Usually white wines from the Loire are to springtime what reds wines are to winter. Except for the fact that this year winter has been very much about white wines, not red. There’s something so sleepy about red wines, which just won’t do if your life is such that hibernation is not an option.
There’s been a surge of excellent white wines hitting our shelves too that are the perfect balance of indulgence and freshness making them perfect winter wines. Château de Fesles la Chapelle 2011 is one of them. It’s from the Loire and made of Chenin Blanc; it has the region’s trade-mark zing but its full bodied nature isn’t one for brighter days it’s for slurping on a cold night with a hearty wintery dish. Think gammon and cauliflower cheese, roast chicken with all the trimmings or a hearty pasta dish.
With whites as good as this winter can stay a bit longer.
£13,99 @ Waitrose
