Braised abalone with pork trotter in a clay pot juxtaposes the luxurious with the down-to-earth. Expensive dried abalone adds a silky texture to the succulent, sticky trotters and a sauce of Yunnan ham, pork and chicken stock. The result is so rich, warming and decadently gooey that only the strongest red wines will work as an accompaniment. Wines with too much oak and not enough fruit sweetness will be buried by this dish. Sadie Family Columella 2004, Swartland, South Africa There is more to South African reds than pinotage and virus-affected cabernet. This rich, elegant wine is a blend of ancient syrah and mourvedre. Winemaker Eben Sadie's philosophy is that the vineyard does all the work; he and his workers simply pick, ferment and bottle. This Columella is seamlessly rich and silky, with a keen focus on fruit and spice that highlights and refreshes the flavours of the dish. It is also delicious on its own. Available for HK$760 at Altaya (tel: 2523 1945) Jordan cabernet sauvignon 2005, Sonoma County, California The Jordan Winery has been producing elegant cabernet and chardonnay since the early 1970s. John Jordan took over the business from his parents in 2005 but did not alter the winery's style, despite the Californian trend for 'bigger' wines. Jordan cabernets are famous for their longevity. The wine's perfume adds liveliness and freshness to the hefty clay pot dish, with silky tannins that massage the palate and bind well with the sticky trotters. Available for HK$490 at Maxxium (tel: 2845 5995) Terrazas Afincado malbec 2006, Mendoza, Argentina This is a world-class wine and a stunning example of Argentinian malbec, filled with dark berries and lushness. In the grape's historical home of Cahors, France, the style is completely different - deliberately tough and rustic. This Afincado, from a high-altitude vineyard, has ripe, luscious fruit and gentle oak notes that give a new dimension to the dish's stickiness. And there are plenty of savoury notes in the food and wine that pick up on each other. Available for HK$405 at Rare and Fine Wines (tel: 2522 9797)
