Moroccan food and wine matching

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

I'm putting together a mostly Moroccan / Middle Eastern meal tomorrow. I've just finished pan-frying the dukkah (with Turkish bread and olive oil), and the Ras El Hanout (spice mix containing cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, cardamon, and a few other things) which I will rub over the tunnel-boned leg of lamb tomorrow morning. Vegetables include oven roasted beetroot, red onions and a few similar things, and much of the main course is slow roasted with honey, and raisins and almonds come into the mix as well.

My question is, given the eclectic mix of ingredients, I'd still like a decent red to accompany the lamb. But which one? I'm thinking either a big, unsubtle shiraz (e.g. Peel Estate 1999), or a much younger Grenache or Sangiovese based wine (e.g. Capel Vale).

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Allan

[Phil Wilkins]

The sweetness from Moroccan food can distract. I'd suggest a full bodied southern French rosé from Côtes de Provence. Failing that a big gutsy Grenache based Chateauneuf.

[pstarr]

Tempranillo, spicy GSM, amarone-style wines, viognier.

[jeremy]

Viognier and SV work well with the middle eastern sweet savoury spicy style I reckon

[TiggerK]

Halliday suggests Mature Grenache or Rhone blends.

I'd throw a full bodied spicy Pinot Noir with a touch of age into the options as well.

[Luke W]

My experience with lamb regardless of how its cooked, it tastes fabulous with a big merlot.

Cheers

Luke

[Waiters Friend]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have Gigondas and a few GSM in the cellar, so will head in that direction.

Cheers

Allan

[Eboracum]

Here is my TN on a remarkable Moroccan wine - not too expensive either at €10,30 over here.

Syrah “Tandem” 2007 - Domaine des Ouleb Thaleb (Morocco), Alain Graillot. Alain Graillot is a magician. His 2006 was very good in a Southern rather candied and spicy style. This 2007 is even better showing remarkable pure linear fruit with bright acidity and surprising finesse and elegance. It could almost be taken for one of Graillot’s Crozes-Hermitages but I thought that there was a touch more warmth and generosity here; 16/20+++.

I think that the 2006 would work better with Moroccan food than the Northern Rhône like 2007.