12 wines to enjoy over the holidays
The festive season is approaching... Gault&Millau gives you its tips on food and wine pairing. A selection of unmissable vintages, starting at 9 euros a bottle.
Every year, it's the same old story: you prepare your festive menu, thinking, of course, about the best wines to accompany your seafood platter or the traditional chestnut turkey. The Guide Jaune suggests wine pairings to suit every moment of the meal and every budget.
Our best wines for the Christmas aperitif
As a festive meal, champagne and sparkling wines will take pride of place on your tables, and it's with them that you'll start the aperitif. Our selection for the aperitif:
Domaine De Sousa, cuvée "Tradition
Tasting notes: a chiselled champagne with perfectly controlled acidity. The finish is saline and salivating.
- Price: 40 euros
- Rated 95/100 in our "Livre des champagnes".
- https://www.champagnedesousa.com
Domaine Étienne Calsac, "L'Échappée Belle" cuvée
Tasting notes: a champagne that's greedy and fresh at the same time. The finish is fruity and taut.
- Price: 35-40 euros
- Rated 92/100 in our "Livre des champagnes".
- https://champagne-etienne-calsac.com
Domaine Sébastien Brunet, "Méthode Traditionnelle" cuvée
Tasting notes: a crémant with delicate effervescence and a creamy mouthfeel. Tension and freshness on the finish.
- Price: around 10-15 euros
- http://sebastienbrunet.fr
Our best wines for Christmas starters
Now's the time to start with seafood, fish or foie gras. A number of grape varieties, such as Sauvignon, Melon de Bourgogne, Chardonnay or Picpoul, are essential. Here's our selection for starters:
Domaine de Belle-Vue, cuvée Gabbro
Tasting notes: An exceptional Muscadet with roundness and tension, combined with aromatic richness and salinity on the finish. A gastronomic wine!
- Price: around 25 euros
- Jérôme Bretaudeau's Instagram page
Domaine La Croix Montjoie, "L'Impatiente" cuvée
Tasting notes: a Burgundy from the confidential Vézelay appellation, 100% chardonnay, with roundness and tension, which will go perfectly with vegetable and fish starters.
- Price: 15-20 euros
- www.lacroixmontjoie.com
Domaine La Croix Gratiot, "Le Syndical" cuvée
Tasting notes : A wine that gives pride of place to Picpoul. A cuvée that goes straight to the point, with citrus aromas and superb length. The ideal companion for seafood platters.
- Price: 9-10 euros
- https://croix-gratiot.com
Our best wines for Christmas turkey
It's time to get the turkey or capon out of the oven! And for this main course, we've chosen red wines with mellow tannins from different terroirs and grape varieties. Here's our selection for the dish:
Domaine Sant Armettu, "Rosumarinu" cuvée
Tasting notes : Sciaccarellu in all its splendor. A cuvée with the scent of garrigue combined with the roundness of red fruit. A sure value that will delight your guests.
- Price: 20 euros
- https://www.santarmettu.com
Les Vins de la Madone, cuvée "Dacite
Tasting notes : what elegance! A fine Gamay with a silky mouthfeel. A wine that deserves to be discovered.
- Price: 14 euros
- https://lesvinsdelamadone.fr
Mas de Libian, "Vin de Pétanque" cuvée
Tasting notes: blended with a majority of Grenache, this is a fruit bomb bursting with gourmandise that will go perfectly with turkey.
- Price: 10-11 euros
- h ttp://www.masdelibian.com/fr/
Our best wines for Christmas desserts
Dinner's almost over, but before you leave the table, you'll probably be devouring a slice of bûche. It's the perfect opportunity to taste some sweet or muté wines on your table.
Château Laclotte-Cazalis, Sauternes
Tasting notes : a modern sweet wine with freshness and good acidity. The perfect ally for dessert.
- Price: 18 euros
- https:// laclotte.com
Domaine Castéra, cuvée "Memòria
Tasting notes: we won't soon forget this Jurançon! This demi-sec is an explosion of white and exotic fruit aromas combined with magnificent tension. A real favorite.
- Price: 20 euros
- https://www.domainecastera.fr
Domaine Singla, Rivesaltes 5 ans d'âge
Tasting notes: this sweet natural wine from Roussillon offers an explosion of aromas typical of amber Rivesaltes (roasted and spicy aromas) combined with beautiful freshness. A meditative wine that goes perfectly with logs, but also blue-veined cheeses such as Roquefort.
- Price: 15 euros
- www.domainesingla.com
Now that the list has been compiled, you can visit the websites of the above-mentioned estates or go directly to your usual wine merchant for the big day.
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