Barrel-aged wines with robust tannins can be a difficult match with the high acidity of raw tomatoes. So you may not think of uncorking a red Bordeaux to pair with your freshly sliced summer tomato salad. But, with a slight chill of the bottle, the wine’s freshness becomes more pronounced, making it a great match with tomatoes, especially when creamy burrata is added to the plate. Read more about why you should chill red wines here.

Tomato, Basil, and Buratta Salad

Serves 4-6

Place 2 balls (16 ounces) burrata cheese in the center of a large, shallow platter. Layer alternating slices of 3 vine-ripened tomatoes and 20 fresh basil leaves around burrata. Drizzle salad with 2 to 3 tablespoons each of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar glaze (see note below). Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

Tip: Just like wine, cheese should be served slightly chilled, but not too cold.

Note: To make balsamic glaze: Place 1 & 1/2 cups of balsamic vinegar in a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil until reduced to a thick glaze, about 10 to 15 minutes. If you have a really top quality balsamic vinegar, you can just pour it straight from the bottle without reducing.

Red Bordeaux Wine Pairing: Les Cadrans de Lassègue

Château Lassègue is a grand cru winery in the famous Saint-Émilion region of Bordeaux’s right bank. Here, due to its unique terroir, the predominantly Merlot wines tend to be softer than their Cabernet-dominant brothers from the left bank.

One of many sundials (cadrans solaires) that adorn Chateau Lassegue’s facade. The property receives more sunlight than any other in Saint-Émilion. — One of many sundials (*cadrans solaires*) that adorn Chateau Lassegue’s facade. The property receives more sunlight than any other in Saint-Émilion.

The winery makes two wines: Lassègue, an opulent wine made of mostly Cabernet Franc, and Les Cadrans de Lassègue, the château’s second label and a softer, Merlot-based wine.

Second label wines, like Les Cadrans de Lassègue, are typically made from younger (less than 25 years old) grapevines that yield fruitier and less tannic wines. They are also less pricey than a château’s first wine.

At $24, Les Cadrans de Lassègue 2016 is a steal. Vivino, a popular wine app, rates the wine (based on 756 user reviews) as “a great value for the money, with similar wines usually costing 4 times as much.” Find the wine here.

Tasting Notes: Les Cadrans de Lassègue

Disclosure: The wine for this post was provided as a sample. All opinions expressed are mine.

Color: Beautiful bright red.
Aromas: An earthy scent, along with sweet and tart cherry pie notes and a hint of iron. When slightly chilled, even more of the fruit characteristics came out
Taste: Dry and slightly spicy with hints of smokiness; very savory, with a slight chalkiness on the finish; well-balanced by the fruity flavor of black cherries. The well-integrated, medium-low tannins are fine and silky-textured. The wine’s bright acidity paired beautifully with sweet, tart tomatoes and buttery, creamy cheese.