TAB L E TALK
PERFECT PAIRINGS
Match points Wondering what to pour with light summer fare? Sommelier and wine judge Joseph Dhafana recommends three Woolies wines to drink with pork, spicy hake and steak
Pork with figs + Cinsault The delicate flavour of pork demands a lighter style of wine, such as the Marras The Trickster Piekenierskloof Cinsault (R99.99). It’s an elegant choice, slightly earthy, and immediately shows aromas of cherries, plums, raspberries and pomegranate. The palate is fresh with balanced acidity, cutting nicely through the richness of Nigel Slater's pork on page 111. It’s definitely a red you can chill slightly.
Chilli-ginger hake + Sauvignon Blanc
Carpaccio-style steak + a red blend
The freshness of David Nieuwoudt’s Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc (R219.99) is perfect for the hake on page 21. Expect aromas of fig, lemongrass and gooseberries, and great minerality. Although the strong flavour of ginger tends to overpower wine, this one has pyrazine characteristics – or green flavours – which work well with the aromatic spiciness of the dish.
Ken Forrester’s Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre (R89.99) is slightly spicy with mocha, dark chocolate and gamey notes. Expect great palate weight with pepper and nutmeg. Rich and complex, it’s the perfect complement for the rump steak on page 70, thanks to its depth and medium tannin structure. The nutmeg flavours in the wine uplift the roasted nut flavours in the dish.
DISCOVER CINSAULT Often found in Rhône-style blends and Provençal rosé, as a single varietal it’s a perfect light red for summer sipping and a great match for Mediterranean-style food.
10-15°C
42
Black pepper
TASTE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Cherries
Raspberries
Violets
EXTRA SOURCE DECANTER.COM
Joseph Dhafana (@wine_poet) is a wine judge, awardwinning sommelier and independent wine consultant. He is also the founder of @mosiwineandspirits.
