I’m inclined towards trying Mark Moriarty’s Easter lamb recipe, particularly the intriguing anchovy hollandaise. Its compatibility with a wide range of wines is appealing as well. A succulent lamb roast generally pairs wonderfully with an abundantly-bodied, tannic red wine. Classic picks like Rioja Reserva and Chianti can’t go wrong, as applies to the majority of cabernets and merlots. In case you are catering to vegetarians, roast dishes of red peppers or mushrooms will aptly complement these wines.
You have the option to choose a cabernet or merlot from geographic locations such as California, South Africa, Chile, or Australia. However, I’d like to draw focus on Bordeaux this week, the birthplace of merlot and cabernet. Notably, the lamb from Pauillac in Bordeaux carries a PGI certification. In this piece, I highlight four Bordeaux wines ranging in prices from less than €12 to €65. For those shopping at Aldi, look out for the Château Billeron Bouquey 2020, Saint Émilion Grand Cru. At €11.99 (marked down from €14.99), it’s a steal.
If your inclination leans more towards pampering yourself and you are unable to find the Pavillon de Léoville-Poyferré mentioned here, I would suggest the Château Potensace 2018, La Dame d’Angludet 2019, or the La Réserve de Léoville-Barton 2018. These can be procured at €40-60 from independent wineries. I’d also endorse the Château Tour des Termes 2016 (€50, at Searsons, La Touche, The Wine Vaults, Clontarf) which is managed by the family of the late Eddie O’Connor. Other recommendations include the robustly-bodied Château Yon Lavallade 2019 Saint-Émilion (€26, at Molloys), and the Château Poitevin 2016 Cru Burgeois Médoc, €18.95, discounted from €21.95, (available at O’Briens).
One last mention – Château Haut Pingat 2019, Bordeaux. At 13.5%, this is priced at €11.95 (down from €14.95) and carries the engaging aroma of ripe plum fruits, which beautifully concludes the round-off. This wine is versatile and pairs well with various roast meats and can be bought from O’Briens. Another recommendation would be Monsieur de Cambon 2018, Haut-Médoc.
A selection of thoughtfully crafted wines, available for purchase in various Dublin locations, make for delectable accompaniments to a range of meals. The Château Croix-Mouton 2018 Bordeaux Supérieur, with its 13.5% alcohol content and retailing at €27, is an appealing Bordeaux featuring seductive dark fruits and silky tannins, making it an ideal match for roast red meats. This can be procured from Green Man Wine in D6W or 64wine in Glasthule.
For a cost of €20, the delicately stylish and fresh red fruits coupled with soft tannins make for a great bargain and an excellent complement to lamb. This offering is available at Whelehan’s in Loughlinstown, Dublin.
The Pavillon de Léoville-Poyferré 2016 Saint-Julien is a classically constituted Saint-Julien, boasting an alluring blend of elegant cassis and plum flavours, intertwined with lead pencil and fine tannins. This exceptional selection can be yours for €64.99, perfect for special occasions with roast lamb. Find it at Ely Wine Store in Maynooth, The Vintry in D6 or wineonline.ie.