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Cheese Name Pecorino Toscano D.O.P. Producer: Various farms and industrial producers Type: Firm, 100% ewe's milk cheese Origin: Tuscan, Italy Description: Pecorino is a general term for all sheep milk cheeses made in Italy. They say that there are at least 282 documented varieties made throughout the country. Pecorino Toscano is one type of this famous style recognized by its own D.O.P.
Cheese Name Pecorino Toscano D.O.P.
Producer: Various farms and industrial producers
Type: Firm, 100% ewe's milk cheese
Origin: Tuscan, Italy
Description: Pecorino is a general term for all sheep milk cheeses made in Italy. They say that there are at least 282 documented varieties made throughout the country.
Pecorino Toscano is one type of this famous style recognized by its own D.O.P. status. This designation spells out the standards to be followed in productions of this Tuscan specialty. In the fifteenth century, Pecorino Toscano, was then known as Cacio Marzolino or "March cheese" because its production traditionally began in March and continued all Spring
Although many pecorinos we are familiar with are quite sharp and salty, Pecorino Toscano is a much milder, more subtly flavoured cheese. This cheese is sold in a very young form, which is aged for a minimum of 20 days, after 12-14 hours spent in a salt bath. The younger cheese has a supple, slightly elastic pate, and a lively and slightly tangy taste. For the more aged version of this lovely pecorino, the cheeses are brined for longer, then aged at least four months in cellars, and rubbed with salt occasionally. The end result of this aging is a drier, more rounded flavour, which offers a very pleasant and slightly sharp finish.
Suitable Wine Types: As with most sheep's milk cheeses, this pecorino pairs well with white wine of diverse styles, especially the young pecorino. The older pecorino could go equally as well with red or white wine
Price / 100 gr: Pecorino Toscano Fresco (young) $3.75 per 100 gr; Pecorino Toscano Stagionato (aged) $4.25 per 100 gr
Weight: 1-2 Kg
Gismondi.com suggestions:
89/100 Planeta La Segreta Bianco 2003
Sicily, Italy
Spicy, honey, citrus, pear aromas with nutty, floral streaks. Dry, oily entry with nutty, citrus rind, honey, spicy, quince flavours with a flinty buttery, orange finish. Nice acidity and balance, long aftertaste and tasty. Perfect for shellfish.
Tasted: 2004-06-23 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $22.95 (750 ml) Specialty
CSPC: 581546; UPC: 8020735000139
Producer: Planeta
Distributor: Liquid Art Fine Wines
88/100 Suliccenti Insolia 2003
Sicily, Italy
Nutty, honey, floral, apple aromas with some spicy, lees notes. Dry, round, elegant style with mineral, oily, peach, lemon, nutty, honey flavours. Nice fruit and structure and a bit more austere in style.
Tasted: 2004-11-20 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $19.99 (750 ml)
Producer: Terre di Giurfo
Distributor: WineBrenWines Inc.
88/100 Attems Pinot Grigio 2003
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Very mineral, buttery, light vanilla, peach, green melon aromas with some green apple skin notes. Dry, round, rich and slightly oily entry with leesy, butter, melon, vanilla, spicy green apple flavours. Quite dry but rich with good length. Classy pinot grigio ― made for food.
Tasted: 2004-11-18 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $19.99 (750 ml) Specialty
CSPC: 122168; UPC: 652626750168
Producer: Conti Attems S.r.l.
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing
88/100 Attems Pinot Grigio 2002
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Very ripe apple, marzipan, perfumed floral, mineral, nectarine nose with a touch of citrus rind. Ripe, rich and very elegant with mineral, spicy, marzipan, buttery pear flavours with dry steely, citrus green melon finish. Quite a floral style but well balanced and integrated.
Tasted: 2004-07-31 by AG-ST
Prices: US Only $17.99 (750 ml)
UPC: 652626750168
Producer: Conti Attems S.r.l.
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing
88/100 Fiano di Avellino del Feudi di San Gregorio 2002
Campania, Italy
Floral, candied apple, mint, spicy, honey aromas with some green melon and lime streaks. Very crisp, dry and round with citrus rind, honey, pear, mint flavours with a spicy, buttery finish. Clean, fresh, elegant style for current drinking.
Tasted: 2004-05-21 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $27.99 (750 ml); BC $29.99 (750 ml) Speculative - Stile Wines
CSPC: 044479; UPC: 8022888990060
Producer: Feudi Di San Gregorio
Distributor: Stile Enterprises Ltd.
88/100 Greco di Tufo del Feudi di San Gregorio 2002
Campania, Italy
Mineral, citrus, peach, marzipan aromas with a touch of lees. Rich, round and crisp entry with orange, mineral, pear, melon flavours. Well balanced with some finesse and an oily texture on the finish. best fresh and young so drink now.
Tasted: 2004-05-21 by ST
Prices: AB $27.99 (750 ml); BC $29.99 (750 ml) Speculative - Stile Wines
CSPC: 055657; UPC: 8022888990077
Producer: Feudi Di San Gregorio
Distributor: Stile Enterprises Ltd.
88/100 Ruffino La Solatia Chardonnay 2001
Tuscany, Italy
La Solatia is 100 per cent chardonnay aged in French oak for six months and another six months in bottle. It has a green apple, mineral nose streaked with butter peach and citrus highlights. The texture is slightly oily but fresh with buttery, nutty, mineral, apple skin flavours. The finish is a mix of pear/quince and Tuscan austerity.
Tasted: 2004-04-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $35.00 (750 ml) Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $42.00 (750 ml) Speculative - Charton-Hobbs; MB $40.42 (750 ml); SK $36.95 (750 ml)
CSPC: 614362; UPC: 8001660105755
Producer: Ruffino
Distributor: Charton-Hobbs
88/100 Danzante Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2003
Veneto, Italy
Danzante's pinot grigio has consistently been the best varietal in the group and the '03 is the pest grigio we have seen. The nose is an inviting mix of ripe apples minerals and pear/peach fruit. Well made and suited to a wide variety of food.
Tasted: 2004-07-09 by AG
Prices: AB $14.00 (750 ml) Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $16.95 (750 ml); ON $14.95 (750 ml) Special Order - Mark Anthony Wine Merchants; QC $16.15 (750 ml) Special Order - Maison Maxxium
CSPC: 534214; UPC: 8022840759841
Producer: Marchesi de' Frescobaldi / Robert Mondavi
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing; The Bacchus Group Inc.
87/100 Attems Collio Sauvignon 2002
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Fresh floral, smoky, mineral, grassy, passion fruit aromas preview a dry northern Euro-style that mixes a steely smoky, nutty flavours with mineral, grassy, passion fruit, slate and grapefruit rind. Lean fresh dry and and perfect for grilled squid. Attems is owned and produced by the Frescobaldi family.
Tasted: 2004-09-14 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $20.00 (750 ml) Estimated Retail
UPC: 652626750175
Producer: Conti Attems S.r.l.
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing
87/100 Danzante Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2002
Veneto, Italy
Open fresh perfumed floral, mineral, smoky steel, nectarine nose with a delicate spicy note. Dry, round and fresh on the palate with nutty, chalky, green apple, pear flavours and a steely, oily citrus finish. Very sound with fine concentration. Well done, drink up now.
Tasted: 2004-08-06 by AG
Prices: AB $14.00 (750 ml) Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $17.49 (750 ml) Specialty; ON $14.95 (750 ml) Special Order - Robert Mondavi Wines
CSPC: 534214; UPC: 8022840759841
Producer: Marchesi de' Frescobaldi / Robert Mondavi
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing; The Bacchus Group Inc.
87/100 Tommasi Soave Classico 2003
Soave, Verona, Veneto, Italy
Nutty, leesy, maraschino, earthy aromas. Ripe, round, soft and fresh with honey, nutty, baked apple, mineral pear flavours. This is the best yet we have seen form Tommasi. Fruity, well balanced and fun. Drink all summer on the patio.
Tasted: 2004-05-23 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $15.95 (750 ml) Specialty
CSPC: 99077; UPC: 8004645302101
Producer: Tommasi Wines
Distributor: Calibrium International
87/100 Falanghina del Feudi di San Gregorio 2002
Campania, Italy
Ripe pear, quince, lemon rind, floral aromas with a touch of candied apple. Dry, soft, and round with a fairly crisp entry. Citrus, apple, quince mineral flavours with a fresh, elegant, easy finish. Stylish, ready to drink.
Tasted: 2004-05-21 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $27.99 (750 ml) Specialty
CSPC: 634907; UPC: 8022888000028
Producer: Feudi Di San Gregorio
Distributor: Stile Enterprises Ltd.
87/100 Tommasi Pinot Grigio Le Rosse 2003
Verona, Veneto, Italy
Very nutty, creamy, mineral, citrus rind, earthy, floral aromas. Rich, round, ripe and fairly dry but balanced. Lots of spicy, nutty, mineral, apple skin and pear flavours with some oily notes. Ready to drink.
Tasted: 2004-11-15 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $19.95 (750 ml) Specialty
CSPC: 326488; UPC: 8004645365106
Producer: Tommasi Wines
Distributor: Calibrium International
86/100 Fabiano Lugana Argillaia 2002
Lombardy, Italy
Nutty, maraschino, buttery, quince aromas. Very dry and round. Slightly oily on the palate with fresh acidity; well balanced. Lots of nutty, butter, baked pear, quince flavours with a touch of citrus. Sound and flavourful but just a bit austere. Serve with shellfish.
Tasted: 2004-09-17 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $17.95 (750 ml) Specialty
CSPC: 639831; UPC: 8005357070142
Producer: A.V. Fratelli Fabiano
Distributor: WineQuest Wine and Spirit Brokers
Cheese info courtesy of:
Alice & Allison Spurrell are the mother and daughter owners of les amis du FROMAGE, a highly regarded cheese shop in Vancouver. They regularly stock more than 400 types of cheese. les amis du FROMAGE is popular with the trade industry and consumers alike. It has been awarded Vancouver Magazine's Restaurant Award as a top food supplier to Vancouver restaurants.
les amis du FROMAGE
1752 West 2nd Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 1H6
(ΒΌ block east of Burrard St.)
Tel (604) 732-4218
Toll Fee 1-877-676-1166
Fax (604) 736-0460
Web www.buycheese.com
