Rack of Lamb With a Merlot Glaze and Cherry Reduction Sauce

 

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

Cherry Reduction Sauce 

• 2 cups merlot or 2 cups other red wine
• 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted (I have very successfully substituted bottled morello cherries)
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 4 cups lamb stock or 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

Merlot Glaze

• 1 (750 ml) bottle merlot
• 1 1⁄2 cups good quality balsamic vinegar
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped

Lamb

• 4 lamb racks, excess fat trimmed and bones frenched (1 1/2 to 2 lbs. each)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• rosemary sprig, for garnish

Directions

1. To prepare the sauce; combine the wine, cherries, garlic and shallot in a saucepan over high heat and reduce until the mixture is almost dry, about 10 minutes.
2. Add the stock, decrease the heat to medium, and reduce until the sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Add the butter and stir until melted.
4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Keep warm until you are ready to serve.
6. Preheat oven to 300*F.
7. To prepare the glaze, combine the wine, vinegar, shallot and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat and reduce until about 1/2 cup liquid remains, 20 to 25 minutes.
8. Set aside until you are ready to use it.
9. To prepare the lamb, season the racks well with salt and pepper.
10. Heat the oil in a large saute pan over high heat until smoking hot.
11. Add as many of the racks as will fit without overcrowding the pan, meat side down, and sear well, 3 to 4 minutes; transfer to a sheet pan.
12. Continue searing the remaining racks.
13. Baste the racks well with the glaze.
14. Set the pan in the oven and roast, basting every 5 minutes, until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 135*F for medium-rare doneness about 20 minutes.
15. Remove the racks from the oven and let sit for about 5 minutes, then slice.
16. To serve, place the slices on a warm serving platter and drizzle with some of the sauce.
17. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve warm, with any extra sauce on the side.