CAO Cameroon L’anniveraire Toro and St. Innocent Pinot Noir 2009: Pairing

The Wine

St. Innocent Pinot Noir 2009

St. Innocent Winery

Salem, Oregon, USA

Temperance Hill Vineyard

Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Stinnocentwine.com

$55.00 from a restaurant

Wine aged in  26% new French oak barrels for 16 months. 

Appearance: good looking dark cherry with reddish highlights.

Aroma: this is fruity, sweet cherry, red raspberry

Flavors: this is a juicy fruit Pinot Noir, lots of fresh red berries like red raspberry, a hint of strawberry and touch of red currant, throw in a nice dose of sweet dark cherry and a touch of vanilla along with a silky smooth mouthfeel. 

Mouthfeel: the acidity is low, there is a mineral like quality, silky smooth texture, a touch of oak on the finish and aftertaste, mostly red berry like aftertaste, along the way I get a hint here and there of a light spice box.    

To the Point: While it has a very nice red berry taste it just seems to lack depth, character, and complexity.  Have this with lighter fare.  Their web site says this vintage can be aged for eight years. 

The Cigar

CAO Cameroon L’anniveraire Toro

Wrapper: Cameroon

Binder: Nicaragua

Fillers: Nicaragua

Size: 5 ½ x 55 box press

Off the Light: smooth, soft and almost sweet like earthy style; I start to think of portabella mushroom.  As the smoke continues the taste I like to experience while smoking a Cameroon shows up – nut.  A nice nutty style, soft earthy style continues, a hint of light rye bread.

Second Half: the nutty note continues along with the soft almost mushroom like earthy quality, the light rye is still present and a light to moderate dose of cedar wood has evolved. 

To the Point: I don’t know why I don’t smoke more of these.  This is a Cameroon smoke that I really like. 

The Pairing

These two are very good together.  The red berry fruit style of the wine mingles well with the nutty and soft earthy style of the cigar.  The wines flavor profile is not really affected by this cigar.  I style get the big juicy red berry bowl flavors on the wine.  The cigar seems to change a little during this exchange.  There is a little musty note that shows up during this pairing.