Arugula, Anchovies & Spinach Pesto with Fettuccine

This is a favorite dish of mine. It is fresh and flavorful and tastes so elegant. It is easy to whip up and fun for the palate. Serve this dish with your favorite wine and some cheese.

*This post has been sponsored by Mulderbosch Vineyards. All opinions expressed are my own.

Earlier this month we were contacted by the representatives of Mulderbosch Vineyards, and they asked if we would sample several of their wines, and relay our thoughts. I'll admit that despite being moderately well versed in modern wine-culture - at least as a novice, I was as of yet unfamiliar with Muldorbosch Vineyards. With my curiosity piqued, I took this as an opportunity to do a bit of research, and discovered that they're a well-established and very well-regarded South African estate. Needless to say, I'll be expanding my wine notes.

With South African wine dating back to 1659, and hosting estates widely considered among the best in the world, we were in for a treat.

The first bottle among the selection was a Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2012, originating from Western Cape. Rich with a noticeable mid-palate weight, the wine features pronounced mineral notes, creating a refreshing texture while maintaining hints of ripe fruit. That said, while this Sauvignon Blanc easily lends itself to summer fare, or to archetypical white wine accompaniments such as grilled line fish or calamari, I would hardly hesitate to recommend the wine on its own 'with conversation' or with light appetizers.

The Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2012 first graces the eye with crisp red and pink hues, before revealing its blood-orange and black currant cordial aromas backed by hints of cherry. Alive with zest and rich red fruit flavors, this wine is well weighted on the palate, and finishes on subdued but persistent cherry notes, leaving behind traces of sandlewood aroma. True to its serving suggestions, the Mulderbosch Cabernet is the perfect summer wine, pairing excellently with either crisp salads, grilled salmon, or as an aperitif.

However, from among the three wines we sampled, the star of the show was far and away the Mulderbosch 'Faithful Hound' 2012, which originates in Stellenbosch. The wine features a classic ruby hue, and greets one with varied layers of complex aromas deriving from its herbal top notes. Herbal textures give way to ripe bramble berry and plum, gracing the palate with ripe fruit accentuated by finely grained, chalky tannins, finishing on a persistent and harmonious note, with a sandlewood wake. A rich wine, with deep red qualities, the Faithful Hound pairs excellently with red meat, or, as I paired mine, with a pasta dish.

To complement the herbal notes of the Faithful Hound, I decided to serve it alongside a fresh pesto sauce with red pepper and Romano cheese to give a rustic foundation to the wine's elegant plum and berry textures, while arugula and baby spinach give the pesto its body. Sea salt, anchovies, olive oil, and fresh lemon complete this traditional Italian-Mediterranean dish, providing a harmonious accompaniment to the Faithful Hound's fine tannins.

Enjoy with Love,
Catherine
xo

Review written by Michael Pappas
This message is intended for persons 21+. Please enjoy responsibly.