Autumn is very much here and the nip in the evening air stands as the harbinger of winter coming soon. As we begin to bundle up our palates too long for something warming. I can think of no better pairing to welcome the coming season than refined, bright, and spicy Les Demoiselles Bordeaux paired with decadently buttery rich Fromi Mon Sire Camembert. Do yourself a favor and indulge a little bit!
The Wine
Tasting Notes:
Wine: Les Demoiselles
Vintage: 2009
Price: $17.99
Producer: J et V Cochran
Region & Country: Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Place and Date Purchased: 10/31/11 Whole Foods Market – Santa Monica, CA
Place and Date Tasted: 11/1/11 The Mesch-Ruskin Home – San Marcos, CA
Appearance: Striking appearance, brilliant ruby red with decently strong legs
Please forgive the dark background!
Nose: Raisins, Cassis, Rosemary, Sage, Rose Hips, Dry Toast
Taste: Elegantly light with cranberry tart/sweet and warm cinnamon spice
Finish: Medium-long with progressively intense tannin
Overall Impression: Les Demoiselles is a resplendent example of all that is best in Côtes de Bourg. The tradition of wine production in this small part of Bordeaux dates all the way back to the Romans and in the thousands of years wine makers have been perfecting their craft here they have developed a distinct, extremely elegant, balanced, and delicious characteristic for their wine. Les Demoiselles demonstrates all of these good qualities.
Food Pairing: The spice and tannin in Les Demoiselles makes it a perfect partner to any holiday dinner…be it a prime rib roast, roast ham with mango chutney, roast turkey with cranberry sauce, or something even more daring like a roast duckling. What you’re looking for with respect to pairing is fat, spice, and complimentary herbs. A creamy camembert is the ideal cheese to highlight the wine’s taste while reciprocally complimenting the cheese’s high fat content.
Overall Rating (out of 100 points): 87
Overall Value (1-5 stars): 4 stars
The Cheese
Fromi Mon Sire Camembert
Cheese Name: Mon Sire
Date and Place Purchased: 10/31/11 Whole Foods Market – Santa Monica, CA
Type of Milk Used: Bovine
Place of Origin: France
Producer: Fromi
Cheesemonger: Gladys Hernandez
Food Pairing: Dried fruits, rosemary, toasted nuts, toasted bread
Mon Sire is perfectly suited to Leslie Stowe's Raincoast Crisps, particularly Rosemary-Cranberry-Pecan
Wine Pairing: Any full-bodied, tannic red wine
Tasting Notes: Buttery smooth, sweet, and delicious
Rating (1-10): High 10
D. McGray
Travis Brock Kennedy
