Aperitif & Cordial.
Wine and chocolate is one of the nicest things even if judging solely on simplicity. One must be very careful when selecting the wine and type of chocolate, and that’s really another topic entirely, but I did want to make note of something utterly amazing that I enjoyed with a friend recently.
I made chocolate truffles following this recipe from Ghirardelli, something extremely simple consisting of chocolate chips, cream, and butter, and followed by a rolling in unsweetened cocoa powder. I’m a big fan of good truffles, but to actually purchase them already made is usually a cost prohibitive experience causing one to reserve them for special occasions only.
Now, of course, this was a special occasion, but I felt that I would be neglecting some form of duty by purchasing them, so I made them as I mentioned above. On their own they are absolutely delicious, but there is something that will cause what can be referred to as a flavor explosion, making them even better.
Sherry, whilst the dry versions are often used for cooking, the sweeter versions, sometimes called cream sherry, are amazing as a dessert and can be used to quite perfect result as an after-dinner cordial.
As an apertif, and I know the idea of eating chocolate prior to a meal may seem absurd, but bear with me on this one. I’m not talking about the sweet americanized milk chocolate here, but lovely dark chocolate with a tinge of bitterness. Dry sherry would not quite work, and cream sherry, I think, would spoil the chocolate as it would be too sweet in contrast to the dark chocolate’s more bitter nature. I’m sure you’re getting the idea that this is about balance, as is most of life in general; versatility is ever so important.
Enter something known as medium sherry; the perfect blend of dry and sweet. It is perfect prior to dinner as an aperitif, and also after dinner as a cordial. There’s one particular sherry, and I am heartily recommending it; Williams & Hubert Dry Sack Medium Sherry.
So this is the perfect “oh shit, dinner is taking longer than I expected” savior, a nibble on a dark chocolate truffle and a sip of sherry. Think of the process as a very upscale tequila shot. ;)
A bottle of sherry is also a very economical pursuit, the first beautiful thing about sherry is that it will keep (after opening) for several weeks and still maintain optimum flavor — as opposed to a typical table wine that will turn quite nasty after about three days. Another beautiful aspect is the cost, at approximately $12 (per PA LCB Store) the Dry Sack is an absolute steal.