Wine & Cheese Pairing 2

Our Wine and Cheese Table:

Our three wines for the pairing:

Name: Meiomi – Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Country/Region: USA, California
Year/Price: 2022, $65 (Magnum) *got it on clearance for $20 at Kroger*
Taste/Smell (w/out cheese): On the nose, there are strong berry notes with a faint hint of dark cherry. The taste is semi-sweet on the front of the palate, with vibrant berry flavors that are impressively well balanced. Specific fruits like cherry, raspberry, and blackberry stand out almost as if they were artificially added—yet there is no medicinal or off-putting quality to these flavors. A subtle rubber-band note is also present.

Name: Le Paradou – Grenache

Variety: Grenache
Country/Region: France, Rhône Valley
Year/Price: 2021, $12
Taste/Smell (w/out cheese): The wine has a floral nose with hints of honeysuckle and noticeable acidity. On the palate, it is very acidic and completely dry. The acidity helps manage the heat from the 14% ABV. Although slightly thin in body, it has a lasting finish and pronounced minerality. The only detectable fruit is a faint blackberry note.

Name: Jean Marc Barthez – Bordeaux Rouge
Variety: Bordeaux Blend (likely Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon)
Country/Region: France, Bordeaux
Year/Price: 2020, $15 (got it on clearance sale for $9 at Kroger) 
Taste/Smell (w/out cheese): On the nose, there are notes of blackberry and stone fruit. On the palate, the wine has strong tannins, is dry, and evokes flavors of blackberry jam and blueberry pie. This is a well-balanced and well-blended wine—a great example of a classic French Bordeaux.

Our three cheeses for the pairing:

Name: Murray – Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Salty, tangy, sweet, and creamy.

Name: Artikaas – Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Strong smoke flavor, with a very smooth, dense, and creamy texture.

Name: Point Reyes – Tomarashi
Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Deliciously smooth and well-spiced, with a peppery flavor that follows the rich, Parmesan-like character.

Pairing Notes:

Meiomi Pinot Noir & Murray Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The fattiness of the cheese helps absorb any remaining tannins in the wine, allowing the fruitiness to fully emerge.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works really well.

Meiomi Pinot Noir & Artikaas Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The savory, smoky character of the gouda enhances the spice notes in the Pinot Noir.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works great.

Meiomi Pinot Noir & Point Reyes Tomarashi
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The flavors meld beautifully in this pairing. The peppery spice of the cheese pleasantly overpowers the wine’s finish.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works great.

Le Paradou Grenache & Murray Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The rich creaminess of the cheese balances the wine’s acidity and brings out a touch of sweetness.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): It works well to mellow the acidity of the wine.

Le Paradou Grenache & Artikaas Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The richness of the cheese cuts through the acidity and reveals more flavor in the wine.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing makes the wine noticeably more enjoyable.

Le Paradou Grenache & Point Reyes Tomarashi
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: This pairing draws out the spicy pepper flavors in the cheese.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works the most wonderfully of the 3 cheeses.

Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge & Murray Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The wine slightly overpowers the cheese, though the tanginess of the goat cheese still comes through.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing is okay, but the Bordeaux is slightly too strong for the cheese.

Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge & Artikaas Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The creaminess of the cheese helps to mellow the tannins in this strong, dry red. The blend also stands up well to the cheese’s smokiness.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works well.

Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge & Point Reyes Tomarashi
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The Parmesan-like cheese blends nicely, and the pepper integrates well with the wine’s cedar notes.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This is a lovely pairing. The flavors complement one another, highlighting their respective richness, creaminess, and savory qualities.