Aubergine parmesan is delicious, hearty and satisfying. The aubergine is layered with parmesan cheese and herby tomato sauce, then baked. The result is lots of richness with a creamy aubergine texture. The tomato sauce serves as a flavour platform and makes the aubergine and parmesan base notes work. The best wine needs enough richness to combat that of the dish. Silky fruit and loads of acidity will lighten the depth of the aubergine and parmesan. Antinori Peppoli Chianti 2005, Tuscany, Italy There are just a few Tuscan wine empires, and Antinori ranks in the top three for both business acumen and consistently great wines. This Peppoli comes from a single estate, which, in the finest Tuscan tradition, also produces top-notch olive oil. The wine is rich and full of ripe, spicy fruit - a perfect place to start when pairing with aubergine parmesan. The generous fruit massages the texture of the aubergine and the savoury parmesan provides the combination with an excellent platform to hold onto the oak in the wine. Available for HK$165 from Maxxium (tel: 2845 5995) Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006, Martinborough, New Zealand This excellent pinot is winemaker Larry McKenna's piece de resistance. It's stunning: rich, complex and fruity, with cherry and ripe fruit supported by just the right amount of oak. Its silky textures and richness are a perfect match for aubergine parmesan. The contrast comes from the hearty finish of the dish and the lingering focus of the pinot. It's a stunning wine to serve to good friends. Available for HK$382 from Wine'n'Things (tel: 2873 5733) Kilikanoon Covenant Shiraz 2003, Clare Valley, South Australia The biggest difference between Clare and Barossa Valley shiraz is the amount of oak - the former is more subtle, while the Barossa is more bullish. Shiraz from the cooler Clare Valley usually has the edge when it comes to fragrant fruit, and the Covenant shiraz is liquid licorice and blackberry, with even a little too much fruit, if that's a fault. It's silky, rich and balanced. It's a perfect match with aubergine parmesan and anything else that deserves a good fruit-driven, classy red. Available for HK$295 from Altaya Wines (tel: 2523 1945)
