The Roberson team embarked on wet Sunday for the annual ‘Christmas’ dinner – which, this year was in mid-febuary, I hear that it has even been as late as August in the past.

The venue was Bentleys in Mayfair, I turned up early and nearly didn’t get in at all. I said hello, the large (but quite camp doorman said hello. Then I: I’m here early, we have a reservation for 7:45, Him: Okay, rather disdainfully: ‘Oh’ Awkward pause. I: Can I come in?, Him: What if I say no?

At this point there was a bit of a standoff, I felt very small, like Dick Whittington in the brightlights of London. He did let me in and I think it was all a bit of banter, which was good for him as I think I might have shown him some of my ‘moves’.

We had some great food, and the following wines

2005 Pur Sang Dageneau

Rather tight and closed, not really showing too well. To be honest, I think I would have guessed this as a bog-standard Sancerre if the tasting was blind. I find with Dageneau’s wines, they either bowl you over or leave you feeling a bit non-plussed depending on when and were you drink them.

1999 Meursault Charmes Morey-Blanc

Ex-Domaine Leflaive winemaker Pierre Morey has always been one of my favourites and the Meursault showed very nicely, certainly needs drinking but with a nice honeyed character and good complexity. Quite rich in style which is a little atypical of his style.

2003 Cos Labory

Rated very highly by some, this was drinking very well with a qute classic structure for such a hot vintage.

These wines were followed by some Moscato by La Spinetta, which was perfect, I can not really think of a nicer way to end a rich meal.

At this point, the more sensible employees went home whilst us Young Turks went on to drink dubious concoctions of debatable alcoholic content at Trader Vic’s.