LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2022

TOGETHER AT LAST

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH

TOMATO WHITE BEAN SALAD & ANCHOVY BUTTER P. 183

Sauvignon Blanc with Lamb

Lamb loin chops are leaner than rack or shoulder cuts, have a milder, mellow lamb flavour and are the perfect size for marinating and quick grilling. The anchovy butter adds a rich umami note to the meat, and the fresh herbal flavours in the bean salad balance out the dish. Sauvignon Blancs have bright fruit and acid to complement the salad, while cutting through the richness of the buttery meat at the same time. Also, interestingly, both lamb and Sauvignon Blanc contain aromatic compounds called pyrazines, which give the grape its distinct grassy, herbal and bell pepper notes. This helps to explain why lamb works well with these sorts of flavours, making this wine almost like a condiment for the dish as much as a pairing. Lamb is a popular protein in both the Loire and New Zealand, sheep outnumbering people six to one in the latter, so this can be looked at as an example of “What Grows Together Goes Together.”

JESSE’ S PICKS

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc VINTAGES ESSENTIALS 677450, $28.95 From the Southern Valleys of Malborough, Dog Point is New Zealand’s largest certified organic vineyard, producing wines like this fresh and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc full of tropical fruit, sea mist, and flinty minerality.

Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre VINTAGES ESSENTIALS 542548, $34.95 For 10 generations, the name “Henri Bourgeois” has been synonymous with passionate precision winemaking. The clay and limestone ridges of Chavignol evoke classic grassiness, gooseberry, grapefruit and mineral tones.

142 FOOD & DRINK SUMMER 2022