In collaboration with
Of all the things to look forward to most about the festive season, good food is up there. And there's nothing better with good food than good wine – a bottle hand-picked to set off a meal perfectly, that'll make sure the flavours of both of them live long in the memory.
That's why we've partnered with wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd to preview five amazing wines and a whisky that suit Christmas eating and drinking down to the ground. Not only that, but your favourite foodism elves have also tasted all six bottles to give you our exclusive tasting notes. And that's not all: we also paired them to some quintessential seasonal dishes that we cooked up in the Foodism kitchen.
The wines picked out range from a classic Pol Roger champagne and a big, rich burgundy to a couple of the brand's iconic Own Selection range, which encompasses everything from classic Bordeaux to a Californian pinot noir and a sherry cask-finished blended scotch. And, from a simple classic dressed crab to posh fish and chips, tried-and-tested Christmas leftovers to original creations, we hope you'll find some pairing inspiration this festive season.
Champagne Pol Roger Reserve
With oysters rockefeller
Photograph by David Harrison; styling by Emma Power
The tasting notes
This is a beautiful, rich champagne, full of brioche and marzipan on the nose, with lime zest on the palate and a hint of nuttiness about it, too.
75cl; £31.50
The pairing
A classic oysters rockefeller – oysters grilled on the half-shell with butter, green herbs and breadcrumbs.
Berry Bros. & Rudd Sancerre 2017
With 'fish and chips'
Photograph by David Harrison; styling by Emma Power
The tasting notes
There's notes of honeysuckle, lemon peel, kiwi and yuzu on this quintessential Loire wine.
75cl; £17.50
The pairing
It's full of fresh citrus flavour but with richness, too, so we paired this one with a chunk of grilled hake served with thick-cut chips and parsley butter.
Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine 2015
With dressed crab
Photograph by David Harrison; styling by Emma Power
The tasting notes
A beautifully balanced Burgundy wine – woody, with notes of flaked almond and coconut, with cox apple and honey flavours and a subtly saline finish.
75cl; £21.95
The pairing
A classic dressed crab inside its shell, with buttered bread and a light salad on the side.
Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret 2016
With roasted duck and cherries
Photograph by David Harrison; styling by Emma Power
The tasting notes
Palma violet on the nose, with liquorice and black cherry flavours on the palate.
75cl; £9.95
The pairing
We paired Berry Bros.' classic Own Selection Bordeaux with a roasted duck leg served with black cherry sauce, roasted cabbage and a celeriac purée.
Berry Bros. & Rudd Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2015
With bubble and squeak
Photograph by David Harrison; styling by Emma Power
The tasting notes
A lighter-bodied wine, this one's got a touch of black cherry too, but also notes of strawberry coulis and some minerality.
75cl; £24.95
The pairing
A bubble and squeak using leftover Christmas ham and bolstered by redcurrants, served with salad.
Berry Bros. & Rudd Sherry Cask blended scotch
With sticky toffee pudding
Photograph by David Harrison; styling by Emma Power
The tasting notes
There's tonnes of orange peel and marzipan notes on the nose, with stem ginger and muscovado flavours.
70cl; £32
The pairing
A classic sticky toffee pudding, with a dollop of rich crème fraîche and a toffee sauce made with candied orange peel.
Buy the wines and browse Berry Bros. & Rudd's Christmas range at bbr.com
