One of the cheeses we had for Christmas dinner. Sort of a 'light epoisses', not as stinky and not quite as runny, and absolutely delicious. Washed with Calvados, so it has a vivid orange rind and a distinctly apply-nutty flavor.
Served with:
a sound 2001 Domaine Drouhin, which was holding rather well; it had lost it's perfumey top-fruit, but had held the black-cherry core and had developed some lovely mushroomy funk; aged, but not in any way tired.
a 2005 Marsannay Joseph Drouhin; this has been one of my all-time fave 2005 budget Burgundies; an unbeatable value for a luscious vintage; suspect that was my last bottle though, because my supplier is sold out. Lovely in all ways Burgundy, and gives the lie to those that say Marsannay is light. Not the most complicated Burg, no; but it is as sound as they come.
a 2005 Sanctuary Bien Nacido Santa Maria Pinot Noir (disclosure: one of mine); and here's the Santa Barbara perfume; fortunately, the Bien Nacido fruit has enough oomph to hold up underneath the perfume, so it's not a one trick pony. Having been present at the birth of this wine, I'm pleased to see it developing well. It's not a shouter, but then some wines don't need to be.