[ Adventures in Wine and Cheese #3 ]
Wine
Venter: Markham Vineyards
Type: Napa Valley 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
Cost: $29.95
This wine was really interesting because as we tried it with the different cheeses and crackers, the flavor changed dramatically. At first, it had a really soft start, which turned a little fruity, then finished soft. However, as we tried the cheeses, the flavor changed with it. For a while, with the sharper cheese, it became almost spicy! That opening was soft still, but the body of the wine took on a very spicy flavor that carried through to the finish. However, if tried with preserves, it took on a totally berry and sweet body with a spicy pepper finish. I found it to be rather dry as a whole, though August didn’t think so, so it may just be me. Over all, it was a beautifully full and dark wine. August liked it even better than the Sterling.
Cheese
Type: Dubliner
Brand: Kerrygold
Cost: $5.99
I thought this was an awesome cheese! It was a very sharp white with a bold body and a really rich finish. It went really well with the wine we had. We thought it would be totally delicious in a grilled cheese sandwich on herb faccasha bread. Add a little avocado and you have the nearly perfect lunch!
Type: Irish Gouda
Brand: Erin Gold
Cost: ? (it was part of the gift basket Bethie gave us for Christmas. ^_^)
This was a really soft and buttery cheese, much less tangy than the gouda we had earlier today. It was creamy and soft, just this side of a mozzarella or other lightly flavored cheese.