We’re about to start the rollercoaster of winter celebrations, namely Christmas and New Year parties! And just like any other party, it’s nicer celebrated with a good glass of wine or champagne. So we went ahead and put together a list with some French wine and bubbly recommendations for the merriest of seasons.
We divided our recommendations into Julbord wines: wines with a flavour and texture that will go well in combination with a variety of food, like fish, vegetables and red meat together, just like we usually have it on our Christmas table. Christmas eve wines and champagne: to share with the loved ones, with sophisticated and elegant flavours. Christmas presents: wines that have a warm, rich and elegant flavour, but with a higher price that makes them perfect to give away to a loved one. New Year’s Eve wines and champagne: A selection of wines and bubbles that one can enjoy on the last night of the year.
¨We did our best to find the best wines that would fit the weather and the food of the season and these are our suggestions¨ says Your Living City’s in-house sommelier Octavio Hernandez.
JULBORD WINES:
Kuehn Pinot Gris Alsace
Grape: Pinot Gris
Tasting Notes: Very nice aromas of honey, peach , apricot and pear. The taste is soft and round with some very nice sweetness and acidity. It is quite delicious.
Recommended food: It goes well with spicy food like thai or chilli mussels or Mexican vegetable tacos.
Price: 129SEK
Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Antarés 2011
Grape: Grenache, Mouvedre, Syrah
Tasting Notes: Biodynamic wine, smoky, liquorice, white pepper, dark fruit. It is very fruity and with medium fullness.
Recommended food: Goes very well with any kind of red meat and a thick rich sauce. Also with oven baked tofu with honey and nougat.
Price: 165SEK
Calles Ecological Cotes-du-Rhone 2015
Grape: Grenache, Syrah.
Tasting Notes: Very nice aromas of black and blue berries, young and fresh. In its flavour you’ll find a concentrated taste of berries and a tad of spice.
Recommended food: This is a very versatile wine that goes well with almost everything on the Christmas table.
Price:120SEK
Lirac Les Chenaies 2015
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault
Tasting Notes: It is a tad spicy, with red berries and even some rosemary aroma. Very fresh and nice to the taste.
Recommended food: Grilled vegetables, a lasagne. Goes well with many things on the Christmas Table.
Price: 109SEK
CHRISTMAS EVE WINE AND CHAMPAGNE:
Helfrich Steinklitz Riesling Grand-Cru 2013 (very elegant)
Grape: Chardonnay and Pinot
Tasting Notes: Wow! This is an amazing and very elegant Riesling from Alsace. Young with peach fruits, fair minerality and very floral. The taste is dry, young, very fresh and a tad of petrol.
Recommended food: Goes well with almost anything. Really good with Blue cheeses.
Price: 159SEK
Champagne Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque 2007
Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: This is it, the Champagne to rule them all. Whether a wedding proposal, celebrating Christmas with the family and wanting to make it more special than it already is, or the best New Year’s toast one will ever have. When you open the bottle and pour it, you feel intense aromas of both fresh and dried fruits, vanilla, nougat and honey. When you taste it, it will feel very fresh and then the complexity of flavours will explode.
Recommended food: I personally wouldn’t eat anything with it and just enjoy it on its own instead.
Price: 1.210SEK
Domaine Duclaux Chateauneuf-du-pape 2010
Grape: Grenache, Mouvedre
Tasting Notes: With spice, liquorice, jammy black and red fruit aromas. Easy to drink yet very rich and powerful with a concentrated flavour that rounds very well.
Recommended food: This wine deserves aged cheeses and well rounded dishes like a Porter steak.
Price: 249SEK
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS:
Champagne Taittinger Millésimé Brut 2008
Grape: Chardonnay and Pinot
Tasting Notes: Very complex, above average champagne. There is a very creamy, buttery and floral character, toasty yeasty notes and a bright lemon. It has a delicious peach and citrus taste.
Recommended food: It goes great with shellfish, birds and fishes. Or a Spiced Lobster Souffle. By the way we happen to have the most delicious Spiced Lobster Souffle recipe, find it here. This is a perfect Christmas gift, give it to yourself or someone else!
Price: 489SEK
Clos De L´Oratoire Des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape 2014
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Miuvedre, Cinsault
Tasting Notes: Intensive, complex, dark and red berries with some plum freshness. Very juicy and meaty in the taste.
Recommended food: Entrecôte or a T-bone with mashed potatoes and a thick brown sauce. Cheeses and maybe portobello mushrooms with grilled halloumi hamburger!
Price: 339SEK
NEW YEAR’S EVE WINE AND CHAMPAGNE:
Champagne Taittinger Nocturne NV
Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Very appealing essences of vanilla, biscuit, bread, some pear, altogether very nice aromas. In its taste it’s very refreshing with pear and mild sweetness.
Recommended food: Perfect for toasting and having some small canapés.
Price: 399SEK
Chateau du Trignon Cotes du rhone 2014
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Tasting Notes: Aromas of raspberries, strawberries, very fresh and young with a delicious taste.
Recommended food: I would drink it alone as a chilled-down drink, maybe with something small like a piece of cheese or some french fries.
Price: 90SEK
Champagne Diebolt Vallois Tradition
Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Tasting Notes: Fresh and creamy with notes of apple, grapes, watermelon, and floral tones and a tad of minerality.
Recommended food: Cheese
Price: 349SEK
