The last TESTimator involved a comprehensive review of the study spots found in Erasmus. But like a great thinker once said: “Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.” Thus, it is time to pay a visit to the other end of the student life. During a fun committee meetup a few weeks ago, we tested something as enjoyable as it is simple. So here it is, a not so comprehensive review on some wine and cheese.
We had a white and a red wine to test during our EstiChilling meeting:
- Santa Cristina, Pinot Grigio, Venice / 2018 (white)
- Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile / 2018 (red)
To complement these, we had 4 types of cheese:
- AH Zaanlander, matured for 3 years
- Goat cheese
- Tomato and basil flavored goat cheese
- Brie
Santa Cristina, Pinot Grigio, Venice / 2018
First and foremost, I want to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This review is inherently subjective, and you may disagree. With that out of the way, this wine was honestly mediocre. It is relatively light-bodied, which surely complements its clear color. But it becomes apparent after the first sip that the look doesn’t match the taste. It has a bitter taste that makes it rather difficult to drink. However, its fruity smell offsets the bitterness to some degree. Luckily, as I found out, the richness of flavors in the Tomato-basil goat cheese as well as its dense texture complemented this wine very well. It also balances the acidity of the wine. Of course, the plain goat cheese would serve well too.
Final verdict: 2/5
Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile / 2018
Although we only had 2 different wines, this one totally stole the spotlight. With a medium body and a small touch of sweetness, it didn’t seem difficult to find the bottle empty in one sitting. It was not too sour but not too sweet either. It is common to pair the matured cheese with the red wine, and I can’t disagree here. Nonetheless, it was not the only option we had. The way Brie allows other, more dominant flavors to come forward makes itself quite a pair for this wine.
Final verdict: 4/5
There you go. Now, you know at least a handful of reliable wine-cheese pairings that you will probably forget about by the time you try them. Drink safely and good luck with your exams!