With the Queen’s Jubilee almost upon us, now is the time to start thinking about which fine wines will be best to use to celebrate the four-day weekend.
It is not often that the aged bottles of Bordeaux and Burgundy get released from the cellar, but this is certainly a celebration of sizeable and prestigious proportions to warrant it. Whether you are fans of the monarchy or not, there is no denying that this is a weekend for celebration and goodwill, all set in the iconic throwback of street parties of 1977.
In order to get the party started, a good selection of wine is needed that caters for weekends such as this. It is likely that your party will be eating more buffet-style food for the duration of the weekend, so select wines that compliment this.
To kick start the day, the 1999 Pol Roger, Winston Churchill, Champagne goes wonderfully well with light nibbles that gives the party a far more relaxed atmosphere, after all, four days off work means that there is no rush.
To follow on, try the 2010 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand which is a fantastic wine for light lunches or afternoon tea. In true British style, it is likely that cucumber sandwiches and scones will feature regularly on the day, and so having a few bottles of the Marlborough lying about is advisable, particularly if the sun decides to show up.
Into the evening, you want to be looking towards light bodied red wines that will ease you into something more full bodied at supper. 2006 Le Montrachet, Grand Cru, Bouchard Père et Fils, Burgundy is a wonderful wine that would fulfil this task, offering smooth a subtle flavours that will not overwhelm the pallet.
Supper should be all about Bordeaux, which usually compliments red meats depending on the wine you choose. 1989 Châteaux Palmer, 3ème Cru Classé, Margaux, 1996 Châteaux d’Yquem, 1er Cru Classé Supérieur, Sauternes or 1962 Chateaux Latour, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac will allow you to finish the night in real style.
A nice port may also do the trick. If you can find a Port from 1952 then you have a fortified wine that has lived for as long as our Queen has reigned, making it the perfect ending to a perfect day.