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Knee-numbing pairing

My wife is testing some samples from local caterers for an event. Tonight, she brought home a dessert truffle filled with blue cheese, Chukar Cherries and chocolate.

Melissa wanted to try it with a wine. I'd already popped the cork on a Snoqualmie Vineyards 2003 Whistle Stop Red, Columbia Valley (under $10) to go with tonight's pasta. While I thought it would be an OK pairing, I realized I had a recently opened bottle of Barnard Griffin's 2005 Syrah Port.

I poured a glass of that after dinner and sat down in the family room. A bite of the truffle revealed unbelievable richness and depth of flavor. The blue cheese added an intriguing savory aspect, while the dried cherries provided a backbone of tartness that stood tall with the sweet chocolate.

Did I want to potentially ruin the experience with a wine that might not pair? Heck yeah! A sip of the Port-style wine from Barnard Griffin so amazingly integrated with what already was in my mouth, I swear if I hadn't already been seated, this would have brought me to my knees.

Castle Catering, which made the truffles, reportedly is working on a similar concoction that uses Cougar Gold instead of blue cheese. This should play well where my wife works: WSU's regional campus in Richland.

By aperdue at Mar 3 2008 - 8:27pm | food | aperdue's blog | 512 reads

BG 05 Syrah Port

I don't know why it is but alot of folks tend to over look Rob Griffins wine creations. I know Andy doesn't, but I do believe after having tasted many hundreds of wines the last couple of years that he consistantly makes the best wine in the Northwest. The syrah port is right there with ANY port made in the NW and beyond. I've had friends from CA. and NY ect. that want me to buy BG wine and port and send it to them. When I visit CA. I always send myself some wine down before I leave so I have some good wine(BG)to share with my friends down there. The port is one of the best and I strongly suggest it as a excellent match with most any dark chocolate dessert. Check out his new Grenache if you can, OMG.

By wineO at Tue, 03/04/2008 - 7:02pm | login or register to post comments

Barnard Griffin

I had a glass of the same Port on my 50th birthday recently, along with one of Fidel's finest, and enjoyed a fine afternoon on the deck. Wish I would have had a truffle also but it was pretty close to perfect!

By alanjpatrick at Tue, 03/04/2008 - 1:33pm | login or register to post comments

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