LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2016

WINE  READY FOR ROSÉ

If money were no object, I would open a bottle of pink Champagne to start the eve- ning every time friends came over—the per- fect balance of serious quality and frivolity. Sparkling

Just because it’s pink and bubbly doesn’t mean a wine shouldn’t be taken seriously. Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé Imperial ( LCBO 482026, $78.50) offers up delicate aromas of raspberry and rose petal but it’s a complex and sturdy wine at the table, with enough structure to be a fine match for pink lamb and game birds as well as any kind of seafood. It’s perfect with our Arctic Char, flattering the flavours of the fish’s herby marinade. Henry Of Pelham’s Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut VQA ( LCBO 217505, $29.95) is also made by the traditional method and purls with as fine a mousse as any Champagne. With a floral note among the aromas of cherries and red berries, it picks up the hint of fruit juice in our sauce. For a non-sparkling alternative, La Vieille Ferme Rosé Ventoux AC ( LCBO 622134, $10.95) from the Rhône valley brings tangy hints of apricot and tanger- ine and the merest suggestion of sweetness to the pairing. It’s also a lovely aperitif.

ArcticChar with QuinoaCrumble recipe on page 160

128  FOOD & DRI NK SUMMER 2016