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Pairing Leaves Writer Red-Faced

Times oenophile comes out of shell, tries vin rouge with his oysters — and lives!

By Kate Rockwood,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 29, 2008 5:25 PM CST

(Newser) – Oysters and red wine? "Why not?" asks Eric Asimov in the New York Times. Wine pairing as a science can drain a meal of its pleasure, while instincts and taste-testing add adventure. After Parisian waiters twice recommended red with a foodie blogger's oysters, Asimov traded the usual suspects (muscadet, Chablis, Champagne) for a lineup of non-fruity reds.

And while no red could threaten muscadet's star partnership with the mollusk, plenty of light-textured reds make for merry sipping. When opting for the dark stuff, remember that wines with mineral, earth, or spice flavors best complement the oysters' saline, cucumber and mineral notes. Asimov trumpeted a 2006 Morgon from Marcel Lapierre and recommends light pinot noirs from Sancerre or Alsace.

Instincts and taste-testing produce more pleasure in pairing than a strict-science approach, writes Eric Asimov.
Instincts and taste-testing produce more pleasure in pairing than a strict-science approach, writes Eric Asimov.   (Index Stock)
Red wine is not often paired with oysters, but 20 years ago white wine was rarely paired with cheese.
Red wine is not often paired with oysters, but 20 years ago white wine was rarely paired with cheese.   (Index Stock)
Oysters are traditionally paired with muscadet, Chablis, Champagne or a Guiness stout.
Oysters are traditionally paired with muscadet, Chablis, Champagne or a Guiness stout.   (Index Stock)
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