Ossau-Iraty, sheep's milk, Basque Country, France 0.5lb/Cut

Ossau-Iraty is one of France’s great traditional sheep’s milk cheeses, produced in the western Pyrénées across the French Basque Country and neighboring Béarn.

Ossau-Iraty is a semi-firm, uncooked pressed cheese (pâte pressée non cuite) made from whole sheep’s milk. AOP regulations restrict the milk to three traditional local breeds: Manech Tête Noire, Manech Tête Rousse, and Basco-Béarnaise.

Both dairy and farmhouse versions are produced. Ossau-Iraty Fermier is made from the raw milk of a single farm’s flock, while dairy versions may use milk collected from several flocks and can be made with raw, thermized, or pasteurized milk. The cheese develops a firm natural rind ranging from golden-orange to gray, surrounding a pale ivory paste that is dense and firm but pleasantly melting rather than dry.

Recommended pairings: Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc, Tannat, Rosé