Memorial Day 2015 Cheese & Wine Picks
Our Weekend Cheeses picks
Leonora goat cheese from Leon Spain, we just love this goat with a bloomy rind, its beautiful creamy texture with a citrus and herb zing, is the perfect balance for any cheese board.
Harbison this amazing camembert style cheese from Jasper Hill in Greensboro Vermont has a lovely surprise with it’s spruce ribbon which lends a woodsy sweet note to this ridiculously ooey gooey soft-ripened cheese. You could eat it with a spoon….
Cremeux de Citeaux: A triple-crème cow’s milk cheese featuring an incredibly creamy, thick consistency, this buttery beauty has a bouquet of toasted nuts, mushrooms and truffles, and is delightful paired with fruity white wines or Champagne.
“Stag” a Hoop Cheddar From Deer Creek in Wisconsin. Select vats of cheddar that are chosen for further aging to allow for the development of the intense, bold flavor characteristics of The Stag. It is rugged, driving strong toffee and butterscotch notes, yet possesses a sweet finish. As it ages, The Stag develops a hint of crystalline crunch to further enliven the taste buds with rich texture as well as flavor. The Stag is a true Wisconsin Original. Perfect on any cheese board or topped on any burger. 1st Place winner at the 2013 American Cheese Society competition. Named as one of the “101 Best Cheeses of the Year” by Culture Magazine.
Our favorite burger blue “Chiraboga” from Bavaria . Raw cow’s milk Aged for at least two months, pale white in color and lightly blued, the texture is soft, creamy and moist, with a mild, lightly acid, buttery flavor, sweet and milky, with a lovely blueish note that doesn’t leave a metallic finish. Reminiscent of but not quite as decadent as Gorgonzola Dolce, this is an easy-eating, delicious blue cheese.
Saulnois is the pride of a small creamery in the region of Lorraine, in northeast France, an area that stakes its gastronomic fame largely on quiche lorraine and plum brandy. The Mirabelle plum, a small golden fruit about the size of a large cherry tomato, can be eaten fresh or made into jam, but brandy is its highest and best use. Wheels of Saulnois are washed with this brandy, in texture and aroma, this cow’s milk wheel is similar to alpine cheeses such as Comte and Tomme de Savoie.
Our Weekend Wine picks
Saint Pierre Rosé Brut
– a delicious dry sparkling wine from the south of France. The wine has a beautiful pinkish-salmon hue and delicate flavors of strawberry. $24/bottle.
Gobelsburg Rosé 2014
– An Austrian made rosé from the Zweigelt grape. A hugely successful wine for us last summer has finally arrived and is every bit as delicious as last years bottling.
Pastou Sancerre 2014
– what a value at $20 a bottle! This is a signature expression of French sauvignon blanc. A great summer time white and a classic pairing with goat cheese.
Domaine Schoech Riesling 2012
– this Alsatian riesling is bone dry and loaded with beautiful acidity and flavors of apple and citrus. $29/bottle
Monsecco “Sizzano” 2011
– a blend of nebbioolo, vespolina, and uva rara. This is lush beauty from the Alto Piedmont region of Italy just south of the Dolomite mountain range. It has great texture and layers and layers of vibrant flavors.
Domaine Notre Dame des Pallières “Sablet” 2012
– I love this red blend from the Rhone valley of France. This wine is super-versatile, pair it with burgers, barbecue, or even a cheese board. $20/bottle.
