Here is a thought to nibble on: What would a gastronomic rat pick for a wine? (see answer below) The key to that answer lies in deciding if you are going to go “au naturel” meaning of course just a ratatouille on a bed of rice or couscous, a salad and a nice crusty baguette OR if you feel you dinner guests will be chewing on those nicely starched dinner napkins you ironed so lovingly- squeezing out some of the remaining dinner juices – that more is needed. If that’s the case and you feel you must succumb to the tyranny of the demanding few, then think about doing a nice little grilled lamb or porc chop or for that matter a roast chicken, all would fit nicely. As far as wine selection goes, it’s my sense that a nice dry white or a southern red would make an excellent choice. Do what I do, I serve both. Admittedly its the ultimate cop out but when both wines are so good Monsieur et Madame, it would be a crime, non une injustice, not to serve both. Voila, das cook rules.
Now before we get to the wine selections, the answer to the question: What would a gastronomic rat pick for a wine?
Well a bottle of Ratatouille Burgundy white wine of course!
That’s because Disney has introduced the Ratatouille wine, now being carried by Costco, to help promote their food-friendly film. Of course, the wine is French–a 2004 white Burgundy from the Mâcon’s Château de Messey. I have yet to try rata wine. Soon you too can say “gimme some od dat rata wine mann…”
Les Vins de Sélection
A Côtes-du-Roussillon or a Costières-de-Nîmes are excellent choices as would be a Faugères from the Languedoc region.
Chianti Classico
Esser Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008 from St. Helena CA.
Beaujolais-Villages – of course, no suprise there.
A red from Spain’s Rioja region land of the Tempranillo grape.
Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay 2005, 2007.
Terrebrune Bandol Rosé 2007 from Provence.
Tiefenbrunner’s Pinot Grigio delle Venezie from the northeast of Italy
From the Côtes de Gascogne a 1999 Domaine de Pouy or the 1999 Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon. Both citrusy and dry.