WINE and cheese together represent a retro delight, a timeless classic that has comfortably outlasted questionable fondues and black forest gateaux.
The usual mistake, though, is to only pair a tannic red wine with the cheeseboard, when in fact a crisp white will normally work better with the softer cheeses on offer. Sancerre with goat's cheese, for example, is a match made in heaven. Similarly, try a nice white Burgundy with a good brie or a camembert and you won't be disappointed. Save the reds for the harder cheeses, and try an Italian Nebbiolo with parmesan or a Rioja Reserva with manchego.
The other obvious pairings are port with stilton and Sauternes with Roquefort. The sweetness and balancing acidity in the wines match the piquant qualities of the cheeses perfectly.
Here are a few cheese-friendly wines to keep in the rack for those cheeseboard emergencies.
Sancerre Les Marennes 2013 (Waitrose, £14.99). This is a particularly rich Sancerre with the characteristic minerality that makes it a perfect match with French goat's cheese. It's also lovely with scallops.
Fonseca Crusted Port, bottled in 2006 (Inverarity One to One, £16.99). For the traditionalists amongst you, this is great with cheese. All cheese. Crusted Port is a rare beast nowadays, with fewer and fewer houses producing the style. It's bottled without filtration and cellared for three years before release, making for a fuller style that will throw a sediment (or "crust") and therefore will benefit from being decanted carefully before serving. Stick one away for the festive season.
Chateau du Cros Loupiac 2006 (Inverarity One to One, £10.99 for a half-bottle). This is my perfect cheeseboard companion. It's in the classic Sauternes style and punches well above its weight price-wise. Now, where did I put that Roquefort?
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