Cheese and Wine Pairings

“Wine and cheese are ageless companions” – M.F.K. Fisher

One of the pleasures of exploring is the thrill in seeking new places to enjoy good company and a great glass of wine. Scardello  (www.scardellocheese.com) on Oak Lawn in Dallas is the perfect place to escape from the summer heat and explore new wines and cheese pairings.

Scardello is a cut-to-order cheese shop boasting almost 150 handmade American and European cheeses including a wide variety produced in Texas.

Your first trip to Scardello can be overwhelming, especially for cheese novices like me. Fortunately, the “Cheese Enthusiasts” were there to guide me. Cheddar is a favorite cheese for my palate so I chose Stag Cheddar from Wisconsin. This variety of cheese pairs well with chardonnay. I chose a chardonnay variety from Le P’Tit Paysan (www.lppwines.com) produced with grapes from the Jack’s Hill vineyard in Monterey Bay California. 

LPP’s winemaker, Ian Brand, has taken the unique characteristics of this vineyard to produce a wine that is reflective of the idiosyncrasies of the rough growing region in Monterey. The labels are designed to catch your eye with Le P’Tit Paysan translating to mean “little peasant or clown in country fashion”.

Le P’Tit Paysan Jack's Hill Chardonnay  has a smooth, bright taste. Unlike the traditional California Chardonnay which is buttery in taste, this chardonnay is part of a new blend of California wines that uses a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak form fermentation to enhance a citrusy taste.

PositiveVines’ Helpful Tip: Most Chardonnays from California have a round, buttery taste. This is due to the use of French Oak barrels in the fermentation process.

Le P’Tit Paysan Jack’s Hill Chardonnay is a budget-friendly $20 USD. To Scardello’s credit they do not add overhead to the price of wines that they offer.  This wine is not found in most local grocery stores with only 730 cases having been produced of the 2013 vintage. You can order it from the LPP website (www.lppwines.com) or ask about it in your local wine store. 

Next Friday (7/10), I will be venturing to Specs in Arlington to share some Chilean reds.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

The Legend of Casillero del Diablo!

“When the legends die, the dreams end; there is no more greatness” – Tecumseh

The Carménère variety of grape, grown in abundance in Chile, is today’s focus from the Concha Y Toro winery (www.casillerodeldiablo.com). Winemaker Marcio Ramirez enhances the legend of the “devil in the cellar” by producing a deep, dark purple wine that proved to be the favorite of customers during my latest wine sampling at Market Street in Frisco. The wine steward – Justin – is fantastic to work with and shoppers at this Market Street enjoy this store for the wide variety of wines, beers and spirits. Stop by there the next time you are in Frisco. You’ll love this store and the folks that work there.

Before describing the great flavors in this varietal, let me tell you a little about the legend of the cellar. Casillero del Diablo translates to Cellar of the Devil. The winery’s founder, Don Melchor, discovered that his workers were over-sampling some of his greatest wines. In order to discourage this pilfering Señor Melchor started a rumor that the devil was a permanent resident in his wine cellar. As far-fetched as it sounds, the workers were scared away from the cellar and the legend of Casillero del Diablo (as well as the name of the wine label) was born. Take a look at the insignia at the top of the bottle to see the legend of the devil in play!

The Carménère grape lives up to the legend with unique flavors at a good price point. Prior to drinking, I would recommend that you decent the wine for at least 30 minutes in a cool room to take advantage of the robust flavors.

PositiveVines’ Helpful Definition: Decant – gradually pour the wine from one container to another to let the wine breath.

If you like red wines but, prefer milder tannins this is the wine for you.  What’s interesting is that even with milder tannins the wine has a complex set of flavors. Light spices and dark plum start the tasting journey. Some customers tasted a little chocolate and all found that there was a smooth smoky finish that rounded out the experience.  I would pair this Carménère varietal with a good steak or a Spanish dish of Seafood Paella.

The wine averages $10-$12 USD per bottle and makes an excellent choice for adventurous drinkers who enjoy robust reds. Try it today and post a comment letting me know what you think!

Come see me tomorrow on July 4^th at Market Street in Plano, TX from 3-6pm as I host a sampling with wines from the Francis Ford Coppola winery.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!