AND TO DRINK…
Drinks editor Yvonne Lorkin suggests matches for these dishes.
1. CHEAT’S CASSOULET WITH PORK, DUCK AND SAUSAGE
It’s true this wine is on the pricey side, but dear lord, once you’ve sipped the Rockburn ‘The Chosen’ Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot
Noir 2018 ($65) with this classic, sexy cassoulet, you will thank me. I’m willing to bet the last thing you spent $65 on wasn’t as loaded with wild cherry, freshly turned earth, prune and pepper, black tea and fresh complexity. It wraps itself around the richness of this Languedoc-based dish deliciously. rockburn.co.nz
2. THE ULTIMATE BEEF RIB EYE WITH HORSERADISH CREAM
I don’t know about you, but I can’t look at the word’s ‘beef ’ and ‘roast’ in the same sentence without having unseemly thoughts about large goblets of cabernet sauvignon. For this recipe I recommend begging, stealing, borrowing, doing things your mum wouldn’t be proud of, in order to get a bottle of Jacob’s Creek Barossa Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
($19.99). So ripe, robust and rolling in red fruits and exotic spices, it’s the perfect partner for this juicy meat dish. Available in supermarkets.
3. SHANGHAI-STYLE BRAISED WHOLE SNAPPER
Hit these gloriously sticky, rich
Asian flavours with a clean, mineral-driven, nashi and spice-soaked wine such as the Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris
2018 ($21.99). It’s one of those wines that creates great balance on the palate when chilled and paired with spicy, exotic flavours. Yummo! thegoodwine.co.nz
4.RED WINE BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH LENTILS
Let’s all join hands and give thanks for shanks, shall we? Then as you pop forkfuls of this gorgeously sticky, lentilladen luxury, pause and sip, if you can, the Main Divide Canterbury Merlot
Cabernet 2017 ($19). If you’re a fan of berries and spice and all things nice, this ripe and rumpty blend will be right up your cul de sac. Brightly fruited on the nose and edged with a lick of leather and Christmas pudding spices on the palate, it’s a smooth, fleshy, easy-dreamy thing to drink. Fresh and feisty, it’s a love-fest with lamb shanks. thegoodwine.co.nz.