This is a crazy time of year to be working in our shops. Business has slowed a bit since the school year began, and we’re finally able to catch our breathes after a busy summer season, but the Holidays are just around the corner, and deliveries to our back door are becoming more frequent and more massive. There is no better time of year to do the work that we do; it’s the time when our customers will depend on us the most, and it feels good to be in a position to deliver. It’s also the time of year that certain exclusive, seasonal cheeses become available to us, and our cheesemongers can’t wait to share them with you. The L’Amuse Brabander Reserve, the elder sibling of Brabander, a goat milk gouda from southern Holland we paired earlier in this series, is one of these special cheeses. And it has just arrived! While Brabander is young, milky and tastes of sweet cream, the Reserve is aged a full year longer, and is reminiscent of caramelized custard and cocoa. Over this extra period of aging, the cheese’s paste becomes a bit more crunchy, yet still melts easily on the tongue, and flavors develop in waves. For this week’s wine selection, we’ve chosen a highly celebrated Reserve Rioja from Remelluri Winery in the Basque region of northern Spain, a little over an hour drive from Bilbao, and the Bay of Biscay. Known as the first single estate Rioja vineyard in Spain, Remelluri has gained a reputation for producing fantastic Riojas that showcase distinct terroir and improve with age. With stern tannins and notes of deep red fruit, leather, and a hint of smoke, this wine is bold and beautiful and not only complements the cheese’s character, but unearths new layers of flavor within. Swing by the shop this weekend, and make time for a special occasion.