Murphy Good The Fumé 2008, North Coast, CA, USA

A medium to full-bodied crisp Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma in CA.

Technical Data: 100% Sauvignon Blanc also known as Fumé. A small portion of the wine was aged on oak, 57% French and 43% American, 6% new.

Description: Light bright gold color. Nose of medium intensity, showing off tangerine, citrus fruits and spices. Quite floral at the very end. The palate is quite an echo of its nose, with flavors of tangerine, orange zest and white flowers interwoven with white peach, white pepper and a touch of oak.

Food Pairing & Service: Will pair with a wide range of food, from spicy food, quesadillas with chicken, seafood, salad with blackened shrimp, to a bowl of fruits's salad.

Score: 9/10.

Ageing Potential: Drink now and up to 3 more years.

Price as seen on DC shelf: $14.99

Murphy Goode California Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, CA, USA

A medium to full-bodied elegant Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from California.

Technical Data: Cabernet Sauvignon Blend. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Nine months in French and American oak, 17% new.

Description: Bright garnet red in color with purple hues. Intense red and black fruits nose laced with oak and old leather. Rich mouth-feel expressing flavors of ripe cherries, plum and black berries interwoven with oak, spice and leather. Elegant supple tannins with a chocolaty long lasting finish and a hint of dried herbs. This wine has some texture to it.

Food Pairing & Service: Will pair with a wide range of food. Best with BBQ-ed meats and roasted veggies.

Score: 8/10.

Ageing Potential: Drink now and up to 2 more years.

Price as seen on DC shelf: $24.99

Torrontés Riojano Grape

It is not the same grape as the Torrontés found in Spain. Torrontés Riojano is indigenous of Argentina. It is believed to be a crossing between a dry grape called Mission (also known as Criolla Chica) and a sweet grape, Muscat of Alexandria. Although this grape is dry, it has the distinctive slightly sweet bouquet of the Muscat of Alexandria, expressing most of the time apricot, jasmine and muscat aromas.

It exist 3 different type of Torrontés in Argentina, Torrontés Riojano being the most commonly planted.

Cheese Pairing

Very often I am giving a particular name of cheese to pair with a wine. I have to give a few more details about that matter.

Most of the time, I will then mention that this pairing has been recommended/proposed to me by one (or two) of my good friends from the “Cheese-Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in. More than nine times out of 10 I have approved myself these pairings, founding them indeed extremely good.

Only a handful of times I have disagreed, and I must say, these girls have been extraordinarily patient with me, by being understanding and proposing new cheeses/pairing. They have tremendously helped me, by picking great cheeses to pair with my wines, have made my tastings more lively, made me discover new horizons by making me tasting new cheeses that I had no idea of, as well as given me loads of informations about them.

Well, I think it is only fair that I name them both on my next posts instead of talking vaguely about the "Cheese-Fromagerie". So here it is, the Head of the Cheese Department is named Treva and her always smiling colleague is Angela. Thanks to you both for training me on Cheeses, I really appreciate it!