Jason's Christmas Line-up 2018

In this edition, Jason proposes his line-up for Christmas 2018, while David sits quietly and drinks it all in. First up, is a classy champagne Grande Réserve from Dumangin. This expertly crafted, extra-aged beauty is perfectly nuanced to offset the ennui of kitchen duty. With aromas of stewed bramley apples and brioche, there's no better way to tackle the sprouts. It's a bubbly second breakfast in a glass! Once the champagne is tucked away and Jason's sprouts are safely in the oven, he's onto the smoked salmon without missing a beat and a dry white Burgundy from Mâcon-Vergisson in the French deep south. With a generous bouquet of ripe orchard fruit, this chardonnay has enough nervy minerality to make your salmon leap. As he's not a big fan of turkey, David is more than happy to sit out the main course as long as it's with a glass of Jason's suggested accompaniment; a Fleurie from the inestimable Graillot family. Racy, light and floral, it'll nurse you all the way through the Queen's speech and mask any lingering annus horribilis with aromas of violets and crushed red berries. And even though the Fleurie is hard to follow, Jason has one more red up his sleeve; a posh Gevrey Chambertin 2013 'Aux Corvées.' Grown organically on a small estate, this Pure Pinot Noir is so obliging, it will drink itself so you don't have to. Last in line is a bijoux Beaume De Venise 2015. This is Jason's dream stocking-filler and with aromas of orange blossom, peach and apricot, it's a dessert on its own, so you can by-pass the ordeal of Christmas pud entirely. Salut!