle will easily do 7 glasses.
2011 Castaño Dulce, Spain – £15 per 50cl bottle
2011 Banylus Cuvée Léon Parcé, Domaine de la Rectorie, France – £19 per 50cl bottle
2010 Ben Ryé, Donnafugata, Sicily – £30 per 37.5cl bottle
These also double up nicely with mince pies and Christmas cake.
For other sweets, and especially if they are caramelised such as tarte tatin, then I would suggest:
2009 Château Laville Sauternes, France – £17 per 37.5cl bottle
2008 Vin de Constance, Klein Constantia, South Africa – £39 per 50cl bottle
And for lighter, less sweet desserts and cakes perhaps go for:
2012 Andrew Quady Essensia Orange Muscat, USA – £11 per 37.5cl bottle
2012 Pink Moscato, Innocent Bystander, Australia – £6 per 37.5cl bottle
2013 G.D. Vaijra Moscato d’Asti, Italy – £14 per bottle
Cheese is a must have for Christmas! As well as the trusted old favourite port, there are other sweeter red and white offerings if you find port a little too “heady”.
2011 Banylus Cuvée Léon Parcé, Domaine de la Rectorie, France – £19 per 50cl bottle
2007 Quinta da Romaneira LBV Port – £16 per bottle
2009 Château Laville Sauternes, France – £17 per 37.5cl bottle
You might also be pleasantly surprised to find that a fuller bodied, more weighty white wine actually works rather well too – but with hard and white cheese, not blue.
2012 Sequillo white, Eben Sadie, South Africa – £18 per bottle
Wishing you a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Nick Adams MW
