Roast carrots with rocket pesto and a Catalan red

Choosing a wine to go with a number of widely differing dishes is always a challenge so I usually try to find a lightish wine that will rub along with both meat and vegetable dishes.

I also like to try go for something I haven’t tasted before in this case, at The Old Pharmacy, Bruton a 2020 Catalan red from Celler Frisach in Terra Alta called Abrunet Negre, which turned out to be a light juicy cherryish blend of garnacha (grenache) and carinena (carignan)

It actually went with pretty well everything but especially with this dish of roast carrots with rocket pesto and a confit egg yolk. I thought the egg might throw it but the sweetness of the carrot and the slight bitterness of the pesto were the more important elements of the dish. It was also great with a celestial dish of burrata, with truffle potato and crisps which I wish I hadn’t agreed to share.

You can buy the wine, which I’d classify as natural, for £14 from little wine who, it turns out, agree that it’s ‘oh-so-versatile: pair this easily with most dishes.” Or £14.40 from Uncharted Wines who also have a good range You can read about Celler Frisach who farm organically here.

And if you’re in Bruton, The Old Pharmacy, a wine bar and bistro which is run by chef Merlin Labron, who also owns the Michelin-starred Osip next door, is a joy. You can't book though so I'd try and arrive early or late