CORK & CURD: The Francophile

We are really stoked with the pairing that our resident MW Katherine Dart has come up with for our Hero Cheese Doddington - read the full feature below…

The Francophile Syrah, The Liberator

Cheese – Doddington - available from No2 Pound Street & The Courtyard Dairy

Wine – The Francophile Syrah, The Liberator

Price - £12.50 per bottle - available from Grape & Nectar

The Francophile Syrah is grown and produced at De Morgenzon in Stellenbosch. De Morgenzon translates from Africaans as ‘The Morning Sun’. This was the name granted to the farm by Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel in 1699 because the altitude and the orientation means that this estate is the first property in Stellenboschkloof to benefit from the sun’s early morning rays. 

This wine possesses the ripe fruit and sunny disposition of its South African origin, but with a nod towards the elegance of its old world relations. There is plenty of rich dark fruit - think brambles and ripe black cherry – and fruit sits alongside warming baking spices and savoury, smoky notes. All this is supported by smooth tannins and fresh acidity.

These characteristics align beautifully with the nutty, creamy and umami notes of the Doddington. The acidity and innate structure of the wine balances with the richness and depth of the cheese, while the robust fruit and spice profile provides a contrast that lifts the umami nuttiness, creating a harmonious pairing.