Rodolphe Le Meunier- “Fromage d'Ossau” (Basque region, priced per ounce)

Rodolphe Le Meunier Fromage d'Ossau — Basque Region, Pyrénées, France

Rodolphe Le Meunier is one of France's most celebrated affineurs — a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF), the highest honor in French craftsmanship, and a master of the art of cheese aging. Based in Tours, Le Meunier selects and ages cheeses from the finest producers across France, bringing each to its peak of expression through meticulous cellar work and an uncompromising commitment to quality. His Fromage d'Ossau is sourced from the Basque region of the French Pyrénées — one of the world's great sheep's milk cheese traditions, where flocks of Manech and Basco-Béarnaise ewes graze on mountain pastures to produce milk of extraordinary richness and character. Aged to perfection by Le Meunier, this is Ossau-Iraty at its finest.

The paste is firm and smooth with a natural rind. The flavor is rich, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying — subtle overtones of herbs, honey, and butter, with the gentle, rounded character that defines the great Basque sheep's milk cheeses. Clean and lingering on the finish, with a warmth that speaks of mountain pastures and centuries of tradition.

"Basque sheep's milk cheeses are made throughout Europe and North America, but some of the best are either from or have roots in the Basque regions of France. The cheese from there is renowned for smooth, gentle flavors: subtle overtones of herbs, honey and butter. From France, we have Fromage d'Ossau, aged by Rodolphe Le Meunier — if you haven't tried his butter, you haven't lived." — Martin Johnson, Cheesemonger, 67 Gourmet

• Affineur: Rodolphe Le Meunier, MOF, Tours, France
• Region: Basque / Pyrénées, France
• Milk: Sheep's milk
• Style: Semi-firm to firm, natural rind
• Flavor Profile: Rich, slightly sweet, herbs, honey, butter, smooth and gentle
• Pricing: Per ounce
• Best Paired With: Marcona almonds, quince paste, honey, charcuterie, crusty baguette, dried fruit
• Wine Pairings: Jurancon, Madiran, white Burgundy, Champagne, dry Rosé

One of the Pyrénées' great sheep's milk cheeses, aged by France's finest affineur — Rodolphe Le Meunier's Fromage d'Ossau is a benchmark of the Basque tradition.