PairCraft-Tested Wines
Our sommeliers taste thousands of wines, making detailed notes on all of them. *Perfect Pairing* wines were chosen by our experts as a top match for a dish
AA Badenhorst "Secateurs" Chenin Blanc
Region: South Africa, Swartland
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Christy says: "Though starts out fruit driven on nose, the wine is dry and saline with a bit of tannin on the finish that cleans up the crab flavor. And some spice in the wine gives some lift to crab cake. But I'm not coming away with a wow. The crab cake is just too generous for the wine."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
quince paste
baking spice
Flavor
quince paste
spicy
tannic
saline
Texture
smooth
More
ABV: 12.50%
Oak: Some
Oak: Some
Brokenwood Semillion
Region: Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Semillon
Christy says: "The wine is fun, lemony and zesty, but it is kind of lightweight for this intense crab cake. If you are buying crab, you want to buy a wine that matches."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
herbal
celery
lemon zest
sea salt
Flavor
lime
white grapefruit
honeydew melon
Texture
lacy
Callejuela Manzanilla Sherry
Region: Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Jerez, Spain
Vintage Tested: NV
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Palomino
Christy says: "The sherry tastes blah and flat with the crab cake. The wine and crab have some sweetness to them, but they're almost different genres."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
yellow plum
yellow tomato
Saltines
Marcona almonds
Flavor
salty
savory
Brazil nuts
chicken stock
Texture
silky smooth
plump
More
ABV: 15%
Oak: Some
Oxidation: Extensive
Oak: Some
Oxidation: Extensive
Charles Frey "Rayon de Lune" Pinot Blanc
Region: Alsace, France
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Pinot Blanc
Christy says: "The wine is tight and wound-up, so it serves as a contrast to this rich, succulent dish. Also it has a bit of tannin that cleans up the crab cake on your palate. It is not my first choice, but it works."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
chalk
pink grapefruit
Flavor
yeast
chalk
pink grapefruit
Texture
terrycloth
More
Oak: Some
Chateau Gaville-Lacoste Graves
Region: Bordeaux, France
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
Christy says: "Maybe for a casual terrace wine, it works for refreshment. But the pairing does not work. The wine is too light."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
ream of paper
peaches
floral tones
spring
Flavor
grapefruit rind
unripe strawberry
thyme
Texture
papery
More
ABV: 12%
CVNE Cune Rosado Rioja
Region: Rioja, Spain
Vintage Tested: 2020
Type: Rosé, Still
Christy says: "This is an interesting value wine. With how expensive the crab cake ingredients are, you can save some coin on the flip side. The weights are equal. Each have a savory element that works. The wine is probably a little light in complexity, but it's a fun, boisterous, juicy bottle that stands up well to the richness of the crab cake."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
watermelon
Flavor
strawberry
watermelon
Texture
smooth
mouthcoating
Perfect Pairing
DeWetshof Estate "Lesca" Chardonnay
Region: Robertson, South Africa
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Chardonnay
Christy says: "This is a brilliant pairing. The wine is swank. It's generous. It's been aged in oak barrels. Like the crab cake, it has toastiness, an unctuousness. They're both full-throttle. There's nothing I ever learned about wine pairing that would have led me to think that oaked wines would be best for the pairing, and they are."
Perfect Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
melted butter
baked apple
apple pie
crust
Flavor
apple pie
cinnamon
concentrated fruit
toasted oak
Texture
smooth but chunky
More
ABV: 14%
Oak: Some
Oak: Some
Domaine Labbé "Abymes" Vin de Savoie
Region: Savoie, France
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Jacquère
Christy says: "You think it is going to be nice and refreshing, but then the wine is underweight in comparison to the crab cake."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
fresh herbs
donut peach
spring flowers
Flavor
slate
minerality
grapefruit
peaches
green apple
Texture
tight
grippy
Fausse Piste "Mineral Selection" Viognier
Region: Washington, USA
Vintage Tested: 2016
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Viognier
Christy says: "There is an unctuousness and generosity of fruit in the wine, but it needs more acid. The crab cake needs more support. "
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
dried orange peel
broth
Flavor
savory
salty
orchard fruit
toasted nut
Texture
pleather
smooth but clingy
More
Oak: Some
Oxidation: Mild
Oxidation: Mild
Fefiñanes Albariño
Region: Rías Biaxas, Spain
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Albariño
Christy says: "Even though the candied notes of this rather sweet wine kind of work, I did not love this pairing."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
spring flower bouquet
persimmon
cantaloupe
hand soap
Flavor
flower bouquet
persimmon
cantaloupe
hand soap
crushed slate
graphite
Texture
silky
More
ABV: 13.50%
Gaspard Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Loire, France
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Christy says: "The wine is a similar weight to the crab cake. Both have oomph. But the wine is rather grapey in flavor. The crab cake cancels it out."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
grapey
lavender
dried sunflowers
Flavor
orange peel
grape
orange water
Texture
oily
More
ABV: 12.50%
Practicing Organic
Practicing Organic
Gonzales-Byass "Una Palma" Fino Sherry
Region: Jerez, Spain
Vintage Tested: NV
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Palomino
Christy says: "This works well in terms of flavor and aroma, and there is a seamlessness in the salinity of the sherry and crab cake. But this sherry is a bit overpowering in body and alcohol. The crab cake needs center stage, not the wine."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
celery salt
saffron
Marcona almonds
Flavor
celery salt
saffron
Marcona almonds
sea salt
Texture
smooth
More
ABV: 15.50%
Oak: Some
Oxidation: Extensive
Oak: Some
Oxidation: Extensive
La Patience Vin Blanc
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Vermentino
Christy says: "This wine has an overly forward, verbose, fun flavor that does not really match the crab cake. But its texture works, so it is good in a pinch."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
verbena
lemon peel
chalk
Flavor
chalk
cantaloupe
quava
Texture
brushed cotton
More
ABV: 13%
Certified organic
Certified organic
Lioco Chardonnay Sonoma County
Region: USA, Sonoma County, California
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Chardonnay
Christy says: "Despite the high flavor and acidity, in the wine, the crab cake has more generosity of flavor, sweetness, and body. The wine falls short."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
lemony
herbal
celery
broth
yeasty
Flavor
yeasty
chicken broth
citrus
salty
Texture
silky smooth
More
ABV: 13%
Los Bermejos Diego
Region: Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Vintage Tested: 2020
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Diego
Christy says: "There is a good contrast between the citrus flavors in wine and the generosity of crab cake. The seashell salinity of the wine matches nicely with the shellfish, and both have flavor intensity and a satiny texture. But the wine is too light in body to fully carry the dish."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
nectarine
pink grapefruit
Flavor
nectarine
pink grapefruit
herbal
Texture
voluptuous
satiny
Martin Schömann Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett
Region: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Riesling
Christy says: "The wine is stunning, but it is too petite. The crab cake needs more body and some oak."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
flowers
apricot peel
nectarine
minerality
crushed slate
Flavor
baked peach
persimmon
gingerbread
cardamom
Texture
creamy
More
ABV: 10%
Biodynamic
Biodynamic
Martin Schömann Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Trocken
Region: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Riesling
Christy says: "There is a nice, cleansing finish to the wine, but that is not enough. Its hyper-floral aromatics are an unpleasant contrast to the crab cake."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
kumquat
mandarin orange
herbal
thyme
Flavor
nectarine
yellow grapefruit
lychee
Texture
tacky
some grip
More
ABV: 12.50%
Biodynamic
Oak: Some
Biodynamic
Oak: Some
Mayu Pedro Ximenez
Region: Elqui, Chile
Vintage Tested: 2020
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Pedro Ximenez
Christy says: "The wine can't hold up. It is light, bright, and pretty with high intensity and acidity, and it does not have the textural depth for the crab cake."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
grapefruit
lime
honeydew
flowers
Flavor
sea salt
celery
yellow plums
Texture
light
grippy
Mittnacht "Terres d'Etoiles" Riesling
Region: Alsace, France
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Riesling
Christy says: "The dish trumps the wine. You really need a robust wine to keep track of the crab."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
crushed white pepper
yellow plum
Flavor
grapefruit
lemon zest
bay leaf
Texture
smooth
More
ABV: 13.50%
Biodynamic
Biodynamic
Onabay Vineyards "Yellow Crown" Chardonnay
Region: North Fork, Long Island, USA, New York
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Chardonnay
Christy says: "The wine has a pungent, saline profile that meshes with the salinity in the crab cake. Its flavors weave a nice, fruity contrast to the umami of the crab. But the wine is a bit light in body, so the pairing is not perfect."
Pairing for: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Aroma
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
white peach
donut peach
bouillion cube
Flavor
yeast
yellow apple peel
green tea
salt
Texture
tacky
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