classic pairing for northern rhone whites?

WINE TALK
1

Hi all

can anyone chime in on what is considered classic food pairing for northern rhone whites (viognier and roussanne based wines)?

you know like: sauternes and fois, muscadet and oysters, barolo and tajarin w/tartufi…

cheers

2

Try seafood salad

3

This is not a classic pairing, but about a year ago they had a stash of 2003 Guigal Hermitage at Costco for $40 each. I bought one to check out, and drank the rest of the bottle with a grilled steak for dinner. Turned out to be a fabulous match.

4

I like them with cheese.

5

Not sure if it’s ‘clasisc’ or not but I like lobster and marsanne/rousanne whites and a roast chicken pairs nicely too. The wines are typically heavy and have a weight you’d associate with a red wine, so can pair with foods that are not typicaly ‘white wine’ foods.

6

Roasted Chicken or Capon, Grilled Sausages and veal stew.

7

Depending on the age of the wine, I also like cassoulet with 'em if on the younger side.

8

Age of the wine makes a big difference here. Also, Marsanne and Roussanne can be somewhat similar when young, but their differences become more pronounced with age. I don’t think Roussanne or Marsanne are very similar to Viognier. What I’m trying to say is the grape variety can make a big difference, too.

Depending on the grape, and the age of the wine, I’d suggest:
Roast chicken
certain cheeses
squash
crab
richly-flavored white fish
sushi

9

+1 - That was my first thought

10

Another vote for shellfish, crab etc. Viognier is absolutely delicious with fatty seafood of all kinds. I had a basic run-of-the-mill Vidal-Fleury Cotes-du-Rhone blanc the other night with Japanese style salmon belly, and I was groaning with delight.