Emma's Wine Blog: Wine and Cheese Night

Wine and Cheese Night

Wines: Artie Sauvignon Blanc, Josh Cabernet Sauvignon, Spyglass Pinot Noir

Cheeses: gruyere, sharp cheddar, goat cheese (I forgot to take pictures of the cheeses on their own, but they can be seen on the cheese board in following images)
   Gruyere review: sharp, strong flavor, medium firmness, warm, nutty flavor
   Cheddar review: delicious, creamy and relatively soft, sharp, bold flavor but not overwhelming
   Goat cheese: very soft and creamy, heavy, coats the mouth and throat

Food (to enjoy cheese): focaccia bread and assorted crackers (also pictured in subsequent photos)

Wine #1: Artie Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Vin de Pays / Pays d'Oc, France
Country: France
Year: 2020
Price: $5.99

Review: Fruity, apple smell immediately with undertones of lime. The wine is moderately dry, with a light refreshing flavor. On the tongue there is mainly apple flavor which was expected given the smell, but there was more lime and some light pear as well.

Gruyere pairing: The cheese was very overbearing in this pairing, covering the light flavors of the wine. The sharpness clashed with the citrus flavors in an unpleasant way.

Sharp cheddar pairing: This was such a bad pairing. The medium soft texture of the cheddar was very strange with the dryness of this wine. I almost gagged.

Goat cheese pairing: The creaminess of this cream surprisingly worked nicely with the dryness here. This was by far the best cheese for this wine and it was very enjoyable. The tanginess of the wine complimented the creamy, softness of the cheese in a beautifully unexpected way.

Wine # 2: Josh Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: America
Year: 2020
Price: $13.99

Review: A very soothing, pleasing smell laced with blackberry and cinnamon and not at all overwhelming. A heavy, full-bodied red with lots of tannins and dry mouth feel. There was more cinnamon in the taste than I picked up in the smell and far more acidity than I expected. Overall, very satisfying; would recommend.

Gruyere pairing: The flavors clash, stopping the flavors from melding in the mouth. Both flavors are very strong though so there is a balance that is satisfying. I think it is the warmth of the cinnamon clashing with the sharpness of the cheese. Not a horrible pairing, but also not my favorite.

Sharp cheddar pairing: The textures of the cheese and the wine together worked very well, but again the cinnamon stopped this pairing from being great. The flavors of the wine were a little too bold for the more subtly flavors of the cheddar, and all the cheese was lost in the aftertaste.

Goat cheese pairing: Not horrible, not great. Edging more towards horrible honestly. The wine and the cheese are both very heavy which is slightly overwhelming. The cheese is too creamy and the wine is too smooth.

Wine #3: Spyglass Pinot Noir

Variety: Grillo
Region: Monterey, CA
Country: America
Year: 2020
Price: $19.99

Review: Very grape-y on the nose. There are warm aromas of nuttiness, smokiness, roasted fruits, and a lot of toasted coconut. There are heavy tannins that make this wine very drying and a little difficult to drink, though I still found it to be enjoyable. It is a pretty dry wine with silky and woody flavors, and is almost a little spicy (??). I am maybe getting some turmeric. The fruity flavors here are more subtle but well balanced. The cherry profile compliments the warmth of this wine and it is well balanced.

Gruyere pairing: The flavors blend nicely in the mouth as both have a similar intensity of flavor. The sharpness and warmth of the cheese is a nice compliment to the dry warmth of the wine. Sort of tames the flavor of the wine with the nuttiness. Great pairing.

Sharp cheddar pairing: Made the wine more palatable and easier to drink. The creaminess of the cheese is offset beautifully by the dryness of the wine. There is a great balance of flavors that once again had a taming effect on the wine.

Goat cheese pairing: When I had the cheese before the wine, the wine flavor was amplified in a bad way. Though I liked the wine, the flavors together just did not work. The very strong, heavy individual flavors prevented any mixing of flavors. Both are far better on their own.