Food & Drink

CA HAPPY HOUR: Kris Pinot Grigio & Romeo Y Julieta Montague Cigar Pairing

Like an M. Knight Shyamalan movie, we’re throwing a hard twist into our boozy cigar pairings: a pale, fruity Pinot Grigio, combined with our swarthy Romeo y Julieta Montague by AJ Fernandez & Plasencia. I know what you’re thinking: White wine with a dark cigar, does that even work? Yes, it does; and not just because I said so. Read the pairing info below to see how!

THE CIGAR: ROMEO Y JULIETA MONTAGUE TORO

AJ Fernandez has the hot hand right now, the cigar maker of choice for many of the market’s new blends…and by some miracle, he found the time to partner with Plasencia to work up a new Romeo y Julieta for us that’s absolutely out of this world. This Romeo lunges for the taste buds with a full-bodied combination of heavy Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers; parries with a flavorful Nicaraguan binder and goes for the kill with a hefty Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. That wrapper is what sets this pairing up for bliss, as it introduces an acidity you won’t find in many cigars: while most cigars are alkaline, which pairs with acid like a tube of toothpaste with orange juice, this acidic Broadleaf holds the crisp, nutty flavors to complement this acidic Pinot Grigio just right.

Blend

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Body: Full Customer Rating: 94

PAIRED WITH…

Wine: Kris Pinot Grigio

From the high vineyards of Veneto, Italy comes Kris Pinot Grigio: a mellow wine that bursts “with colorful aromas and flavors.” Floral and citrus aromas open the palate to a bold but clean tasting array with notes of tangerine, orange blossom and honey with hints of apricots and almonds. Easily sipped and refreshing, this pairing cleanses the palate in between puffs while the exuberant flavor profile gently complements the heavier flavors of the Montague.

ABV: 12.5%

Rating: 4.4/5

That’s it for this week’s edition of Happy Hour – post your comments below. Stay tuned for next week and stay thirsty! Saludos!