WITH December upon us the festive drinks offers are coming in thick and fast and I have picked up two fantastic wines from Marks and Spencer in Kendal – both of which will make excellent matches for your festive food.
First, a stunning white from Hunter Valley, produced from old vine chardonnay by Tyrell’s Wines and showing a rich, golden colour with a nose of tropical fruit and buttery aromas from the oak ageing.
This is followed in the mouth by an explosion of melon and rich, fruit flavours and finished with a lingering taste, ideal pairing for guinea fowl, turkey or chicken on the festive table. Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2011 is available £6.99, reduced from £9.99.
Secondly, a red from the world-famous Croze Hermitage in the Northern Rhône Valley, known for making red wines from syrah. The Croze Hermitage 2010 is a fantastic vintage: medium-bodied red that shows vibrant plum colour and offers up a rich aroma of spice on the nose and leads to a heady blend of red and black fruit, cinnamon and white pepper in the mouth. It's the ideal wine for Boxing Day lamb or beef. Available at £8.99, reduced from £11.99.
- Graeme Hedley is sommelier and expert on food and wine at Kendal College’s Lakes Hotel School
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