By Christine Salins.
Corryton Burge Pinot Gris
When deciding what wine to match with a dish, you should generally choose a wine of similar weight to the food, so that neither overwhelms the other. A very rich dish would be best complemented by a robust Shiraz, for example.
Duck is something of an exception. Not only is it rich but it is also quite fatty, and for this reason it is better paired with a crisper, lighter wine that cuts through the fat and provides a sharp contrast to the duck’s richness.
Choosing a lighter- to medium-bodied wine shouldn’t be at the expense of flavour. Look for a wine with plenty of fruit aromas and flavours, a brisk acidity and perhaps a little sweetness.
Pinot noir, which is characterised by perfumed fruit and low tannins, is typically a good match for duck. Many connoisseurs think of it as a marriage made in heaven.
Dalrymple Cottage Block Pinot Noir
Yet while duck and Pinot have a natural affinity, you should also take into account the flavours accompanying the dish. For sweet/spicy sauces and Asian flavours such as ginger, coriander and spring onions, you might need to think outside the square. In this case, Rosé or even Pinot Gris or Riesling might work better.
Dalrymple Pinot Noir 2020, $38: Tassie is producing some of Australia’s finest Pinot and we love this one which is sweetly spiced with vanilla, earthy and black cherry notes. The winemaker’s notes suggest pairing it with Roasted duck with a black cherry and Madeira sauce. Now doesn’t that sound yum?
Darlymple Cottage Block Pinot Noir 2019, $64: Throw in some cranberry, sour cherry, plum and charred spice notes, and you have this flavoursome, broody wine that stands up to bold dishes like Asian five spice roast duck with plum sauce. Worth decanting for a few hours before serving, it’s a special wine for a special occasion.
Dalrymple Pinot Noir
Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, $73: New Zealand’s leading Pinot region is Central Otago and many of the wines from here are securing their place on the world stage. This one scooped up the Sustainable Trophy and the Central Otago Pinot Noir Trophy at the International Wine Challenge in London, as well as being declared New Zealand Red Trophy winner for 2021. The judges described it as having “an almost waxy smoothness and a bright springtime white flower scent to go with redcurrant and strawberry fruit streaked with apple acid and dusted with salted almond”.
Corryton Burge ‘Kith’ 2020 Pinot Gris, $25: From the Adelaide Hills, this fresh, generously flavoured wine has crisp acidity and juicy pear notes. Fragrant with a deliciously long finish.
Shaw Wines 2021 Riesling, $30: I’m a great fan of Canberra Riesling and Shaw is a consistently high quality producer. A classic, dry cool-climate Riesling with refreshing acidity, lime/citrus notes and beautiful floral aromas.
