Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Yesterday, Susan took the final cut of halibut, so she asked the fishmonger for the carcass, then she made a supply of fish stock. (It freezes very well.) She's now preparing bouillabaisse for dinner. We invited our friends tonight, BUT THESE TWO DON'T DRINK WHITE WINE. I'm thinking; Chianti? Zinfandel? I'm stumped.
Urgent - Please Help.

Steve

Sunday night and you're in a pinch coming up with a red for bouillabaisse - I would go with either Chianti or Pinot Noir, depending on both your taste and the amount of tomato in the dish. For me, when people use a lot of tomato (like the Italian version, cioppino) I would go with Chianti. If it's really mostly fish stock, fish and lots of saffron, with little or no tomato, I might go with Pinot Noir.

Definitely Italian. Her tomato sauce is rather pronounced. She uses only San Marzano D.O.P. The saffron is very fresh from a sealed packet.

Sounds like this calls for Ruffino 1997 Reserva Ducale Gold?
Thanks HBL.

So how'd it go? I thought Toms (Haut Brion Lover) ideas on point. As it's spicy the 97 Ruffino D'Oro should be perfect.

A success John! Tonight excellent leftovers with fresh stock added to the brew. The Chianti was perfecto.
I tried to post pix, but it became a very frustrating experience for me: the hopeless non-tech. I did get as far as a message telling me that my pix were using too much something-or-other, so I tried to send just one... and finally gave up.
Is there an easy path to post pix here?

Here is Susan's Bouillabaisse....
Looks sumptuous!

Susan's Bouillabaisse

Jim, Thanks for posting.

You're welcome, that looks soooooooooo good!

Yeah, great pix - yummm!

That does look incredibly delicious. I have to add, it was a good question. You can't really say that a white would have gone with it, despite the fish and other seafood. A toughie. Great call by hautbrionlover. Maybe a Rhone wine of some sort? A Vacqueyras?
-Chris

A great call, indeed, by hautbrionlover. Thanks again.

Great pictures - what a great looking Bouillabaiase (perhaps you could e-mail me a taste of it ). I think the 1997 Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserva Gold was an excellent choice.

Chris Bublitz

what a good looking dish

my 1997 Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserva Gold are long gone - A very nice wine as I recall especially the first few years

rick

Yes Rick, an excellent Chianti. These were my last two bottles. I've drunk through four cases of this wine over the last five years, and every single bottle was very good from day one release at ... B.J.'s Wholesale Club!