Three perfect wine pairings for your autumn dinner party
We asked leading London wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd how best to bring out a menu of many flavours...
Wine pairings are notoriously tricky to get right. From acidity to tannins, the complexity of each bottle must be balanced against the tastes and textures of every course — with just one flavour faux pas threatening to upend the entire meal. And, as we hurtle headlong into the season which sees our calendars overridden with dinner parties, it’s imperative that you get your wine cabinet appropriately stocked.
Thankfully, we called on leading London wine merchants, Berry Bros and Rudd, to pick the pairings that are bound to impress your guests and make your meal taste all the better. So, if you’re looking to cook up a storm this season, look no further for our divinely decadent menu of beef fillet, truffle risotto and lobster — alongside all the best bottles to complement your cuisine.
To complement the texture and richness of lobster…
If you’re feeling stumped for a little starter inspiration, allow us to recommend a punchy combination of ginger-poached lobster with kohlrabi, hazelnut dressing and drilled fennel. And, if you’re looking for the perfect partner, pair it with a 2017 Mullineux White Old Vines. Recommended by the sommelier at Berry Bros, it is a textured, rich style white wine, and a perfect match as the richness of the chenin blanc works with the texture of the lobster, whilst the sweet spice flavour brings out the ginger flavours in the dish.
Concentrated and richly scented fruit on the nose, the attack is generous and leads to a mid-palate filled with glossy, ripe fruit — think apricot kernel and white peach. Stony undertones layer with fresh acidity, bringing definition and further complexity. The perfect pairing with lobster.
To bring out the flavours of beef fillet…
A 2012 Barolo, Brunate, Marcarini, Piedmont was nominated the ideal bottle to pair with our recommended main – a black treacle-marinated fillet of beef, with herb potatoes, roasted cabbage and English mustard emulsion. Berry Bros described this as a lovely vintage, boasting beautiful ripe red cherry and blackcurrant fruit with a sweetness from oak — all of which matched the sweeter elements of the dish.
At the same time, the lively acidity of the Nebbiolo grape cut through the beef and balanced out the tang of the mustard and the umami of the Parmesan present in the dish. Overall, the bottle was gloriously scented, with a lightness of touch that belied its age-worthy staying power.
To temper the strong sweetness of chocolate…
To stop the dessert — opt for a chocolate mousse dome with praline centre, caramelised hazelnut and banana sorbet — becoming too cloying, Berry Bros suggests a 1985 Taylor’s Port. Rich, sweet, but fresh, the dark chocolate and coffee notes in the mature port complemented the chocolate flavours in the pudding and the dried fruit flavours balanced out the more tropical notes.
The port boasts a complex, dense palate which is still evolving and will continue to develop for a further five to 20 years. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully aged seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them among the best for pairing with sweet desserts of all natures.
Looking for more award-winning bottles? This is why Château Quintus is the pinnacle of wine tourism…
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