Mt Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc Paired with Sole Wrapped Asparagus
The Wine
Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc North Canterbury New Zealand 2015
Mt. Beautiful lies in the heart of North Canterbury, on the South Island of New Zealand, where cool a maritime climate combines with Phoebe soils (silt loam and light clay on top of a mudstone foundation which is covered by alluvial gravel) to create conditions that are ideal for growing sauvignon blanc that’s uniquely different from Marlborough style wines. This wine sets a new precedent for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s. You will find this one is not as tart, grassy and herbal as the Marlborough style. It has lovely tropical fruit and a subtle creaminess on the mid-palate. It has white floral tones with intense melon, mandarin orange, green apple and just a touch of herbs in the finish. It’s crisp and dry, fruity, and packed with layers of flavors. This wine is perfect for a starter on a warm summer evening and great with light fresh foods. Asparagus season is coming to an end and it can be hard to pair food with, but this wine is a great companion for it, Enjoy!
The Pairing
Sole wrapped asparagus with tangerine beurre blanc
What you will need:
Fish:
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons chopped shallot
4 (2- by 1-inch) strips fresh tangerine zest
1 lb. medium asparagus
4 (5- to 6-oz) skinless gray sole or flounder fillets
1/2 cup water
For beurre blanc:
1/2 cup fresh tangerine juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
cayenne
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
How to prepare:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.
Brush a 13- by 9-inch roasting pan with some of melted butter, then sprinkle shallot and zest in pan. Trim asparagus to about 7 inches long, then peel spears starting from 2 inches below tip of each. Arrange fish fillets, skinned sides up, on a work surface and season with salt and pepper. Lay 5 or 6 asparagus perpendicularly across 1 fillet and wrap fish around them to make a bundle. Repeat with remaining fillets and asparagus. Transfer bundles, seam sides down, to roasting pan and brush fish with remaining melted butter. Season with salt and pepper, then add water to pan. Cover pan tightly with foil and bake until fish is just cooked through and asparagus is crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.
Sauce: Make beurre blanc while fish bakes: Boil tangerine juice with shallot in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately low, then whisk in 1 tablespoon butter, whisking constantly. Add remaining butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking constantly, adding each piece before previous one has completely melted, and lifting pan from heat occasionally to cool mixture. Remove from heat and stir in salt, cayenne, and lemon juice. Transfer fish with a slotted spatula to a platter and reserve pan juices. Cover fish with foil. Discard zest, then pour pan juices into a 10-inch skillet and boil over moderately high heat until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk into beurre blanc. Blot any liquid accumulated on platter with paper towels, then spoon sauce over fish. (You can substitute other citrus fruits for the tangerine)Recipe adapted from epicurious.com
Cheers, The Wine Guys