Extra Deliciousness for Thanksgiving is starting to arrive at Paris-Madrid Grocery. While we’re always stocked with great products, we are taking it up a notch for the holidays. If you’re mulling over which appetizers to serve as the turkey roasts and the football games roll, keep reading. We’ve just received a stellar new Loire Valley goat cheese, and three new cured meats made from Iberico de Bellota (the indigenous Spanish black-footed pig which has fed on acorns). We also have many shipments arriving next week, which we’ll describe in our subsequent newsletter.
Rond du Cher. I love this cheese and sought it out on our hiking trip through the Loire Valley last spring. I was over the moon when I found I could special order it and have it flown in at the peak of ripeness! Rond du Cher is a form of Selles-sur-Cher, a pasteurized goats milk. The ash-coated rind encourages the interior to ripen, attracts beneficial blue and white molds, and creates a visual contrast between the white interior and blackened rind. With a creamy-fudgy texture, it is tangy, salty with a savory hint. Very fresh and flavorful, the interior melts clay-like in the mouth. Each one of these cheeses is packaged in its own individual wooden crate for proper ripening. $12.99 per individual cheese (6.4 oz) or $34.99 per pound.
Dehesa Cordobesa Iberico de Bellota – Three new products are in stock, all made from free range, acorn-fed Iberico pigs. Morcilla de Bellota Ibérica is a dry-cured, sliceable blood sausage. Fully cured and ready to eat, its mild flavors are accented with hints of cumin, orange rind, spices, and sun-dried paprika. It will make a statement on a charcuterie plate. Salchichón de Bellota Ibérico (sliced and packaged in 2.5 oz servings) is similar to Chorizo but does not contain paprika. Sweet, buttery and nutty, this melts in your mouth. Paleta de Bellota 100% Ibérica (sliced and packaged in 2.5 oz servings) is the creme de la creme of ham. Made from the front leg of the free-range Iberico pig, this tender ham has great marbling which makes the flavor incredibly delicate and impossible to resist. Deeply savory.
If you’ve got a crowd coming for Thanksgiving, especially folks who aren’t wine connoisseurs, you’ll want to pour something that won’t break the bank. We’ve got a tasty selection of value-priced wines in stock. These versatile bottles will pair well with the array of flavors served over the course of Thanksgiving day.
2014 Chateau La Brande Bordeaux Sale! Regular price $17.99, now $13.99. A blend of 70% Merlot, 22% Cab Franc, 8% Cab Sauv from a 35 year old vineyard located 5 kilometers from St Emilion. It is fermented in concrete, then 2/3 of the cuvée is aged in neutral oak barrels for 12 months. The winemaking is natural, with only essential intervention during fermentation. No chemicals are used in the vineyards and minimal sulfur is added (30-70 mg/l). La Brande offers up an enticing bouquet of red fruit and baking spices. On the palate, nuances of cardamom, leafy notes, chocolate and a touch of white pepper add a layered complexity. The smooth and round mouthfeel has some tannic grip. Excellent value!
2015 Assobio Douro Sale! Regular price $15.99, now $9.99. The Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz grapes in this wine grow in schist soils, in a north-facing vineyard. About 20% of the blend is aged in used French oak for 6 months, adding depth while keeping the wine fresh and lively. Assobio has aromas of boysenberry fruit picked at optimum ripeness. Mineral notes underlie savory flavors and hints of toast. With a suave mouthfeel and ripe tannins, this bright full-bodied red is an excellent match for hearty dishes. Stellar! 88 points Wine Spectator, 88 points Wine Advocate
2013 Belezos Crianza Rioja, Sale! Regular price $18.99, now $12.99. 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, aged 14 months in oak. Belezos Rioja wines always offer a bright elegance that makes them a pleasure to drink. The 2013 Crianza has elegance in spades, along with traditional Rioja notes of leather, tobacco and cigar box spice. Lifted and focused with some grip on the finish, it is best after about airing for about 30 minutes. Bring on the paella!
We hope to see you soon!