by Sophia Stern
Why we love the cheese
Each year, we receive a small shipment of this amazing cheese chosen specifically for its ability to age. These wheels of Comté are hand-selected by Marcel Petite’s Master Affineur, Claude Querry, for their ability to peak in taste, texture, and aroma at 2 years old. Aged at least one year longer than the wheels of Marcel Petite Comté you’ll normally find in our case, the Sagesse is uber savory, boozy, and full of divine notes of Marcona almonds and cultured cream.
Why we love the wine
This incredibly graceful Chardonnay from Trefethen is a real gem from one of the vineyards to put Napa Valley on the map. This Oak Knoll Chardonnay is balanced and bright, full of crisp lemon, juicy peach, and subtle floral notes of jasmine. The wine’s fruity acid is perfectly balanced against its elegant oak, offering a rounded, exciting bottle of a true classic.
Why we love the pairing
If there’s only one holiday pairing you’re going to explore this year, this is it. It’s savory and perfectly indulgent. Together, the pairing is bright, enticing, and delicious. The wine makes the cheese what we call a “session cheese” as in, you'll want to enjoy an entire bottle of this Chardonnay with a whole piece of the Comté Sagesse. Do it. It's the holidays, after all.
What else you should do with it
This is an excellent cheese (and pairing) for a super festive and decadent macaroni and cheese. Make your favorite mac and cheese recipe and use Comté Sagesse as one of your cheeses. Mix in grated Sagesse to your sauce but be sure to kill the heat before or you’ll risk splitting the cheese. The acid from the Chardonnay should cut through the richness, while the wine’s buttery notes mirror the pasta’s rich goodness. If you’re a truffle fan, add in some black truffle powder or oil for some extra holiday cheer.