Menu Matcher - Beef .....................................................................................................................................................................................................

Beef is not that difficult to match to wine and it is really down to finding the right weight of wine to the dish. The noble rib served on a Sunday needs a serious claret or northern Rhône (younger wines with rarer meat and older, smoother wines with better done joints), a sticky casserole a Shiraz, Zinfandel or new world Cabernet and the homemade burger in a bun works so well with a fruity Italian Dolcetto.

Château La Fleur Haut-Brisson, 2001 - Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux Slightly meatier style than the 2000 but still enveloped in an appealing suppleness. Pierre Choukroun, a true entrepreneur, was born in Saint Emilion. Having spent many years travelling the world he decided to return to his roots in wine. After studying viticulture at the Montagne Lycée of viticulture followed by experince at various châteaux in Bordeaux he began searching, towards the end of 1999, for a parcel of 'terroir' in which he woule be able to realise his dream of producing fine wine from Merlot. The miracle happened! One morning whilst crossing the plateau of St. Philippe d'Aiguille (near Saint Emilion) he came upon La Fleur Haut Brisson. For Pierre, it was dream come true! The limestone and clay soil was exceptional. Furthermore this plateau was perfect for the quality of the grapes being constantly fanned by a light wind. Harvesting is done entirely by hand and the wines are aged in oak barrel. Merlot 80%, Cabernet-Sauvignon 20% ..................................................................................................................................................................

Cornellana Merlot, 2006 - Viña La Rosa, Rapel Valley, Chile This is a wonderfully smooth red wine which can easily be drunk without food. A brilliant Merlot from an area that is producing some of the best Chilean wines.A deep red wine with classic Merlot characteristics; soft with concentrated ripe fruit in particular cherries plums and blackberries. ..................................................................................................................................................................