Patrick Oconnell
Merlot is a full-bodied wine with rich, red, rounded fruit flavours. When it comes to cheese, it is best paired with soft but full-bodied cheeses like mature Camembert, Brie, Livarot or Centamore's Abbaye de Belloc. However, Merlot can also stand up to slightly stronger cheeses like Gruyère or Pecorino, as well as certain Cheddars and blue cheeses like Le Peral, Asher Blue or Gorgonzola.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese | Gorgonzola |
| Brie | |
| Camembert | |
| Cheddar | |
| Gruyère | |
| Pecorino | |
| Le Peral | |
| Asher Blue |
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What You'll Learn
Brie
Merlot is a full-bodied wine with rich, red, rounded fruit flavours. When it comes to cheese, it pairs well with soft but full-bodied varieties. Brie is an excellent example of this.
When tasting Merlot and Brie together, it's best to take a bite of the cheese by itself first to assess its taste. Then, take another bite and hold it in your mouth with the wine to consider how the two interact.
When serving Merlot and Brie, it's essential to ensure the cheese is at room temperature to fully appreciate its flavour and texture.
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Camembert
Merlot is a soft, plush wine with rich, red, rounded fruit flavours. It is a full-bodied wine that can stand up to slightly stronger cheeses. One such cheese is Camembert.
To get the most out of this pairing, it is recommended to take a bite of the cheese by itself to assess its taste, then take another bite and hold it in your mouth while sipping the wine. This will allow you to consider how the two interact with each other and determine if it's a match.
When choosing a Camembert to pair with Merlot, look for one that is fully mature. This will ensure that the cheese has developed its full range of flavours and will provide the best contrast to the wine.
For a truly indulgent experience, try baking the Camembert until it is decadently gooey. This will add a new dimension of texture and flavour to the pairing, creating a rich and satisfying combination.
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Cheddar
Merlot is a full-bodied, soft, plush wine with rich, red, rounded fruit flavours. It can be paired with soft, full-bodied cheeses like Camembert and Brie, as well as slightly stronger cheeses like Gruyère or Pecorino.
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Gorgonzola
Merlot is a soft, plush wine with rich, red, rounded fruit flavours. It is a full-bodied wine that can stand up to slightly stronger cheeses.
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Gruyère or pecorino
Merlot is a full-bodied wine with rich, red, rounded fruit flavours. It can be paired with soft but full-bodied cheeses, such as mature Camembert, brie, Livarot, or Abbaye de Belloc. Merlot can also stand up to slightly stronger cheeses like Gruyère or pecorino, as well as certain cheddars and blue cheeses. Gruyère is a hard cheese with a slightly sweet and nutty flavour. It has a creamy texture and a long finish. The cheese is aged for at least six months, which gives it a more complex flavour. Pecorino, on the other hand, is a sheep's milk cheese that is salty and tangy with a hint of sweetness. It has a firm and dry texture and a strong, lingering flavour. When pairing Gruyère with Merlot, the cheese's sweetness and nuttiness will complement the wine's fruitiness, while its creaminess will balance the wine's tannins. For pecorino, its saltiness and tanginess will enhance the wine's fruitiness, while its dryness will provide a nice contrast to the wine's full body.
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Frequently asked questions
Brie, Camembert, Gorgonzola, and Cheddar are all good choices.
Brie and Camembert are full-bodied cheeses that complement the fruity, dark berry flavours of Merlot. Gorgonzola is a sharp, creamy cheese with a hint of sweetness that offsets the pungent properties of Blue cheeses. Cheddar is a slightly stronger cheese that can stand up to the full-bodied nature of Merlot.
Yes, Merlot can also pair well with slightly stronger cheeses like Gruyère or Pecorino, as well as certain Blue cheeses like Le Peral, Asher Blue, or La Peral.
Take a bite of the cheese by itself to assess its taste. Take another bite and hold it in your mouth with the wine. Consider how the two interact with each other to determine if it's a good match.
