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Female Sommeliers and Wines for Christmas |
13ÌýDec 2006 |
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 This yearÌýa womanÌýwon the UK Sommelier of the Year Award for the first time. This reflects how a new brand of female wine expert is changing one of the most traditionally male-dominated industries in Britain. Five years ago there were no women on the Court of Master Sommeliers training course but this year there are eight out of a class of thirty.
Jenni talks to Joelle Marti-Baron, head sommelier at the City of London’s Great Eastern Hotel and wine detective, Sarah Ahmed about the increase in the number of female sommeliers and wine-makers. She also does a little wine-tasting and finds out their recommendations for budget and decadent wine racks this Christmas.
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Wine Recommendations for Christmas
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From Sarah Ahmed:
Smoked Salmon
Champagne Egly-Ouriet NV - glorious honeyed nose with brioche; intense palate with great depth of honeyed white fruits; mineral undertow - terrific. £26/bottle at The Theatre of Wine.
Bisol Crede Brut Prosecco - £10.00 at Bibendum – floral/pears, delicate yet intense, long, fine bead, supple, suave palate.
Turkey
The Sadie Family Palladius 2005 – this Swartland blend of Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Grenache Blanc shows tons of flavoursome fruit: honeyed pears and apricot rub along nicely with aniseed, ginger and vanilla. Well balanced, powerful and complex - £26.00 Waitrose.
Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Insolite 2005 – fantastic purity of pear, quince and pink grapefruit cut with aniseed; super-long, fresh finish. £11.95 at Les Caves de Pyrene.
BUDGET CHOICE - Thandi Chardonnay 2005 (Fairtrade) - Lively lemon, grapefruit and greengage with a touch of vanilla and toast; well-balanced. £6.99 at Tesco.
Red – Thandi Pinot Noir 2004(Fairtrade) £7.99 Bright crunchy cherry & cranberry with gentle spice; silky tannins. £7.99 at Tesco.
Roast Beef/venison
Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2003 – fragrant nose of sweet, ripe blackcurrant, plum and chocolate which follows through on the elegant palate with fine grained tannins. £30.00 Majestic.
BUDGET CHOICE - Los Robles Fairtrade Carmenere 2006 A tasty core of tobacco-edged blackcurrant and blackberry; good freshness. £4.99 Waitrose.
Mince pies/Christmas pudding/Stilton
Aged Tawny Port – Warres Otima 10 year old £9.49 at Waitrose.
Reserve Ruby Port - Fonseca Terra Prima Organic Port - £10.99 Sainsburys.
From Joelle Marti-Baron
Champagne Extra Brut NV from Jerome Dehours, no sugar has been added and it is a pure, dry, minerally champagne. Ideal for an aperitif or also with oyster and seafood. Available from Genesis Wines at £14.99/bottle.
For a white wine I would recommend a Chardonnay from Australia, Margaret River, called Leeuwin Estate Art Serie. This is one of the most sexy Chardonnay from Australia, very Burgundian in style. Rich, complex and yet very elegant ! Fab to impress your guest. Available from Berry Brothers and Rudd for around £33.00/bottle
For a red I'll go with an old claret preferably in a large bottle, such as a magnum : why not it is Xmas after all, and I bought for mine a magnum of La Tertre Roteboeuf Saint Emilion 1986 from Corney and Barrow at £145.00. 1986 was a rather good vintage for Bordeaux and magnums are always a good thing for parties.
To end the meal, I'll go with the Marsala Superiore 10 yr Old from Marco de Bartoli, and it is available from Caves de Pyrene at around £30.00.Ìý This is a rich, spicy sweet wine. Lovely with your stilton as well as your Xmas pudding.
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