Name: Grilled Eggplant with Tomato Ragù & Ricotta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 medium-sized eggplants (cut in half lengthwise); 3 EL Extra Virgin Olive Oil; sea salt (freshly ground black pepper); 1 garlic clove (halved (for rubbing in)); 400 g San Marzano tomatoes (1 can or 600 g ripe beefsteak tomatoes, peeled and diced); 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped); 3 EL Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1 teaspoon of dried oregano; ½ teaspoon of chili flakes; 1 A shot of red wine (e.g., the Claymore GSM); sea salt (black pepper); 1 tablespoons of sugar (if necessary, when tomatoes are very acidic); 150 g fresh ricotta; Fresh basil leaves; Extra virgin olive oil; Fleur de Sel; Optional: toasted pine nuts (grated Parmesan)

Inhalt

August tastes of smoke and ripe tomatoes

Eggplant needs heat to come into its own. Raw, it’s nothing—but when grilled until the skin turns black and the flesh collapses inward, it becomes something deep, smoky, almost meaty. The tomato ragù that accompanies it: San Marzano tomatoes, slowly simmered with garlic, oregano, and a splash of red wine until they’re dark and concentrated. Topped with fresh ricotta, which is just beginning to melt from the heat. This dish doesn’t need to explain summer anymore—it is summer, self-explanatory. The Claymore “You’ll Never Walk Alone” GSM from the Clare Valley is made from bush vines over 80 years old that have grown dry, without irrigation, in one of South Australia’s most unforgiving terroirs. 55% Grenache brings cherry and red fruit—the same sweet core as the tomatoes. 40% Shiraz brings spice and dried herbs—exactly what the ragù calls for. 5% Mataro brings earth and leather—which complements the grilled eggplant like no other wine could.

Ideal wine pairing: Claymore “You’ll Never Walk Alone” GSM (Clare Valley, Australia)

Claymore Wines is located in the Clare Valley, one of South Australia’s greatest wine regions—known for world-class Riesling and, less well-known but equally compelling, for Grenache blends made from old bush vines that develop an elegance here that even the southern Rhône Valley cannot deny. The vines for this GSM are over 80 years old and have grown in dry conditions—no irrigation, no compromises. Such vines sink their roots deep into the Clare Valley’s limestone, drawing from it a minerality and concentration that cannot be bought or rushed. With the 2022 vintage, Claymore is also celebrating its 25th anniversary—and, for the first time, bottling the wine in lighter glass as a commitment to sustainability without compromising quality.

The result: a blend of 55% Grenache, 40% Shiraz, and 5% Mataro, aged in well-used French oak barrels—subtle enough to let the fruit shine through, yet robust enough to provide structure—a full-bodied red wine that isn’t overpowering.

A brilliant ruby red in the glass. The bouquet is expressive and inviting: Christmas cherry, red fruits, and plum from the Grenache, along with a hint of allspice and dried herbs from the Shiraz, and a touch of earth and leather from the Mataro. On the palate, a lively, juicy red wine structure—red currant, cherries, and chocolate-mint on the finish, crisp acidity, and mouth-watering tannins that beg for every bite of ragù. Four awards in 2024: 94 points and a gold medal at the Wine Showcase, 92 points from Wine Orbit, 92 points from Wine Pilot—a wine that far exceeds its price.

The recipe: