Match of the week

Soft cheese and onion spread and a natural sparkling Vouvray

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on December 23 2013 at 09:16

This week’s pairing is a short (and I imagine welcome) respite from Christmas fare - a wine we enjoyed with a number of small dishes yesterday lunchtime at a natural wine bar, Toast in East Dulwich.

The wine which is made from biodynamically produced chenin blanc grapes is made by Catherine Breton and is called La Dilettante - a reference to the fact that she claims to play a less full-on role in the winemaking than her husband Pierre. The wine is unfiltered and although dry has a beguiling touch of sweetness and some lovely soft peach and apple fruit.

It was the perfect bottle for a light pre-Christmas lunch - a selection of small dishes which included crushed avocado on toast, roast beetroot and yoghurt and some this curd cheese, dill and onions, scattered with toasted crumbs - a stylish riff on the old cheese and onion dip.

It makes me think that La Dilettante would be ideal for a Boxing Day (or any other) brunch or in fact a light vegetarian meal.

You can buy it from Les Caves de Pyrène, Ellis Wharton or, if you’re lucky enough to be living in Dulwich as I am this week, Toast.

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