Wine and Cheese Pairings - January 20th, 2010 - Ms. Jane

Wine and Cheese Pairings - January 20th, 2010 - Ms. Jane
From Ms. Sarah - This month we are going to do wine and cheese pairings. This is how it's going to work. Each one of you will select a varietal that you want to bring (it can be whatever you like). Then, I'll give that list to Jane and she'll pick some cheeses according to everyone's selections.

We'll then go through the wines, tasting each one with the various cheeses in sequence. Each person will take notes on their thoughts about the different pairings (the good, bad & ugly -- and hair perm!). At the end, we'll see if we draw similar or divergent opinions. I think it will be really cool if we can do a blind tasting of both the wine and cheeses -- Jane, perhaps you and I can come up with a clever way to conceal the wines so that the ladies know nothing about them before they taste them -- not even color! Maybe blindfolds?

Mina - Sancerre
Jane - Cabernet Sauvingnon
Sarah - Petite Syrah
Elizabeth S - Chardonnay
Elizabeth K - Pinot Noir
Abbie - Malbec
Claudia - Cava

Wine & Cheese Pairing Websites:
ABC's of Wine & Cheese
Gourmet Sleuth
Wine Intro

Tasting Notes:
1) Wine = 2007 Tarantas Cava - DOC - purchased at Greenes for approx $15
Cheeses = Brie and Mild Cheddar
Tasting Notes: tastes toasty - Sarah
tastes light, like apples - Elizabeth S
nose of green apple and pear - Mina
Abbie prefers the mild cheddar with this wine as opposed to the Brie. The Brie is a bit "funky" with the Cava. Also tried it with Gruyere Cheese and it seems to cancel out the flavor

2) Wine = Alfio Morrconi Selection Sancerre - Cuvee - Christian Salmon, Total Wine $19.99
Cheese = Double Gloucester
Notes: (grapes are Sauvignon Blanc), nose is honeysuckle, fragrant floral, taste is perfectly balanced, very good with Gouda in my opinion

3) Wine = 2007 Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay, Alexandre, Cuvee - gift from her boss not sure of price
Cheeses = Mild Cheddar and Gruyere
Tasting Notes: nose is woody, oaky, someone said jasmine. tastes of pear, good balance of fruity and buttery.
Abbie says - Surprisingly I like it, and I normally do not really enjoy Chardonnay. Just lovely

4) Wine = 2008 Lucky Star Pinot Noir - Grocton, California - Toco Giant $11.00
Cheeses = Gruyere and Edam
We decided it was very good with the Gruyere and Gouda
nose is lemony, taste is dry, light, fruit or light berry

5) Wine = 2009 La Finca Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina - Trader Joes approx $7.00
Cheeses = Muenster, Manchego, Blue Cheesewe agree it's fabulous with the blue cheese.

6) Wine = 2006 Falcon Ridge Syrah, Central Coast - Trader Joes approx $7.00
Cheeses = Triple Cream and Gouda
very good with the triple cream

7) Wine - 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Cheeses = Blue Cheese, Camembert, and Sharp Cheddar
Abbie thinks it is best with the Sharp Cheddar.

Book recommendation: Great Wine Made Simple by Andrea Immer.