Recently, in a chat with a sommelier friend, he said that he had recently been drinking Priorat in Spain, because most of the wines produced in Priolato were very good value for money, full-bodied, complex in flavor, of excellent quality, suitable for everyday meals, and then he recommended me the sunset of the eleven apostles of the water drops of god and the red wines of the Estate of Margill. That's all there is to it, and as a veteran foodie, I must ask what style of food these wines are suitable for.
Vineyard landscape in Priolato (Image: www.masdengil.com)
The first step in pairing is to know what style the wine is. Preolato red wines are usually moderately high in acidity, full-bodied, with strong tannins and relatively high alcohol content (usually 13.5%-15%). The better the Priolato wine, the richer and more intense the flavours. High-quality Priolato red wines are usually dominated by fruity notes such as black plums, black cherries and blackcurrants, as well as toasted aromas from French oak barrels with a finish of chocolate, black pepper, licorice and mineral notes from red slate. If the purpose is to accompany the meal, there are probably the following styles.
1. Rich "spicy" type
The Eleventh Apostle Sunset, full name Ferrer Bobet Seleccio Especial, is a representative of the rich "spicy" type. This wine is full-bodied and powerful, with intense aromas of black fruit and aromas of Asian spices.
Ferret Bobett Winery's Select Red Wines (Image: www.ferrerbobet.com)
Pair it with this type of wine, you can choose meats that also have a spice flavor and black pepper flavor, such as the kebabs we eat in the summer, or a larger steak, of course, with black pepper sauce. When my sommelier friend told me this, I said that the style would not be repeated, and I think everyone has the same questions as me, but this is the magic of food and wine, which can highlight the salty aroma of meat and the freshness of the fruity taste of wine.
Image source: www.bordeaux.com.cn
2, enthusiastic "like fire" type
Mas D'en Gil Clos Fonta is typical of the high-alcohol Priolato, which brings a burning sensation to the throat, but not everyone will like this "hot". Wines with high alcohol content are actually not easy to match, and the dishes should neutralize the burning sensation brought by alcohol, so it is generally not wrong to choose slightly sweet dishes. For example, the meat is sweet and sour, which can alleviate this fiery feeling and also set off the refreshing fruity aroma of the wine itself. In addition, the higher alcohol content can also neutralize the greasy taste of fried pork belly to a certain extent, and play a complementary role.
Margill Estates Fonda red wines
3. Fragrant "plump" type
In addition to the above two styles, there is also a "plump" type Ofo Priolato, which is full-bodied, with rounded tannins and chewy, such as Clos Figueres.
Xifeiyuan red wine
Dishes can be paired with roast duck and roast goose with a high protein content. Because the roast duck and roast goose skin are crisp, tender, boney, fat and not greasy, if you drink a sip of Priolato red wine with fresh acidity, solid tannins and rich fruity aroma, you can better appreciate the tenderness of its flesh and remove grease. Conversely, roast duck and roast goose can also neutralize the dry taste of wine's high tannins.
Image source: www.austrianwine.com
Of course, the recommendations here are all Chinese food pairings, but I think The Priolato wine with Spanish local food must also be very good, if you have a better recommendation, welcome to leave us a message in the comment area~