Food and wine pairing : What wine to drink with red mullet ?

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Red mullet is a fish appreciated by gourmets and closely linked to Mediterranean cuisine. The latter is obviously recognized by its beautiful red color. It has particularly fine flesh and is often considered one of the best fish on the market.. Which wine to choose to pair with red mullet ? Discover the tips of food and wine pairings from the wine reference blog Beaux-Vins…

The challenges of the wine and red mullet pairing

The name of red mullet has become over time a catch-all word for all the red fish. The different species of red mullet that we can meet are :

The Rouget–vase barbet (Mullus barbatus) : It has long barbels at the chin which give it its name and has a steep profile. It is mainly fished in the Mediterranean Sea.
Rock mullet (Mullus surmuletus) or surmullet : This red mullet is also distinguished by a goatee, but has a more elongated profile. Its flesh is considered by many to be the finest of all. This red mullet is found in the Mediterranean, but also in the English Channel and the North Sea.
Red mullet Senegal (Pseudupeneus prayensis) : This mullet is less colorful and its flesh is much less fine than the previous ones. It is therefore cheaper than the previous two.

Finally, it should be noted that a good number of fish are sold under the name of red mullet apart from these three presented above… To go further, I invite you to see the list on the Wikipedia file for red mullet.

Red mullet can be cooked in different ways, each time offering magnificent variations for the palate ! Foil, wire rack, in the oven, on the barbecue or in a salad… almost anything is allowed with this fish.

For this food and wine pairing, the main challenge lies in this plurality of choices that are presented to us when faced with a beautiful fresh red mullet. In addition, this fish is very aromatic and tender on the palate.

What food and wine pairings with red mullet ?

For the red mullet, I often opt for pan-cooked fillets with a drizzle of olive oil and thyme to let the flavor of the fish fully express itself.

Some great wine ideas to taste

Fragrant and tender flesh, red mullets appreciate “sunny wines” to bring a summer touch to your tasting.

Aromatic power, slightly iodized flavor and melting texture in the mouth… All these elements together allow us to find a wine of friends, a wine of pleasure.

For this fish often associated with the summer period, the wine adapts to your desires : the freshness of a white wine, the power of a red wine or the lively fruitiness of a rosé wine. Intimately linked to Mediterranean cuisine, we can easily be tempted by a very Mediterranean accord.

So, you could appreciate the invigorating and slightly saline side of the white wines of the Isle of Beauty with a Heritage, you could also succumb to the elegance of Provence white wine with the little known appellation Palette.

The vinous and spicy rosé wines are not left out with the red mullet ! The strong character of the appellation Bandol in Provence will resonate with your fish. You can also easily go up the Rhône Valley with a rosé wine from the Luberon.

Finally, you would be right to enhance the flavor of your red mullet with a red wine. As for the other colors, Mediterranean wines are perfect with this fish and the appellations already mentioned will do wonders.

Although robust, red wines Bellet in Provence have tannins melted by aging. The Brunello di Montalcino is a red wine from Italy that will allow you to take your palate to new lands. Often, they are refined wines, round and well balanced on black fruits, spices and some leather notes.

My selection

For me, red mullet make me want rosé wine and vacation. On the other hand, I remain very attached to rosé wines which have substance and to one of my regions of heart : the Ventoux. Best known for its Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, Gigondas et Vacqueyras , the Grandes Serres area offers very beautiful Ventoux including Lullaby Rosé.

This rosé wine is the typical image I have of a gourmet rosé. This cuvée made with care and pride offers an ideal fresh fruitiness to accompany your red mullet.. This wine results from a blend of Grenache, of cinsault and syrah. You get the point, it is an aromatic rosé wine revealing aromas of fresh red fruits accompanied by the tension of citrus fruits. This cuvée is all about a jovial wine to have a good time with a few friends !

To avoid !

In my opinion, wine should not enter into a power struggle with your dish. So, I prefer to rule out red wines that are too powerful to accompany red mullet.

Jean-Nicolas Mouretin