Did anyone else see the article in the national press lamenting the fact that we seem to have lost the art of matching food and wine? I read it with a hint of nostalgia for the good old days before quickly remembering that while I've often given advice on what goes best with what, my best advice has always been to open what you enjoy and just don't overpower the food with the wine.
Matching food and wine really is as simple as that in reality. Lets face it I wouldn't you open a Barossa Shiraz with a bowl of chicken soup and Chenin Blanc tends not to do well up against fillet steak but if those pairings float your boat then sail away folks. The age of Downton Abbey is over so shed the snobbery and crack open a bottle of Napa Valley Merlot with some XL Cheese Crisps while lounging in your Jim jams and watching the latest episode of Geordie Whore. Crikey, why not ask the household staff to join you once a week as well for a treat.
That said, stick with quality wines not the mass market dross ladies and gents because with wine, the value/quality ratio really does work in relation to price. Under a fiver you get about 1 grape per bottle but that jumps exponentially above a tenner and stratospherically the closer to twenty quid you get so if you are on a budget, drink less but drink better. At this stage I'd like to point out that no value supermarkets were hurt in writing this column!
So, what goes well with mid week special meals, and no, I'm not referring to a KFC Bucket or a McDonald's meal deal, heaven help us, how low do you think I would sink? Once a fortnight or so however, I'm rather partial to baked beans on brown toast with a fried egg on top and as luck would have it there are several Merlots that go particularly well with this wonderful dish. Try the lighter ones such as those from Italy or the ultra low tannin versions from the Napa but if you eat your beans with a silver knife and fork then do get your butler to crack open a Nuit St George from Burgundy; by heck they go well with buttery toast and tomato sauce.
Now, I've been known to commit the cardinal sin of partnering rare Grand Cru Riojas with a bag of chips but don’t find me guilty of bad taste until you’ve tried it. The smoothness of the wine seems to react superbly with deep fried potato and lashings of vinegar and if all your landed tenants have paid their rent on time and you can afford to add a fish cake then live the life folks because it's a partnership made in heaven.
It’s not just red wines that I've been known to offend however, I'm an equal opportunity abuser of wines and have often found delight in opening a £60 bottle of white burgundy with nothing more complicated than scrambled eggs or some honey roast ham. The latter is one of life’s delights when picked at with your fingers on a sunday afternoon watching the football.
I know it all sounds a bit criminal to you wine lovers but rest assured, I have my limits, especially when it comes to the classed growths of Bordeaux for those kings of wines deserve, nay demand some foodie respect so I always open them slightly more reverently.
Now before you think we don't do actually do fine dining in the Richardson household, I’ll have you know that Mrs R pan fries the finest fillet steak known to man; seriously folks crimes have been committed for lesser delights so if you’re ever lucky enough to pop round on steak night, you would catch us popping the cork on fabulous Cabernet Franc Reserve from Argentina or a classed growth Bordeaux. She’s also been known to shimmy her way around the kitchen knocking up a mean lamb casserole, the type for which only a top end Californian Zinfandel or Margaret River Cab Merlot will do justice to; yes, what can I say, I married a temptress!
Anyway, my glass is dry, the corkscrew is vibrating as if it’s on a ouija board and the wine rack beckons me to call it a wrap for this week so pip pip for another week!
Here's my recommendations for this week
Rolling Stones Merlot, USA
Enough fruit to line lips like Jaggers. Aromas of cherries with a palate full of warm raspberry fruits coated with creamy vanilla. This really is a stunner
Faustino 1 Gran Reserva Rioja
Still one of the best you can get with a nose full of cedar wood and tobacco and hints of soft morello cherries in cream on the palate.
Tesco’s £15.50
