Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food A Well-Traveled Tavel
by David Scott Allen
Winery: Château de Ségriès
Cuvée: Tavel
Appellation: Tavel (Rhône)
Type: Rosé
Vintage: 2023
Grape Varieties: 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Clairette, 10% Syrah
Alcohol: 14.5%
Average Retail Price: US $25.00-$27.00
Today’s pairing was a bit tricky. At first glance, my Duck Teriyaki recipe looks like an easy shot. Many rosés pair perfectly with Asian cuisine and that is what I thought, too. But when you examine the teriyaki glaze I created, you will see three different Asian wines in the mix (sake, mirin, and xiaoxing) and, to me, that tends to wreak havoc on a wine pairing.
Since I was looking for a rosé to pair, I called my buddy Susan to ask: WWSD? And she had a great idea — try a Tavel. Tavels tend to be more full bodied and can hold up well to myriad flavors. So off I toddled to our big box wine store (wanting to find something easy for you all to source) and got a bottle of Château de Ségriès 2023 Tavel. I wrote about it nine years ago and thought a revisit would be a nice idea.
The color of the wine is beautiful — a deep, rich pink. On the nose, I sensed tart cherry, strawberry, and redcurrant. This medium- to full-bodied rosé boasts lovely minerality and acidity, and is beautifully balanced for easy sipping. On its own, it’s absolutely fantastic, and it also paired very nicely with my duck teriyaki.
I can imagine this wine with grilled everything — meats, fowl, fish, and seafood — and with cheeses and salads. Of course, it will complement Asian cuisine, too. But right now, I kind of see myself on a terrace in Provence just sipping it for apéro with some nuts and chips.
That looks like a match made in heaven. I converted the $ price of Château de Ségriès 2023 and in Euros it’s €13, which psychologically sounds much cheaper then $25, even though it’s the same!
Hi Mad Dog — I wish I could pop over the France and pick up several bottles — things are only going to get worse, I think. Yes, €13 is a great price for this wine — and it has such good body. Perfect for summer grilling and just for sipping on the patio.
The Tavel sounds delicious, and the perfect match for the Duck Teriyaki! I doubt prices are ever going to go down but hopefully they will at least stabilize soon.
I do hope you are right, Barb. Yes, this is an excellent Tavel and easily sourced!