Wine Pairing: A Fresh Take on Shiraz: Confit Duck, Plum Sauce & Asian Master Stock Noodle Bowl and Ballandean Estate’s 2025 Novello

The Dish (What’s happening in the bowl)

This one’s fragrant and layered — comfort food with polish.

You’ve got:

• Rich confit duck (deep, savoury, silky)
• Plum sauce (sweet-glossy, a touch sticky)
• Master stock broth (umami depth + spice warmth)
• Noodles + shiitake (earthy, slurpable, satisfying)
• Plus all those background notes that make it feel “restaurant” without being fussy

It’s big flavour — but it needs the right wine, not the heaviest wine.

Why Novello works with this dish

👉 Let’s hear directly from Robyn & Leanne at Ballandean Estate Wines, as they explain why the 2025 Novello — with its cherry and raspberry freshness — is the perfect match for this aromatic duck dish.

This dish is aromatic by design.

You’ve got:

• Sweetness and gloss from plum sauce
• Bright acidity from lemongrass and tamarind
• Earthy depth from shiitake mushrooms
• Rich, savoury comfort from confit duck

What it needs in the glass isn’t weight or oak — it needs lift.

That’s exactly where the 2025 Novello shines.

• It’s fruit-forward and lively (they describe it as cherry + raspberry fresh)
• Being unwooded, it stays bright and clean — not smoky, heavy, or oaky
• That bright fruit echoes the plum sauce without turning the dish sweet
• The freshness cuts through duck richness and resets your palate for the next bite
• It matches the vibe: aromatic wine for an aromatic dish

This is an unwooded Shiraz, bursting with fresh cherry and raspberry notes, light on its feet and incredibly vibrant. The fruit profile mirrors the sweetness in the plum sauce, while the freshness cuts cleanly through the richness of the duck.

As Robyn and Leanne put it, this is an aromatic wine for an aromatic dish — and they’re absolutely right.

Rather than overpowering the bowl, the wine refreshes the palate and invites the next mouthful.

Chef Ian’s Notes (Why this pairing is clever)

Duck can bulldoze delicate wines. Plum sauce can bully dry wines. Master stock can make some reds feel muddy.

So what you don’t want is: heavy oak, big tannins, or anything that makes the broth taste metallic.

What you do want is: freshness + fruit + flow.

That’s exactly what this Novello brings — Shiraz energy, but with a lighter step.

How to Serve It (quick, practical)

• Slight chill helps: pop it in the fridge 15–20 minutes before pouring
• Use a decent-sized glass (let the aromatics open up)
• Pour, sip, then hit the bowl — you’ll feel how it “cleans the corners” after each mouthful

The Moment You’re Aiming For

A spoon of broth. A bite of duck. A little noodle slurp.
Then a sip of Novello and - bang - everything feels lighter, brighter, and ready to go again.

That’s a proper pairing.

Where to Get the Wine

We can’t sell the wines (as you know) — but Ballandean Estate can.

√ Add your Ballandean Estate 2025 Novello here
√ Or check out the full range at Ballandean Estate Wines online shop

(Please enjoy responsibly. 18+ only.)

Pour first. Then press play. This one’s a “taste-along” pairing — grab a glass of the 2025 Novello and enjoy a fresh take on Shiraz!.

‍👉 Watch the pairing video here

Final Thought

This is exactly why we love working with Robyn and Leeanne — thoughtful wine, no ego, and pairings that actually make sense at the table.

Pour the Novello. Build the bowl. Let the aromatics do the talking.

Chef Ian