Match of the week
West African pork and peanut stew with Heartland Dolcetto & Lagrein
Quite an adventurous pairing this week which you might have thought on paper wouldn’t come off. A hot, spicy pork and peanut stew and a glass of Ben Glaetzer’s bold, ripe 2010 Heartland Dolcetto & Lagrein from South Australia's Langhorne Creek.
Two things I think made it work so well - one being the peanut element which is quite wine-friendly (the stew also went with the remains of the younger Mount Pleasant Elizabeth semillon I highlighted last week which was still showing well) and the fact that at 5 years old the Dolcetto & Lagrein had mellowed out beautifully and brought a note of ripe sweetness to the party without too much intrusive oak. I bought it from my local deli, Chandos, by the way who had it as a bin end*. It’s a good time to pick up bargains like this.
The recipe is a cracking one from chef Richard Turner’s Hog and I'd urge you to make the amazing ‘Master pork broth’ on which it’s based. You can find another great recipe from the book - pot roast pork with fennel, olives and orange here.
* Kenny's Wine Store in northern Ireland also has the 2010 online for £13.49. Great Western Wine has the 2012 for £13.50. In Australia they're on to the 2013 vintage. For other stockists see wine-searcher.com
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