WHITBY'S DECEMBER 2025 MATCH REPORT BY NICK HUTTON
The Whitby Group met for its annual black tie Christmas Dinner on Monday 15th December at the Saxonville Hotel. It is the one occasion in the year when we do not meet at Sanders Yard which looks after us so well for every other meeting. This has the great benefit of allowing us to include Sophie and her partner with us for the evening and giving them a rare evening off. As in previous years we also had several guests from other groups joining us to enjoy a wonderful meal with very enjoyable wines chosen and described by Nigel Green, President of the Yorkshire Sommeliers who has a house in Whitby and regularly attends our group.
The evening was a lovely celebration of good company, fine food and remarkable wine brought together by Nigel and, as usual, described by him in an entertaining way which reminded us why we are members of this delightful organisation
We started with a Welcome glass of Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top champagne. Clean and crisp tasting this was a splendid way of starting the evening and meeting and greeting those attending. Once we had taken our seats at our tables, we were treated to a Les Sarrins Provence Rosé 2024. This was less dry and certainly less complicated than the Heidsieck but nonetheless very pleasant.
The meal started with a delicious salmon and cream cheese roulade accompanied by two delicious starter whites, a Salamandré Sauvignon Touraine 2021 from the Loire Valley and supplied by James Long. It was similar to a Pouilly Fuissé but somewhat less complex. The second wine was a Petit Chablis From Roland Lavantureux 2020 who have been making Chardonnay wines since the 17th Century. Both wines were simply delicious.
The main course was a Venison Casserole which invited us to accompany it with a Malbec from the Cahors region, La Lande Cavagnac Malbec from Domaine de Cause 2014. Although a wonderful tasting wine it had to compete with an absolutely stunning organic wine, Avini Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Avignonesi 2011, which showed how wonderful are top Italian winemakers. We were very lucky to enjoy two such outstanding red wines.
The dessert was a choice of lemon tart or Christmas Pudding, both home made and both delicious. With this was served Nigel’s favourite dessert wine, Chateau Septy Monbazillac 2018 which is difficult to better on such an occasion.
