Mediterranean match

Tonight was another example of the versality of Côtes du Rhône rouge with far-flung cuisines of the Mediterranean. Cheryl cooked up stuffed eggplants with tomato-pomegranate sauce, a Syrian dish from Paula Wolfert's book The Cooking of the Eastern Mediterranean. We happened to have open a bottle of Alain Jaume 2003 Côtes du Rhône 'Réserve Grand Veneur' ($9.99). It's one of those more animally, earthy, baby-Châteauneuf-y style Côtes du Rhône, and it matched the dish - particularly the stuffing of Enzo's wonderful ground lamb - perfectly.