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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Bonne Bouche - American Artisan Cheese

In stock now at Forsyth!
Vermont Creamery
Bonne Bouche Goat Cheese
In the 2010 American Cheese Society competition, Bonne Bouche won 1st Place for "Aged Goat Cheese" and was runner up to "Best of Show" just behind Uplands Peasant Ridge Reserve Extra Aged

This cheese was a hit in December at our cheese counter, and we just got another batch in stock at Forsyth now.
"Bonne Bouche is the flagship of the signature line. This hand ladled, ash-ripened cheese was first introduced in 2001. Bonne Bouche literally means good mouthful and is a French term used to describe a tasty morsel. Bonne Bouche is simply that and won instant acclaim among chefs, retailers and food writers. It won first place for aged goat cheese at the American Cheese Society competition.

Bonne Bouche is made from pasteurized milk and set in tubs for lactic coagulation for 24 hours. The following day, the cheese curd is carefully hand ladled into moulds and drained overnight. The cheeses are then unmoulded, ashed and moved into the drying room and then into the aging room where the controlled environment is cool and humid. The entire process takes seven to ten days before the cheeses are packaged in their individual micro-caves.

Bonne Bouche can be enjoyed fresh or aged up to 45 days. As a young cheese, the rind has a distinct geotrichium flavor. The texture is mild yet still acidic like a fresh chèvre. As the cheese ages, it becomes softer and the rind becomes more dry and piquant. The made date is indicated on the package.








Betts & Scholl

Very small production!


"Betts & Scholl, the boutique winery founded by master sommelier Richard Betts and art collector Dennis Scholl. Betts was best known as wine director of Montagna, the Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning restaurant at the Little Nell in Aspen, Colo." -- Wine Spectator


Just arrived and it is drinking GREAT!!!
2005 Betts & Scholl Hermitage Blanc.....$53.99
Compared to $79 on Wine Spectator

"Ripe and showy, but with good underlying grip to the dried papaya, creamed peach, fig, yellow apple and brioche notes. The long, juicy finish has a nice gilding of toast. Drink now through 2013. 400 cases made. –JM"

Rated 93/100 The Wine Spectator

.

Betts & Scholl
2006 "The Chronique" Grenache Barossa Valley...$33.99

"Firm in texture, with tremendous focus to the blackberry, cherry, anise seed and cardamom aromas and flavors. Not heavy at all, but sleek and expressive—and extra-long on the vibrant finish. Best from 2009 through 2016. 375 cases made. –HS"

Rated 93/100 The Wine Spectator







Friday, January 28, 2011

Pre-Arrival

PRE-ARRIVAL --
One of the masters of Chateauneuf du Pape....
Pre-Arrival pricing.




Rouge
2009 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape....$64.99 / 750 ml

2009 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape....$34.99 / 375 ml
2009 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape....$154.99 / magnum
"The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape is composed of 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah and 5% other authorized grapes, all from their significant holdings in the highly regarded sector of Chateauneuf du Pape known as Le Crau. A deep ruby/plum color is followed by a big, sweet nose of boysenberries, raspberries, licorice, nori seaweed wrap, black currants and earth. Full-bodied, with beautiful texture, purity, depth and power, the 2009 is a notch behind the extraordinary 2007, but it is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. It should drink well for 20+ years."
Rated 91-94/100 The Wine Advocate


Blanc
2010 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc...$57.99 / 750ml

Net prices, no additional case discounts. Payment due at time of delivery. Wine is scheduled to arrive fall of 2011.

To order: call 314.727.8788

or email paul@wineandcheeseplace.com




Cheese Pairing with Wine and Beer

Starting tomorrow...
New for 2011 at The Wine and Cheese Place

Join us each Saturday at our Cheese Counter and taste the weekly pick of a cheese paired with a wine and a beer*. Each Saturday we will feature a cheese in our award winning cheese department at all 3 TWCP locations and have a wine and beer to taste that we feel is a great match.

It will be fun and informal just come in for a taste at the Cheese Counter.

Pairing cheese with wine or beer is an age old excercise and everybody has an opinion. First of all, there are no wrong answers. It is all about what you like. There is no sense in buying a cheese that you don't like because "an expert" said that it is the best match. The perfect match is the wine/beer you like and the cheese you like! But we will hope to give you a few guidelines and ideas to start your journey through the matching process. Join us each week for a new match.



Starting this Saturday....


Saturday, January 29 (12-4pm)
Featured Cheese: 4 Year Old Gouda

The 4 year old Gouda has a caramelized sweet and very intense flavor that is countered by those crunchy salt deposits. The texture resembles Parmesan and this 4 year old can also be grated, but it works great as a table cheese.

To match the sweetness and intense flavor, we are going to match it with:
Wine: a big and lush Petite Sirah.
Forsyth: Pennywise Petite Sirah - click to read more
Ballwin:
Bogle Petite Sirah
Rock Hill: Bogle Petite Sirah


Beer: we are going to match it with a malty Porter
Forsyth: Founders Porter
Ballwin: Founders Porter

Rock Hill: Founders Porter






Extra info about the beer
Founders Porter.....$8.49 / 6pk
Rated 100 on RateBeer
Currently the #2 best Porter in the world on RateBeer
"Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet with strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders' robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. Cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter." -- Founders



*This will be in addition to our normal wine tastings at the stores.





Appalachian Artisan Cheese

American Artisan producer....


Meadow Creek Dairy - Virginia

Meadow Creek Dairy is a family artisan cheese producer in the mountains of Virginia. At an elevation of 2800ft, the combination of pure water, clean air and deep soils produce an ideal environment for growing diverse, mineral-rich pastures.

Since 1980, farming has been our craft. We have worked closely with our Jersey herd to give them the best care, develop the genetics best adapted to our farm, and in the process produce the highest quality milk. Now we take our craft to its next level, providing you with a full flavored, healthy, ecologically friendly cheese.




Appalachian Cheese
(in stock at Forsyth)

Come in for a taste -- doesn't it look delicious

Appalachian is a semi-hard American Cheese modeled after the famous Tomme de Savoie style cheese. It is made from raw milk and this new wheel is delicious.



More info from their website:

Our original recipe, the first cheese we ever made, Appalachian has changed a great deal over our years of production. We’ve always worked to reflect the unique character of our milk and farm in our cheese, rather than picking a cheese and struggling to match the farm to it. A visit to Europe inspired us to focus on affinage, developing and refining the balance of microflora in our cellars. To this end, we've allowed the Appalachian to form a white coat of penicillium molds.

Tasting notes: A lightly cooked, pressed-curd cheese, aged for at least sixty days in our cellars, Appalachian is similar to a simple French Tomme. The final product is a densely textured cheese with a supple straw-colored paste. The taste is gentle and buttery with earthy undertones and citrus notes; the rind white with glimpses of gray.
Related Cheeses: Tomme De Savoie, Toma Piemontese


Serving Suggestions: Like many of our cheeses, Appalachian melts beautifully and can be used in a variety of dishes. It is excellent on a cheese plate or on bread. We find Appalachian's lemony notes to be best complemented by a pinot Blanc or a pinot Grigio.

Ingredients: Cultured Raw Milk, Salt, Rennet




2008 Bordeaux --




2008 Potensac Medoc....$26.99
"Perhaps the finest Potensac made since the 1982, the 2008 is undoubtedly a sleeper of the vintage. Harvested between October 4-16, this blend of 42% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 18% Cabernet Franc was fashioned from modest yields of 44 hectoliters per hectare. While lacking the prestige of a grand cru classe, it offers an amazing display of sweet black cherry and cassis fruit intermixed with notions of earth and spice. Good purity, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, a seamless balance, ripe tannins, and fresh acids result in an amazing wine that should sell for a song. It should evolve for a decade or more."
Rated 90-92/100 The Wine Advocate


2008 Clos du Marquis....$46.99
Second label of Leoville Las Cases

For many years, Las Cases’ second wine has been the equivalent of a classified growth in the Medoc. The 2008 Clos du Marquis may be one of the two or three finest second wines I have tasted from proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that came in at 13.5% natural alcohol, it is a pure, deep, full-bodied effort displaying classic aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, and crushed rocks. On the palate, there is a sensational black fruit character, no hard edges, and a seamless integration of all the component parts. This wine should drink beautifully for 15 or more years
Rated 90-93/100 The Wine Advocate


Odell Red Ale


Seasonal back in stock now!!

Odell Red Ale...$9.99 / 6pk
"The Rocky Mountain Goat is no ordinary goat. Just like Odell Red is no ordinary red.We took the American style red to a whole new level by adding a variety of aggressive American hops giving this ale a distinctive fresh hop aroma and flavor.We think you’ll agree this red has some serious kick." -- Odell Brewing





Thursday, January 27, 2011

Chocolate Indulgence is back!

In stock now at Forsyth...
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence...$12.99 / 750ml
10th Anniversary
"The success of the 2007 Anniversary beer encouraged us to brew Chocolate Indulgence again in 2008. As of the end of October, 2008 the recent batch of Indulgence is now beginning to make its way to your local retailer. Since the 2007 10th Anniversary Edition, our brewstaff and Department of All Things New and Delicious have been conducting strenuous research and exhaustive experiments to improve the character of the Chocolate Indulgence. We were happy with 2007's version, but, we tend to never sleep when it comes to fine-tuning the flavor and character of our beers. We feel that this year's batch has been honed to sublime levels of chocolatey / malty / decadent goodness. We hope you agree. For a little background, the story behind the beer: On October 13, 2007, at out Brewery Tenth Anniversary Party (Waffles and Puppets) we introduced Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout to the world. Chocolate Indulgence comes with a thick tan head of foam resting on top of the rich onyx-colored liquid. The aroma immediately speaks of dark chocolate and dark malts. The gentle herbal nose of Perle hops compliments the darker notes, making the beer savory to the senses.The taste continues with the intense Belgian dark chocolate gliding across the tongue; starting sweet up front but giving way to rich cocoa flavors at the back. Through it all, a subtle fruitiness from our special Belgian yeast gives the beer brightness otherwise foreign to a beer style normally associated with gray foggy skies. Lingering chocolate entices the drinker to taste more. Go ahead. Dessert is good for the soul."

Ommegang Brewery




Uplands Pleasant Ridge Reserve


American Artisan cheese....

We just cut open a new wheel at Forsyth and it is perfect -- come in for a taste!!




Uplands Pleasant Ridge Reserve
Pleasant Ridge Reserve is named Best Cheese in America
Pleasant Ridge Reserve won first place at the 2010 American Cheese Society.
The cheese is modeled after Gruyere and Beaufort and it is only produced from May through October when the cows are grazing on fresh grass. It is made from raw milk and aged a minimum of 6 months. The current batch we just received is from June 21, 2010 which puts it at right at 7 months of ageing. Just cut a wheel open and it is perfect!! Delicious!!

Uplands is a family run dairy from Wisconsin making great artisan cheese.








Tuesday, January 25, 2011

BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien San Giovese

Order all BFM online


A new "oak treatment" from BFM

BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien San Giovese....$19.99 (375ml)



Beer of Switzerland.
Ale matured in oak barrels

Brewed in in 2009, bottled in March 2010 Ale Matured in Oak Barrel. Hand bottled, without prise de mousse. This Grand Cru's complexity will increase with age. 11% ABV
Ingredients: Swiss mountains' spring water, barley malts, sugar, hop, yeast.
info from the label




New one from Austria...

Should be nice and fresh, first time leaving the brewery...



Hofstetten Heller Bock Saphir....$4.49 / pint

Only 1 review on RateBeer and we are the first to show distribution outside of the brewery according to RateBeer



"Dry-Hopped with Saphir Hops for over 8 weeks" -- label


“Our Heller Bock "Saphir" will now go into the maturation tank where it will rest on full SAPHIR hop flowers [dry-hopping] for a full 8 weeks!” -Jens Luckart - brewing master

"The small Austrian brewery was first mentioned in 1449 and is family-owned since 1847. The family’s great-great-grandfather, a cattle trader, took over when its former owner couldn’t pay their debts. In 1998 Peter Krammer inherited the company from his father. He now brews with his team of 9 employees around 5,550 hl of mostly unique interpretations of the classic Bock Bier Style" -- importer



Great Cabernet....

Beringer Knights Valley -- fancy new label!!!

Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon....$16.99

Next lowest price on WineSearcher $18.99 Canal's Hamilton
(net price, price good through Feb 3rd)
Beringer is one of the greatest wineries in California. They have proved over the years that a large winery can make great wines that compete witht he "boutique" wineries of California. Beringer has the vineyards, the equipement, and the talent to make word class wine. The "Knights Valley" Cabernet has always been one of their greatest bargains and the 2008 is no exception. At this price, nothing beats it on the shelf. You will be surprised by the quality in the bottle.










Monday, January 24, 2011

Schlafly 20th Anniversary Vol 2

An approval came through for what looks to be the 2nd of 4 in the Schlafly Anniversary Series. Volume No.1 was an Imperial Pilsner....

Looks like Volume No.2 is....
Schlafly Hop Toddy Ale
"Ale brewed with honey and with natural flavor added and aged in Bourbon Barrels."



Sunday, January 23, 2011

Chassagne for a song...


2006 Jean Saint Honore Chassagne Montrachet....$37.99
(next lowest price on Wine-Searcher is $42.49 Premium Wine and Spirits)
It is hard to find a Chassagne Montrachet under $50 and this one really shines. Chassagne tends to be riper and fuller bodied than its neighboring Puligny sibling, Chassagne-Montrachet typically expresses a broader texture on the palate, but still possesses the telltale minerality of all great white Burgundies. Ripe peach and juicy green apple, laced with lemon tart. Elegant and poised, the soft and full-bodied palate develops harmoniously and leaves a citrus fruit finish. Pairs well with any white meat, fish, or soft cheeses.