Heard it on the Grapevine at the Little wine Club - News About Wines

May 2010

Empordan 'al fresco'

Mention ‘al fresco’ and my mind wanders off to the balmy climate, simple, flavoursome foods & delicious Mediterranean-styled wines of Spain & in particular a region I always like to visit called Emporda; an ancient, wonderful, amphitheatre-like wine region overlooking the Mediterranean sea, located in the north-eastern part of Catalonia, just to the south of the Pyrenees.

Here are some very traditional, easy to make dishes from Emporda with wines from the same region to match the food perfectly.

Food: Gambas al Ajillo. (large prawns, simply roasted with olive oil, garlic and paprika)

Food: Escalivada (Baked aubergine and Red Pepper Salad) Bake some aubergine and red peppers until black, peel off the skin and dose the tender insides with olive oil on a salad of Spanish onion, tomato and black olives.

Wine: Mas Oller ‘Mar’ Blanco. RRP £12. Offer price £9.99.

Matching:
The texture of this wine works well with the meaty prawns, the balance of rich fruit and acidity in the wine working well to cut through the garlicky oil and round of that paprika flavour in the dish. That same acidity will work with the ‘Escalivada’ and the ripe fruit flavours in the wine will balance well with the sweetness of the baked aubergine and red pepper flesh.

Wine Tasting Notes.. A terrific, complex white with subtle aromatics (peach, grapefruit, jasmine). The medium body is softly textured. Luscious flavours of apricot, pineapple & grapefruit unfurl from a solid, mineral core. This lovely wine leaves you with a lingering, pure, tropical note for a good few seconds.

Click here to view our great offer on the wonderful wines of Mas Oller

Food: Open-fired Chicken Breast with a Catalan ‘Samfaina’ Sauce

Wine: Mas Oller ‘Pur’ Tinto. RRP £12. Offer price £9.99

Matching: A simple & traditional Catalan ‘Samfaina’ sauce (sautéed peppers, tomatoes & aubergine in good olive oil) will give a Mediterranean twist to crispy, succulent smoky chicken.
The wine is a youthful blend of Garnacha, Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon that really lends itself to the smoky chicken. There is good freshness and acidity to this wine which works well with the sauce.

Wine Tasting Notes.. A brilliant purple colour. Complex aromas of cassis, cherry, smoke & some herbaceous-ness. A full-bodied Mediterranean flavour with a bold, alluring concentration of juicy blackberry, raspberry & cassis fruit. Punchy tannins & spicy textured, there is a long, juicy finish & just a hint of ‘balsamic’ bite.

Click here to view our great offer on the wonderful wines of Mas Oller

This article was wriiten by Andrew Malia-Barlow and appears in part for 'Derbyshire du Jour' Magazine July/August 2010 edition.

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