Leslie Williams | Domaine Derey Frères, Gevrey Chambertin, 2023

Wine to stock up on for Christmas

Christmas is coming and what makes it special for me is tradition and memory and wine has of course played an important part in many of my Christmases. My very first taste of wine was a Christmas dinner sip of my dad’s sweet German wine (possibly ‘RM’ Liebfraumilch) in the late 1970s. I would hate it now, but back then I thought it tasted sweet and magical, a window into the grown-up world; I’m guessing I was 9 as my father died the following September.[...] There was also the time in my 20s when I bought an expensive bottle of Gevrey Chambertin on Christmas Eve. It was terrible, never buy wine like this on Christmas Eve unless you know the producer and the year.

Domaine Derey Frères, Gevrey Chambertin, 2023

"Yes – this is pricy but given Burgundy prices it is almost a bargain, one of many excellent wines imported by Whelehan's of Loughlinstown who deliver nationwide (can be bought as part of a mixed case). Warm dark cherry and toasted aromas, ripe and indulgent on the palate, soft berries, pomegranate, red plums and a tinge of cranberry, long and luxurious - Decanting advised."