THE GLOSS hosted a special seasonal wine dinner in association with Moët Hennessy and Range Rover to celebrate the start of festive entertaining …
As part of THE GLOSS Wine Dinner series at The Merrion, a programme of elegant gastronomic evenings, this very special festive occasion on December 3 was dedicated to a duo of divine champagnes, a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir that would tick the box for Christmas lunch, dinner and beyond.
Peter MacCann, General Manager, The Merrion.
In The Garden Room at The Merrion, overlooking the pretty garden of the hotel, Peter MacCann, General Manager, welcomed guests on behalf of Jane and Sarah McDonnell of THE GLOSS, before introducing Melanie McCourt, Marketing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Ireland, who spoke about how 2025 has marked Range Rover’s 55th anniversary, and how this wine dinner with THE GLOSS was the perfect ending to the year’s celebrations.
Melanie McCourt, Marketing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Ireland.
THE GLOSS Wine Editor Julie Dupouy arriving in style, thanks to Range Rover.
For this All Terroirs dinner with Range Rover, award-winning sommelier and THE GLOSS Wine Editor Julie Dupouy chose the wines based on their unique terroirs (the combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character).
THE GLOSS Wine Editor Julie Dupouy and Executive Chef Ed Cooney.
Julie and the chefs at The Merrion, led by Executive Chef Ed Cooney, created a perfectly matched seasonal menu of food and wine, choosing wines from the Moët Hennessy portfolio. Menu-planning had begun several weeks in advance of the dinner, with detailed notes from Julie to Ed about the wines she had chosen and the ingredients that would best complement them. Creating, tasting and tweaking, they refined the six-course menu.
The evening began with canapés (Prawn Tartare with Ponzu, Wild Mushroom Tartlet, Polenta Cake with Parma Ham, Gougères and Cheese Straws) and an apéritif – a Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016 Champagne, setting the special tone for the evening. A champion of the unexpected, Julie added a wonderful Minuty Prestige Rosé, 2024, to the mix – it was absolutely delicious with the first course, a Lobster Raviolo with Clams, Razor Clams and Fennel, and as Julie said in her introduction, a reminder that rosé is not just for summer drinking. Served from magnums, the fresh and vibrant Provence rosé with crisp citrus, white peach, and red berries, was the perfect touch to cut through the rich lobster.
Next stop on the wine tour was Argentina, where, as Julie explained, Terrazas de Los Andes 2024 Chardonnay is produced in a high altitude terroir – and where melted snow is used to irrigate the vineyards for purity. This was served with the fish course, a Roast Fillet of Turbot with Citrus Dill Butter Sauce and Roast Jerusalem Artichoke, created by Ed Cooney to complement the minerality of the wine.
The main course, an impressive beef wellington, was introduced by Chef Ed Cooney, who as well as explaining how this dish had been honed over many years to the perfection it is today, treated guests to a historical account of the strong Wellington connections with The Merrion. The Duke: The Merrion’s Beef Wellington was served with Braised Oxtail Bon Bon and Hint of Orange Gremolata – a true showstopper.
Then guests were in for a wonderful surprise as Julie announced we had received allocation of a 2016 Cloudy Bay Te Wahi from Central Otago to accompany the main course. This organic wine, described by Julie as “pure silk”, would be perfect with turkey on Christmas day – if you can get your hands on a bottle, that is.
A palate cleanser of Milleens cheese was served with Charcoal and Fruit Crackers, alongside which Julie selected a second Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir from Marlborough for its bright cherry, raspberry and subtle floral notes.
Finally, Paul Kelly, Pastry Chef at The Merrion, introduced dessert, a Cranberry Bread and Butter Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Clementine Zest which was perfectly seasonal. A glass of Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne was the perfect serve to close out a sparkling evening at The Merrion.
Guests departed with a smart notebook from Range Rover, and (surely) a growing shopping list of wines to see them through the festive season. Thank you to Julie, The Merrion, Range Rover and Moët Hennessy.
Click into the gallery to see some of the guests in attendance.
Photographer: Conor Healy, @pictureitpix
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