Radio Oxford and Bill Buckley

Had great fun today with Bill Buckley on his BBC Radio Oxford show. Bill and I worked together on the LBC Food Programme so it was great to link up again. Every Wine Tells a Story 2011 by Tara Devon O’Leary, £8.99, www.lulu.com and to use Tara’s blurb: ‘is a collection of the memorable, provocative and emotive wines as experienced by 39 international wine lovers’. My contribution focussed on the emotive element, featuring the late John Merriman, a man I greatly admired and respected, who died in April this year. The Rustenberg John X Merriman 2009 blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, South Africa,is full bodied with cigar box notes, accessible blackberry and damson fruit flavours, certainly the wine you need for the roasted turkey with all the trimmings. Stockist: Majestic at £13.99, buy two bottles down to £9.99.
The rest of my Christmas case on the show, included the lovely crisp, dry, citrus, well structured Champagne G.H.Mumm Cordon Rouge NV Brut, £25.99. Stockists: Sainsbury, Tesco, with Waitrose running a 20% off promotion. My two party suggestions were first, the floral, fruity, dry, 12% abv locally produced Brightwell Bacchus 2009,www.brightwellvineyard.co.uk, Waitrose, £9.49, with the Oxford Wine Company stocking most of the Brightwell range. Secondly, made from the Cortese grape, the dry, perfumed, grapey, 12% abv, Gavi Taste the Difference 2010, £8.29, Sainsbury’s, will more than do the job as a crowd pleaser. One of my party reds and a match with cold turkey on Boxing Day is Henry Fessy’s Brouilly 2010, Waitrose, £10.99 or as a party alternative not mentioned on the show today Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2010, £6.97, Asda. Again not featured today, however if you are looking to treat yourself with a couple of class act whites to enjoy with fish and fish in cream sauces over Christams and New Year then Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume 2007,Union des Viticulteurs de Chablis, £18.00, Marks & Spencer and Fattoria Michi’s Montecarlo Bianco 2010, £15.75,www.clubviniitalini.com a delicious, refined blend of Trebbiano, Rousanne, Sauvignon and Vermentino, is one of my wines of 2011. Remember for your Stilton or Christmas Cake, Sandeman Imperial Tawny Port, Stevens Garnier, Waitrose, £10.25. A premium, nutty, almond, smooth port, which can, once opened, last a month at least in the right conditions. Enjoy!