Gouda and Cabernet Sauvignon

This evening’s Wales Denmark match isn’t the cause of a classic cheese wine pairing but the fact that the two sides are meeting in Amsterdam really got me thinking about our new Gouda, Reypenaer. VSOP. Its resplendent orange tones are as inviting as the English were to William of Orange in 1688. Mature, strong and full flavoured, this two years mature aged Gouda offers a delicate crystalline structure, a classic butterscotch finish on the palate and aromas of caramel, hazelnuts, chocolate and wood.

And such a robust cheese, it had to be to sustain those Dutch explorers on their long voyages, deserves a robust wine. Enter tannin rich Cabernet Sauvignon. Our natural wines tend to offer mellow fruits by the bucket load, but we’ve been excited and impressed by two great wines in the shop that also provide the tannins to make a perfect pairing with our Gouda.

Familia Cecchin Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 provides an Argentinian wine with just enough spice and soft tannins to stand up to the Gouda- it’s vegan, organic and low in sulphites. Circumstance Waterkloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a Bordeaux style wine from South Africa which is not only elegant and juicy but its notes of pepper and cassis bring out the brilliance of aged Gouda. So dewch ar y Cymraeg tonight but I’ll be thinking of Gouda.