Scallops Coquilles St Jacques

Coquilles St Jacques is the classic French bistro preparation: scallops baked in their shells with a cream, white wine, and mushroom sauce, topped with breadcrumbs and gratin'd under the grill. The cream sauce is richer and more forgiving than beurre blanc, the mushroom adds earthy umami depth, and the gratin crust adds a toasted, buttery note. The wine needs enough body to match the cream, enough mineral character to engage the scallop beneath the sauce, and enough acidity to cut the fat. Oak remains eliminated by the scallop.