The silence of the lambs, or the right wine for lamb
No, of course we don’t want to paint horror scenarios for you here. Rather, with today’s blog post we want to prevent a possibly horrified silence of the lambs when it happens to your palate. And to stick with the titles of the classic movies. When it comes to lamb, the choice of wine is not only determined by the method of preparation. Just like Louis de Funès’ “Breast or Leg”, the type of meat and the age of the animal must also be taken into account.
The good news first: lamb and wine always work. Especially red wine. So you can’t go wrong (that much). However, as is so often the case in life, the devil is in the detail, which is why we will consider not only the different types of preparation, but also the different types of meat when selecting a wine for you below. By law, lamb is a young sheep that must not be older than one year. Nowadays, however, the animals are actually presented to butchers at the age of six to eight months. There is also the term suckling lamb. Cruel or not, this term is used to describe all those animals that were still being suckled by the ewe when they were already allowed to take the path of everything earthly. So much for age, which not only has an influence on the choice of wine due to the varying intensity of the meat flavor, as you will read later.
Lamb has its very own, unmistakable aroma. And it is this aroma that requires the right sparring partner at the dining table if it is to reach culinary heights. Depending on the type of meat, whether fillet, leg, carré or chop, it has a lower or higher fat content. Anything with a higher fat content, and this is the first rule of thumb to remember, requires a red wine with a more pronounced tannin structure. This is because fat is like a tamer of the tannins and makes them soft and supple, especially as the acidity of these wines in combination with the fat provides the flavor-intensive counterpart.
Conversely, with a lean and delicately pink roasted fillet of lamb, you should opt per se for a softer, more elegant red wine, which will make the lamb fly with its lightness and pronounced fruit aromas. Keyword: Pinot Noir. And because we are talking about fillet here, i.e. the best of the best, you should only let the best of the best of Pinot Noir touch the lamb. So what could be more obvious than to entrust yourself to the masterful winemaking skills of the three-time best Swiss winery of 2018, 2011 and 2007, especially as the successful winemaker Diego Mathier can also be found in the Pinot Noir village of Switzerland, Salgesch, and grows his wines exclusively in top vineyards.
But let’s get back to the individual preparation methods and raise the curtain on the perfect wine pairing for all lamb dishes. If we’re not thinking of Asian lamb dishes, then hardly any other type of meat is as synonymous with the (summer in the) Mediterranean south. Garlic, olive oil, Provençal herbs such as rosemary and thyme, coarse salt, freshly ground pepper and fresh, crunchy vegetables, either grilled or as ratatouille. The side dish is almost irrelevant. A fresh baguette to soak up the meat juices is more than enough.
Which wines to pair with grilled/short-roasted lamb?
Briefly searing chops or fillets in a pan or grilling produces subtle roasted aromas, which add to the typical taste of lamb and give it a spicier note, taking it to the next level of flavor. It is simply important that you cook the meat at a high temperature so that the meat pores close and no more meat juices can escape. Otherwise it will quickly become a dry affair.
Lamb prepared in this way is not compatible with a dense carpet of tannins that would mercilessly cover this unique flavor composition. These flavors want to come out, present themselves in all their glory and be enjoyed in all their nuances on the palate. It is therefore advisable to use a light and rather young red wine to enhance the flavor. Less is more, also when it comes to alcohol content. A relaxed 13% alcohol by volume is perfectly adequate. On the other hand, it can be significantly more fruity with wonderful red berries. So we’re talking about a Pinot Noir with fine acidity, a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Merlot or a Syrah. Fortunately, with the L’Ambassadeur de Domain Diego Mathier Rouge AOC Valais, the Cabernet Sauvignon Adrian Mathier AOC Valais, the Merlot Nadia Mathier AOC Valais and the Syrah Diego Mathier AOC Valais, all these lamb refiners are also available from the vineyard of the successful Salgesch winemaker Diego Mathier. All award-winning, they have swept either the Swiss or even the international competition off their feet at the various wine awards.
Which wines to pair with braised lamb?
If the lamb is served as a braised dish and has therefore been cooked for a long time at a moderate heat, the flavor of the meat will be much more pronounced and will also stand out from the braised vegetables in a completely different way. If a sauce conjured up from the broth is served as a flavor booster, then red top-class wines are definitely called for. Powerful, tannic yet accessible red wines such as Folissimo AOC Valais, a simply magnificent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, or a bottle of L’Ambassadeur de Domain Diego Mathier rouge AOC Valais, which matures to perfection for 15 months in oak barrels. Just how much the devil is in the detail is revealed when you braise your lamb with black olives. By then, the first two wines mentioned are already off the table. Instead, you should definitely opt for the Swiss double champion, the Syrah Diego Mathier AOC Valais. When drunk young, it is still wild and tart on the palate. Over the years, it develops an irresistible bouquet of violets and reseda in the bottle, which transforms into pepper and game aromas over time. A dream with a seemingly endless finish to any form of braised lamb.
Which wines to pair with Asian lamb dishes?
Lamb and Asian? Yes, that works. It’s even great. And even better with the right wine. The most famous Asian lamb dish is probably lamb curry with crunchy vegetables and basmati rice. If you decide on a fruity-sweet chutney as a dip, you should definitely opt for a full-bodied white wine. Depending on the spiciness of the actual dish, it may also be a wine with a certain residual sweetness. A Heida Les Pyramides AOC Valais is the ideal accompaniment here. Fruity on the nose, with notes of apricot and peach, this elegant white wine is both fine and full-bodied, with discreet and well-integrated toasted notes. The Heida has a long finish, accompanied by light, elegant tannins. The ideal wine to counter the fruitiness and spiciness of the dish and, not least thanks to its nine months in oak barrels, it also has enough “puff” to prevent the fruity aromas of the lamb curry from bringing it to its knees prematurely.
Which wines to pair with milk-fed lamb dishes?
When it comes to white wine and lamb, and this is where this blog post comes full circle, the dairy lamb highlighted at the beginning as a specialty is not far away. It is hardly surprising that the meat of these ultra-young animals is particularly tender and therefore has a particularly fine taste. A red wine of any kind would quickly silence a dish of young lamb. So it needs a discreet accompaniment. If you look in different directions, you will find young, slightly matured Pinot Blanc, a no less light Pinot Gris or even a young Chardonnay that has only spent a few months in an oak barrel. As a representative from Valais, Diego Mathier’s Fendant wines from the La Terre Promise line are particularly recommended as worthy accompaniments to dishes of suckling lamb.
FAQ:
Why is a red wine with a good tannin structure better suited to lamb with a higher fat content?
In addition to the type of food preparation, the marbling of the meat also plays an important role when it comes to choosing the right wine. Lamb with a higher fat content harmonizes ideally with a red wine with a clearly recognizable tannin structure, where the tannins can still be quite angular and edgy. After all, it is the fat that knows how to tame the tannins and turns them into delicate and supple sparring partners. So don’t buy a wine that has a clearly recognizable tannin structure, but in which the tannins are already too round and harmonious. The fat from the lamb could then make the wine too mild and too clumsy.
How can I find the right red wine to go with lamb?
To find the right red wine for your lamb meal, you should be guided by two criteria. The type of meat you want to prepare and then the method of preparation. For example, a light and young red wine with an intense berry aroma and a light body is a good match for a tender roast fillet of lamb. Braised lamb, i.e. a hearty meal, can be accompanied by a stronger red wine that has been extensively aged in barriques. In the Mathier winery online store, you will also find a filter function with various filter parameters. These will help you to find the right wine, whether dry, tannic, full-bodied or silky, to perfectly match your meal.
Which wines go well with lamb dishes?
Lamb and red wine is always a safe bet. Depending on the type of meat and its age – with the exception of lamb and spicy cuisine – the different types of tannin structure and wine aromas go very well with lamb. It can be light, red wines such as a bottle of fruity Pinot Noir, which is vinified dry, but also a bottle of velvety Merlot, a bottle of strong, tannic Cabernet Sauvignon or a bottle of a more complex Syrah.
Which wines go well with a dish of suckling lamb?
Dairy lamb meat is particularly fine and tender because it is a young animal. Dishes made from and with this lamb meat go well with subtle accompaniments. Even if the side dishes and sauces have an influence on the choice of wine, a Fendant or a Chardonnay go very well with lamb dishes.
Should I drink a red wine with spicy Asian lamb dishes?
The spicier a dish – whether prepared with lamb or another meat – the more aromatic the accompanying wine should be. And the choice may also fall on a wine that can also be semi-dry. As red wines tend to be dry and higher in alcohol, they are not on the shortlist In this case, however, you are always right to choose a white wine. A Gewürztraminer, a Muscat or a Pinot Gris, for example, are particularly suitable. If the dish is rather sweet and spicy, a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent companion for this interplay of flavors.
Which wine goes well with a dish of lamb and curry?
A Heida or Chardonnay is a good choice for a dish that offers intense flavors with lamb and curry and is quite strong. Both wines are not dry but rather semi-dry and harmonize very well with the curry.
Does the price quoted in CHF in the Mathier Winery online store include VAT and shipping?
The price for the entire range of wines in the online store of Weingut Adrian & Diego Mathier Nouveau Salquenen AG is inclusive of VAT and in CHF. This means that the prices for individual bottles, gift boxes and tasting packages are quoted in CHF on this page. The accessories and Valais specialties are also listed with the CHF price. Shipping is offered for orders of 12 units or more, unless otherwise specified as part of special offers. For deliveries of less than 12 units, a surcharge of CHF 10.00 will be charged for shipping.
How is the CHF price for shipping costs calculated?
The CHF price of the shipping costs for wines ordered from Weingut Mathier depends on the number of units ordered. The exact list and differentiation, which ultimately has an influence on the CHF price of the shipping costs from Weingut Mathier, can be found here.
Is the value added tax (VAT) at Diego Mathier also shown in CHF?
VAT, which is included in the price of a bottle of wine, is also shown in CHF, as is the case for shipping costs.
Where can I find information on shipping costs in the online store?
The information on shipping costs can be found at the top of the online store’s homepage above the filter. By clicking on the “i” icon for info, a display with the shipping costs opens. This explains how the shipping costs are calculated and the minimum order quantity for which delivery is free of charge. The shipping costs always refer to shipping in Switzerland. The shipping costs abroad differ from this. The winery does not accept shipping abroad. It is requested that the customer takes care of the delivery himself and thus also of the shipping costs. To view the shipping costs, please click here.
What is the best Syrah from Weingut Mathier?
The best Syrah from the Mathier estate is the Syrah Diego Mathier AOC Valais. It is one of the three best Syrahs in the world and has repeatedly won the title of Swiss champion. This Syrah goes very well with a beef dish such as braised beef.
Can I only buy Diego Mathier AOC Valais wines in 75cl bottles?
No, Diego Mathier’s winery also offers many of its wines in other sizes. There are wines in 37.5cl bottles, 50cl bottles, 150cl bottles and even 300cl bottles. In the online store, you can use the filter function to select the desired bottle size and then view the respective wine range in real time.
Is the CHF price for magnum and jeroboam bottles including VAT and shipping?
If you buy a magnum bottle from the Mathier winery, you will receive the bottle in an elegant wooden box. In this case, the CHF price not only includes VAT, but also the shipping costs and the wooden box (incl.). What applies to the magnum bottle as a single bottle or as a gift idea naturally also applies to the double-size Jeroboam bottle with a capacity of 300cl. As a gift idea, but also for safe transportation and shipping, the CHF price includes VAT and shipping. And the CHF price also includes the wooden box (incl.).
Why is the red wine red?
What many people don’t know is that the grape juice from red grapes is not red but white. Consequently, it is not enough to simply press the grapes from which a red wine is to be made and then separate them directly from the skin. This is because it is the colorants in the grape skin that color the wine red. In order for the red wine to actually turn red, the grape juice must remain together with the grape skins for some time during the harvest. This is known as the mash. And the duration is referred to as the maceration time. The longer the grape juice remains in contact with the grape skin, the more intensely the wine will turn red later on. But the grape variety also has an influence on how red the red wine turns later. Pinot Noir grapes, for example, have a lower proportion of red in the skin, while Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have a much higher proportion of red in the skin. And so it is not surprising that a Pinot Noir presents itself in a different red in the glass than the red of a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Which red wine from the Mathier winery is dry and goes well with grilled lamb?
The Mathier winery has various red wines in its range, all of which are dry. Depending on whether the grilled dish is rather delicate or rather hearty, sometimes a wine with delicate aromas or sometimes a wine with strong aromas is suitable. A Pinot Noir from Salgesch is a red wine that is both dry and strong to accompany grilled dishes. The Mathier winery offers no less than thirteen different Pinot Noir wines, including both single-varietal wines made from the Pinot Noir grape and blends. On the other hand, a Cabernet Sauvignon or Cornalin rich in tannins goes better with strong grilled dishes. It is particularly advisable to choose a good bottle of this type of wine if grilled dishes are served with side dishes that are rich in flavor.
How long can I store red wines harvested in 2021 and 2022 at home?
99% of all wines produced worldwide today are ready to drink when bottled. This means that only very few wines from 2021 and 2022 will improve in quality with further ageing. This also means that these wines from 2021 and 2022 can generally be stored for one to three years. For the 2021 and 2022 vintages, this means that the wines can be stored until 2024 and 2025 respectively. Exceptions here are dessert wines with a high residual sweetness and red wines, which can generally be stored a little longer due to their higher tannin content.
