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Take a different approach to your Valentine’s Day sweets

Have a Blue Valentine
Break out of that chocolate and Cabernet thing that so many people are talking about these days. Try a different approach to your Valentine sweets! A smooth, rich blue cheese and a fortified wine in the style of port are a perfect sweet finish to a romantic meal.

Gorgonzola Dolce makes a savory-sweet partner for a pretty dessert wine

Gorgonzola Dolce After Dinner
The European tradition places cheese after dinner, not before. So, explain to your Valentine you are going “continental”. Gorgonzola Dolce is a young Italian blue cheese. It’s soft and creamy and perfect to finish your meal. Spread a bit of the cheese on a graham cracker (extra points if you can find something classier than Nabisco!), top it with a craisin or two. Crunchy, creamy and just a tiny bit sweet, it’s perfect with a Ruby Port. Troon Vineyard makes an American version which respectfully takes the Port approach, but doesn’t copy the name.

Troon Insomnia dessert wine – a cousin to Ruby Port

Troon Insomnia Fortified Dessert Wine 2012 (Oops, sold out!)
Eye: Clear, deep ruby with a purple edge, purple legs
Nose: Clean, medium- intensity; a bit shy. Deep, ripe blackberries, intense fruit, not raisiny.
Mouth: Sweet, unctuous, rich density with medium acidity, medium tannins. Long lasting dark ripe blue fruit, blackberries, figs. Paired with Gorgonzola Dolce, the cheese draws out the fruit in the wine, perfect!

Somehow, I managed to blog about a very nice wine which is no longer available: sorry! Until Troon makes their dessert wine available again, I’d suggest you try a Ruby Port or a Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port for your Blue Valentine pairing.

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