Croaker Herb Oil Marinade by Fishlle with Mineral-Rich White Wine from Mount Etna

Perhaps because I often research fish, ads for subscription services for pre-cooked fish dishes frequently appear on my social media.
Among them, I was intrigued by one with vibrant packaging and alluring words like marinade, confit, carpaccio, and salt-koji pickling. It was Fishlle.
After seeing the ads many times, I finally couldn't resist the temptation and clicked to order.

Now, looking at the explanation on the Fishlle website, it mentions that the products also use underutilized fish, which is attracting attention as a social contribution. Underutilized fish are fish that do not reach the market because they lack value due to reasons like poor shape, scratches, or not having enough quantity to ship. Apparently, they account for 30% to 40% of the total catch.

With pre-cooked products, the shape or scratches of the fish body shouldn't matter. Also, the photogenic packaging and product naming seem to have high affinity with social media. I certainly want to pay respect to the social contribution of utilizing marine resources, and even more respect to the business sense and professional marketing that focused on pre-cooked underutilized fish. To realize one's aspirations, being shrewd is also important.

This is what arrived this time. The package introduction states that natural fish caught in Kyushu, such as Itoshima and Genkai Island in Fukuoka Prefecture, are seasoned with carefully selected seasonings.
・Croaker Herb Oil Marinade
・Mackerel Herb Oil Confit
・Black Seaperch Pickled in Nikiri Soy Sauce
・Yellowtail Tomato Marinade
・Yellowtail Japanese-style Carpaccio
・Black Seaperch Pickled in Barley Miso

The 6-item assorted pack costs 3,489 yen (tax included) including shipping for the first time with a discount. From the second time onwards, when the first-time discount is gone, it is 4,750 yen (tax included). First, I will try the raw Croaker Herb Oil Marinade.

Just thaw it under running water for 10 to 15 minutes.

As the firm muscle fibers of the croaker loosen in my mouth, the sweetness of the soft fat spreads. The basil and olive oil seasoning is not overpowering but moderate, precisely controlled to bring out the flavor of the fish. The soft fat of the croaker combines with the refreshing scent of basil, bringing bliss to my mouth. Just 10 minutes from the freezer, with almost no effort, this satisfaction of taste. Long live shortcuts.

The wines paired with the dishes are four types: Pinot Grigio from the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Italy, Carricante from Sicily, Semillon from Australia, and Marsanne from the Rhone region of France.

Regarding the compatibility between the dishes and each wine.

Cusumano, Alta Mora, Etna Bianco, Carricante Italy, 2020, 2,464 yen
Cusumano, Alta Mora, Etna Bianco DOC, Sicilia, Italy

This wine is made from the indigenous Carricante variety grown in vineyards on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano. I want to feel the blessings of minerals from the sea and mountains.
The aroma is rich in nuances of tide and seaweed. There are also fruit scents of grapefruit and sweetie, and the scent of lime peel. There is also light chervil herb and acacia. Faintly smoky.
The taste has a lush, fresh, and firm, vibrant fruitiness, with sharp acidity. From the mid-palate to the finish, a bitterness lingers slowly, rich in mineral nuances.

Pairing the wine with the Croaker Herb Oil Marinade. The croaker's rustic, earthy nuances and the fat that spreads as you chew the firm, strong fibers harmonize exquisitely with the wine's tide-like nuances reminiscent of smelling seashells and a faint smokiness. The wine's herbal scent harmonizes with the dish's basil, resulting in an extremely high synchronization rate. It's almost enough to make me want to give it five stars. Compatibility: ★★★★☆

M. Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Les Meysonniers BIO, 2019, 3,051 yen
M. Chapoutier, Crozes Hermitage, Blanc, Les Meysonniers BIO

M. Chapoutier has been family-owned consistently since its founding in 1808, up to the 7th generation, Michel Chapoutier. They protect the vineyards and respect the terroir. It uses organically grown Marsanne grapes aged 20 to 40 years.
The aroma has flowery flavors of quince, pear, apple jam, and yellow flowers, with a light vanilla scent; while there are various elements, the balance of the aroma is wonderful.
The taste has a pure and transparent fruitiness, with delicacy and a slight sense of tension. The acidity is moderate and precise. It follows with a noble sweetness like a drop of honey, and a pleasant bitter touch of minerals in the finish.

For the Croaker Herb Oil Marinade. The refreshing scent of basil in the wine and the dish has high affinity. From there, the wine's mineral and stony qualities synchronize with the croaker's rustic, earthy nuances. It is a compatibility comparable to the Sicilian Carricante variety. Compatibility: ★★★★☆

Terlan, Pinot Grigio, Italy, Alto Adige DOC, 2021, 3,366 yen
Terlan, Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige DOC, Italy

A winery at the foot of the Alps. The Pinot Grigio variety is planted on slopes at an altitude of about 300m or more. The temperature difference is large, and the acidity of the grapes is maintained at a high level. The soil is also rich in minerals.
The aroma has a firm, lush fruit scent of green apple and quince, and a faint scent of tightened lime. Faint yeast scent, white flowers. A hint of white pepper tightens the wine pleasantly.
The taste has a lush and firm fruitiness, and the crisp acidity provides a pleasant sense of tension. A faint saltiness and the bitterness of the finish give the wine inflection, which is enjoyable. The nourishment of healing fruits spreads elegantly.

For the Croaker Herb Oil Marinade. The basil seasoning connects well with the wine, and the wine's highly transparent fruitiness reaches the umami of the fish. There is no fishy smell at all. Compatibility: ★★★☆☆

Torbreck, Woodcutter's Semillon, Australia, 2022
Torbreck, Woodcutter's Semillon

Torbreck, Woodcutter's Semillon, 3,080 yen
A winery established in 1994. The winery name is the name of a memorable forest from when the founder was a woodcutter in Scotland. It's a heartwarming episode. It is a concentrated wine made from Rhone varieties, and it has gained international acclaim since just after its founding. This one uses Semillon from the Barossa Valley. Woodcutter's Semillon, in other words, the woodcutter's Semillon.
The aroma has green apple, white peach, etc., in a refreshing and light way. Flowery nuances and a faint savory scent of yeast.
The concentration of the fruitiness of the taste is light and lush. While the acidity is moderate, it tightens the wine precisely, and it is refreshing until the very end of the finish. There is little of the grip characteristic of Semillon, and it is refreshing from beginning to end.

For the herb-marinated croaker. The flowery nuances and firm fruitiness of the wine overlap pleasantly with the seasoning herbs and oil. However, the wine's fruitiness is perhaps a bit weak for the flavor of the dish. Compatibility: ★★★☆☆