chipotles and tomatillos

[winemermaid]

Hi! I'm looking for a wine to serve with a Mexican dish of pork roasted with chipotles then made into enchiladas topped with a tomatillo salsa. To me, the tomatillos suggest grassy white, the chipotles fruity red, but together?!?! Please help!

[Innkeeper]

Hi Mermaid, and welcome to the Wine Board. You are right, the whole dish as with most Mexican food is too heavy for just about any white wine. My recommendations in order of preference are: Portugese Dao Riserva, zinfandel (red), and syrah/shiraz (first spelling South of France/U.S., second spelling Australian).

[winemermaid]

Innkeeper, thanks so much for your reply. I was thinking zin, and shiraz is my current favorite red. Don't know the Dao... will have to look for it and broaden my horizons. Thanks again. Have a good weekend.

[hotwine]

Mermaid, if you have trouble finding a Dao, you might try a Rioja. Marques de Caceras is widely available for $8-&10 and goes quite well with Mexican food.

[Scoop]

There are a number of ways you can go, but the dish really needs a light to medium-bodied red with good fruit, some spice, good acidity and low tannin. A lighter style Zin or Zin blend - not a monster Cali "port" - is a good call, but so too would be a Cote du Rhone, the aforementioned Rioja and Shiaz, a Loire red (Samur, Chinon, Sancerre) or a Beaujolais Village.

Cheers,

Scoop

[This message has been edited by Scoop (edited 01-11-2002).]

[winoweenie]

Down here in the sticker patch most of we'uns pop a brew with this dish. WW

[barnesy]

The current vintage of Negra Modelo or Pacifico are always my favorite beverages of choice for Mexican food.

Barnesy

[This message has been edited by barnesy (edited 01-11-2002).]

[Bucko]

And though it may sound wierd (no comments WW), Sparkling wine works well.

[winemermaid]

Thanks lots to all... Made this dish on 11 Jan.and went with a zin...my 5-year-old "assistant" was with me and whinge-ing , which didn't give me much opportunity to shop. Will save these recommendations, though...( can't do the beer thing anymore)and get my local onto the Dao....

[mrdutton]

If you keep the heat under control, try drinking an off-dry to slightly sweet Riesling.

If you go bonkers with the heat, drink beer or tequila with the meal.