food pairings for red bordeaux

Grilled, Marinated Lamb … a Classic Pairing with a Margaux (Bordeaux)

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Pairing: Marinated Lamb Grilled in an Open Fireplace Paired with a 2012 Chateau D’Issan Margaux  

Food: Roasting a leg of lamb that’s been studded with thin slices of garlic has been the traditional way of preparing lamb … at least in our family. But … hold on. Boning the leg, butterflying the removed meat, marinating it, then grilling the lamb over a hot wood fire is rapidly becoming our new favorite way to enjoy this delicious meat. Butterflying a leg of lamb is relatively easy … if you are comfortable around a sharp knife (!). This video provides good, easy to follow, guidance for accomplishing this task. We use Martha Stewart’s excellent recipe as the basis for this wonderful meal. Season the lamb generously with salt and pepper, then marinate the meat overnight in a combination of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, garlic, rosemary, and oregano. For rare to medium-rare doneness, grill the lamb over a hot fire for about 8 minutes on a side, then let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. We like to cook the meat over an open wood fire (which adds a wonderful smokey flavor) and serve the sliced lamb with asparagus and popovers. What a treat!

Wine: The Haut Medoc wine region of Bordeaux is home to arguably the four most prestigious wine districts in all of Bordeaux, Maybe, according to some, even in all of France (Hmmmm … really?) Anyway, these four districts are Pauillac, Saint-Estephe, Saint-Julien, and Margaux, and all have a well-deserved reputation. Located in Margaux is Chateau d’Issan … this estate dates back to the 12th Century, there being claims that wine from the estate was served at the wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henri Plantagenet, the future king of England, on 18 May 1152. Their 2012 vintage Margaux is made from Cabernet Sauvignon (67%) and Merlot (33%). This is a wine for special occasions.

Grand Cru Classe En 1855

Tasting Notes:  The color is red with a reddish-brown tint. The bouquet is that of fresh hedgerow smells, including service berry, blackberry, red currant, and bay. Some new leather sneaks in there, too. The palate is delightfully complex with layers of hedgerow (including some of the wood), spice notes (allspice and cloves), rosemary, oregano, black olive, cigar box and leather. Quite extraordinary. The rosemary and leather carry the long, lingering finish. The herbs in the marinade tease those flavors out of the wine. The pairing of the margaux and the lamb couldn’t be better. The wine complements the food, the food complements the wine. That’s what pairing is all about.

Other Wines That Pair Well with Grilled Lamb: Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California), Aglianico (Italy), Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley, California), Hermitage (Rhone Valley, France)

Other Food That Pairs Well with Red Bordeaux (Margaux): Roast Chicken or Pheasant, Venison, Duck, Filet Mignon

Maps of Bordeaux and the Haut Medoc Wine Region: Haut Medoc

A Source: www.wine.com

Lamb Gozleme …served with a Red Bordeaux from Graves

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Pairing: Lamb Gozleme Paired with a 2014 Chateau de Landiras Rouge Graves 

Food: Gozleme is a delicious, easy to make, Turkish flatbread, griddle-fried to a golden brown and stuffed, in our version, with a combination of spiced ground lamb, feta, spinach, and tomato. The lamb is seasoned with some onion, garlic, coriander, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Fresh mint leaves are a nice addition. Lemon and olives are common accompaniments, along with fresh fruits.

Lamb Gozleme

Wine:  The de Landiras vineyards, located in the southern part of the Graves wine sub-region of Bordeaux is one of the region’s oldest properties, dating back to the 14th Century. What was once 14,000 acres of vineyards in the 1500’s is now but 2 acres with about 40 more acres planned for future expansion. The current owner, Peter Vinding-Diers, has run the operation since 1988, yet his is only the third family to own the property in its 600 year history. The Graves region distinguishes itself in Bordeaux by being well regarded for both its red wines and white wines. This wine is 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and cries out to be paired with the lamb in this dish … a classic combination. And a very affordable Bordeaux at about $20.

Red Graves

Tasting Notes:  A dark maroon, almost black color. The nose reminds one of walking along an old hedgerow with many  types of berries ripening in the sunshine … black current, blackberry, blueberry, and black raspberry. Yes, I know these berries don’t all ripen at the same time. Just use your imagination! On the palate, one gets to taste the flavors of these same berries with the addition of a bit of leather, well-smoothed tannins and just a touch of acidity. And there is a surprising gentleness to this wine that one does not often associate with Bordeaux wines. Yet the complexity and assertiveness of the wine balances nicely with the complexity of the Gozleme.

Other Wines That Pair Well with Lamb Gozleme: Petite Sirah (California), Syrah (Washington), Rioja (Spain), Zinfandel (California)

Other Food That Pairs Well with Red Bordeaux (Graves): Roast Duck or Chicken, Grilled Mackerel or Salmon

Maps and Views of the Bordeaux/ Graves Wine Region:  Bordeaux – Graves Region

A Source:  www. klwines.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roast Leg of Lamb … Perfection with a Saint Julien

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Pairing: Roast Leg of Lamb Paired with a 2000 Château Lagrange Saint Julien Bordeaux

Food:  We don’t eat that much meat. Seafood and chicken are the more common  proteins we consume. However, when we do eat meat, lamb is our absolute favorite. And we are most fortunate to be able to buy our lamb from a farmer with a small flock just down the road from us.  The flavor and texture of grass-fed lamb can’t be beat. We remove the meat from the bone in one piece, flatten it out, generously spread a  mixture of olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper, and roll and tie up the meat. Then rub more of the oil and herb mixture onto the outside of the trussed meat. Brown the rolled meat thoroughly on all sides in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat on the cooktop. Place on a rack in a pan and roast in the oven at 325° F until the interior temperature reaches about 135° F for medium rare meat (about 45 minutes for a 3 lb roast). Baste every 15 minutes. Let stand for about 15 more minutes while you finish the vegetables (roast potatoes and beans) and gravy. Serve. My … that is extraordinary.

Roast Lamb with Saint Julien.

Wine:  Even though  a number of wines pair nicely with roast lamb (see suggestions below), one could make the case that red Bordeaux was created with lamb in mind. Saint-Julien is one of four renowned wine villages that comprise the Medoc wine region of Bordeaux. It is located on the “left bank” of the Gironde River Estuary where the soils and proximity to both the estuary and the cool Atlantic breezes combine to create almost ideal conditions to produce the perfect wine. At least that’s what winemakers there would say, but given the price some of these wines command, others might share that same view. Château Lagrange is made mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, but also contains Merlot and Petite Verdot.

This wine was a generous present a while back from my oenophile brother. He gave careful instructions to leave it in our cellar for several years to let it mature properly. Well, we drank it this weekend. What a gift! Thanks, Bro!

Saint Julien Bordeaux

Tasting Notes:  Medium purple hue (lighter and browner due its age -18 years old). Fragrant aroma of blueberry and leather. A very complex and layered flavor of black currant, blueberry and hedgerow (service berry, lingonberry, and cranberry), all structured with leather, smoke, and some tannin. Note: this wine benefited from decanting it 1 and 1/2 hours before dining. This allowed the strong tannins inherent to this wine to dissipate a bit and allow the complex fruits to be more present. We were still sipping it hours after the meal was over and the flavor was even better. An amazing wine and perfectly matched to the flavor of the lamb, garlic and rosemary.

Other Wines That Pair Well with Roast Lamb: Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile), Rioja (Spain), Hermitage (France), Zinfandel (California)

Other Food That Pairs Well with Red Bordeaux:  Roast Chicken or Duck, Steak, Pheasant, Venison, Blue Cheese

More About:  Guide to Saint Julien

A Source:  www.wine.com

 

 

 

 

An Autumnal Delight … Roast Pheasant Paired with a Red Bordeaux

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Pairing:  Roast Pheasant Paired with 2009 Chateau Lyonnat Lussac-Saint Emilion

Food:  As summer begins to fade, we begin to look forward to autumn and its associated sights, smells,  textures, and … tastes. Roast pheasant is a dish we always think of as an autumnal meal. Our recipe for roast pheasant comes from the L.L Bean Game and Fish Cookbook, a favorite of source of ours for many years. It involves finely mincing (by hand or food processor) 2 shallots, 4 mushrooms, dried basil, dried tarragon, and fresh parsley and thoroughly combining them all with a little brandy and a few Tbs of butter forming a thick paste. With your fingers, carefully tuck the mixture under the skin of the breast and thigh meat. Rub any remaining paste over the outside of the bird. Season with salt and pepper. Roast the bird in a heavy skillet at 350F. Remove the bird and deglaze the pan using some of the wine and chicken stock. Boil down until the sauce is to the desired consistency. As a final touch, swirl in a Tbs of butter and/ or veal demi-glace. Serve the sauce over the meat and mashed potatoes. Yikes … is that good! You bet.

Roast Pheasant

Wine:  The vineyards that surround the town of Saint-Emilion are among the most prestigious in all of the Bordeaux wine region. Some might say in all of France.  Lussac-Saint-Emilion is considered to be one of four “satellites” of Saint-Emilion, all four of these sub-regions lying north of Saint-Emilion. Lussac-Saint-Emilion is located in the far northeastern corner of Bordeaux. Merlot is the dominant grape variety in all of Saint-Emilion and is often combined with a little Cabernet Franc in the making of these distinguished and distinctive wines. Many of the wines from fabled Saint-Emilion wineries are in high demand throughout the world and get top dollar on the market … sometimes hundreds of dollars per bottle. The Chateau Lyonnat from Lussac is far more reasonable … $25.  Click on the link for tips on finding inexpensive Bordeaux wines.

Lussac St Emilion with Pheasant

Tasting Notes:  Ruby red color. Rich aromas of black currant and leather. Big, round flavors of both black and red currant, leather and more subtle tastes of black pepper and spice. All tied together with mellow tannins. Glad we decanted the wine two hours before eating. As we progressed through the meal, the mushroom and herb flavors of the pheasant enhanced further the elements of the wine. And the finish carried on and on. This … is Bordeaux! And this … is a great pairing! (mmmm …)

Other Food That Pairs Well with This Wine: Roast Duck and Confit, Venison, Roast Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, or Beef

Other Wines That Pair Well with This Food:  Barolo (Italy), Red Burgundy (France), Crozes-Hermitage (Northern Rhone), Pomerol (Bordeaux)

Read About:  http://winefolly.com/tutorial/superieur-cheap-bordeaux-wine/

A Source:  www.wine.com

Sunday Dinner … Roast Chicken with a Red Bordeaux

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Pairing:  French Roast Chicken paired with a 2005 Balthus Bordeaux Superieur from Château de Reignac

Food:  Every family has a favorite food that everyone loves and doesn’t mind having again and again over the year. In our household, that beloved meal is French Roast Chicken served with mashed potatoes, peas, and rich brown gravy. Maybe some pie for dessert. Now that’s comfort food! To make a simple french roast chicken, stuff the cavity of a whole chicken (about 4-5 lbs) with 1-2 Tbs of tarragon and some cut-up onion, carrot, and celery. Sprinkle more tarragon on the outside of the bird, along with generous shakes of paprika. Lay three strips of bacon across the breast. Roast in a 425 F oven for 30 minutes, then turn down the temperature to 325 F for another hour or so until done. Baste the bird periodically with beef stock while it is roasting. Make the gravy with the pan drippings from the chicken and the basting beef stock.

roast-chicken-serving

Wine:  A few weeks ago I wrote about the versatility of Roast Pork as a food that goes well with so many different types of wine, both red and white. The same thing is true of Roast Chicken. Favorite pairings include Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cote du Rhône. This past Sunday, we decided to try a Red Bordeaux. Bordeaux is more commonly paired with strong flavored, rich meats like lamb and beef. It turns out to be a delicious accompaniment to roast chicken as well. This Château de Riegnac Bordeaux Superieur is made from 100% Merlot from old-growth vineyards north and east of the city of Bordeaux.  And, it’s worth noting that 2005 was a fabulous vintage year for the Bordeaux region.

balthus-bordeaux-2-0

 

Tasting:  Rich, lush ripe dark fruits (notably blueberry and raspberry), along with leather and chocolate are all offered on the nose. Amazing! On the palate, much of these same things can be tasted in a true medley of flavors. The fine tannins are present, but not at all overwhelming. And a pleasant taste of black currant and cedar lingers on the finish. Wow! An exceptional bordeaux.

Other Wines that Pair Well with This Food:  Pinot Noir, GSM, Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Dolcetto

Other Food that Pairs Well with This Wine:  Roast Lamb, Beef, Pheasant, Venison

Read About:  http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bordeaux-wine-producer-profiles/bordeaux/satellite-appellations/chateau-reignac-bordeaux-superieur/

A Source:  www.wine.com