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The right wine accompaniment can really bring out the best flavour in lamb.  It's generally considered that a red wine goes best with lamb.  However, it's not as simple as that!  When choosing the right wine to go with a lamb dish, two important considerations are, how the meat has been cooked, and its age. 

Read on for some helpful tips on wine selection to complement lamb. 

Rack of lamb, noisettes and lamb leg

These cuts of lamb are particularly delicious when cooked pink and served with spring vegetables and freshly picked herbs.  Wines such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais work really well with these cuts of lamb, as do dry, sparkling rosé wines.

Traditional roast lamb leg

If you enjoy traditional roast lamb served well-done or medium rare, with a delicious wine-based sauce and enhanced with rosemary or garlic, a young wine works best as an accompaniment.

The fruity flavours of wines like Cabernet, Merlot, Rioja, Bordeaux or Chianti are particularly good.

Slow-cooked shoulder of lamb or shank

These cuts of lamb are fattier and more flavoursome, particularly if you use older lamb, such as mutton or hogget.  Wines with a robust flavour work very well with this type of dish, such as Rhône or full-bodied Spanish red wines. 

Lamb stews or shepherd's pie

These types of dishes tend to be sweet-tasting with a few herbs and root vegetables.  Very heavy, tannic red wines will be too powerful in flavour, and the best choice here are lighter, country style reds or Rioja.  The same applies to slightly more exotically spiced stews such as tagines.

Lamb curry

Spicy lamb curries that aren't too hot are really good when accompanied by a fruity red wine, such as Zinfandel or Douro.  For very spicy curries, a slightly sparkling, dry rosé works really well.

Barbecued lamb

There are many ways of preparing and serving barbecued lamb.  Spicy marinades work best with a sweet, fruity wine such as a Cabernet or Australian Shiraz.  Lemony, herby marinades need a less fruity wine with more acidity, such as Chianti or Barbera.

In conclusion

You can really get the best out of delicious spring lamb dishes, however they are cooked, by choosing the right wine to accompany them.  Use the tips given above to help you pick the right accompaniment for your cooking, and ask a wine supplier for more advice if you're not sure what which wine would work best with a particular dish.