Food and Wine Pairing: Chateau Grand Bourry & Pesto Rigatoni
Hey girl!
My boyfriend and I recently put on our chef hats for this HelloFresh masterpiece — the Spring Chicken Pesto Rigatoni. This artfully crafted dish boasts so many different flavors from its various, colorful ingredients. Garnished with sliced almonds, crispy pan-fried bacon pieces, and charred green onions, and topped with seasoned ricotta (which we spiced up with chili oil — a go-to red-hot flavor for me — instead of olive oil), this is a meal you whip out to seriously impress your friends.
The step where we reserve the hot bacon grease to cook the chicken in was quite possibly my favorite part (love my bacon). And as someone who’s not supposed to be eating cheese (damn you, lactose intolerance), I have to say the ricotta was just okay and definitely didn’t make or break the recipe. So if you’re not big on dairy, you can definitely opt out without feeling any FOMO.
This time, I loosely followed the pairing suggestion that came with my WSJwine cards. Well, sort of…if you think a pasta dish can count as a casserole — but I mean, who makes up these rules anyway? My general “rule of thumb” is any pasta dish probably compliments a red wine well. And I think this medium-bodied French girl would agree on this food and wine pairing.
Wine of Choice
Château Grand Bourry Costières de Nîmes 2019
Made in Southern France in the region of Costières de Nîmes, winemaker Laurent Guillot brings together Grenache and Syrah to produce this tangy red blend. This wine boasts a unique aroma and taste that I wasn’t quite sure I would dig at first. Refreshing raspberries (yes, please), cherry (here for it), and savory wild herbs with hints of black olive (um…okay?)
I wasn’t sure my taste buds would like the extra zing going on in this peculiar flavor palette, especially as someone who abhors black olives and just became accustomed to green olives like two seconds ago. But never fear, friends — the black olive is actually quite subtle and works here.
Fun fact: This award-winning wine took home the Gilbert & Gaillard gold medal upon its debut.
Did you know?
In case you need my wine credentials, this self-proclaimed vino connoisseur of six years gets all her wine delivered in a 12-bottle case from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club. From international beauties impossible to find anywhere else to seasonal favorites, WSJwine has the wine you’re looking for (and BONUS — the ones you didn’t know you needed). Plus, it’s totally customizable!
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The Top 12 wines you need to try—ONLY $69.99 + bonus giftsMy Pairing Notes
A hearty pasta dish like this one and a rich red wine make the perfect food and wine pairing no matter the occasion — although, now that I think about it, with how fromage-based this one is maybe not on date night unless you like, really know the person. (This is more of a “pull on your best comfy sweatpants with your significant other of a year or longer” kind of meal if I’m being totally honest LOL).
*Cue the Sex and the City scene when Harry and Charlotte go out for a “romantic” seven-course meal at an expensive French restaurant and regret it for the rest of the night…damn that fromage!
Despite the dairy-overload, I did particularly enjoy how the creamy pesto blend (plus the added spice from the chili oil) seemed to pop when paired with the complex pungent and vibrantly fruity ambiance of the wine. But that being said, you’ll just have to try for yourself!
Prefer a lighter meal with your bold red? Check out my Food and Wine pairing blog for “Grand Fleur & Steelhead Trout.”
Cheers,
