Throughout the course of our weekly pairing series, we’ve studied many different styles of cheese. From pillowy-soft bloomy rind cheeses, to meaty, funky washed rinds, to crystalline, crunchy, cave-aged goudas, and for heaven’s sake, don’t forget the blues; we’ve covered many delicious options. But it’s not always simply the style or type of cheese that makes one unique or sets them apart. In fact, many cheesemakers would argue that successfully aging cheese is more challenging than the actual make of the cheese itself. A talented affineur can take a cheese to a whole new level. For the second week in a row, we revisit a cheese we paired earlier in our pairing series, returning to the caves of Marcel Petite at Fort Saint Antoine, high in the Jura mountains of eastern France, to showcase an extra-special, aged Comté named “Sagesse.” Each year, just before the Holidays, we receive a small shipment of this amazing cheese chosen specifically for its ability to age, like a fine wine. These wheels of Comté are hand-selected by Marcel Petite’s Master Affineur, Claude Querry, for their ability to peak in taste, texture, and aroma at right around 2 years old. Aged at least one year longer than the wheels of Marcel Petite Comté you’ll normally find in our case, the Sagesse is dynamic, and screaming for something yummy to drink along side it. Where its younger sibling tastes of fresh cream and butter, combined with the slightest hint of raw almond and green grass, the older Sagesse delivers a boozy punch of toasted brioche and burnt sugars, kissed with a proper hint of farm. We’ve chosen the 2016 Pinot Noir from Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley, California for our wine pairing. Light enough to stand on its own, but with a spine strong enough to hang with a 2 year old cheese, this Pinot is a fantastic partner. Flavors of bright red fruit and cinnamon mingle with aromas of native prairie flowers and oak to successfully make this wine our first choice. The combination of meticulous attention to detail and perfect weather has blessed this vintage with an unfair advantage that fully supports a cheese like the Sagesse, and we’re excited. Supplies are limited, so swing by early and get it while you can!