2005 Ridge Pagani Ranch

The good people at Ridge held up my wine club shipment for a few weeks, waiting for the heat wave on the East coast to break (the last thing anyone wants is to have their juice driving around in triple digit UPS vans). I popped the 2005 Pagani Ranch within days of receiving the shipment and it was more than worth the wait.

This is a refined, elegant wine that is a far cry from the countless zinfandel "fruit bombs" out there. The initial nose is berries (when I opened it, someone with their back turned to me asked if I opened a pinot) that give way to an earthy must and maybe a hint of cloves. On the palate, this wine has quite a bit of depth, unraveling in waves through your mouth. Of course, it is a zin, so eventually the acidity and alcohol close it out, but even here, it is a delicate transition.

In one word, I would describe this wine as "comfortable." Comfortable as in your favorite flannel shirt, or an aged pair of khakis. It drinks very well now, but I could see it holding up to several years in the cellar.

Cypress Grove Fog Lights

This is the little brother of Humboldt Fog, the legendary chèvre from Cypress Grove. Like its big brother, this is a pasteurized goat milk cheese, ash covered and mold ripened.

This has the tang of a classic chèvre, but erupts in your mouth with a very, very long finish. The most intriguing characteristic is the consistency. Beneath the rind, this cheese has a smooth, uniquely uniform composition. We enjoyed it on its own, but you could easily pair it with fig jam, balsamic syrup or mostardi di frutta.