Époisses AOC

TASTING NOTES FROM THE CURATOR

From a region famed for its cheese and wine, the Époisses truly embodies the best of the region. This farmhouse-style cow’s milk cheese is washed with marc de Bourgogne, a pomace brandy that gives it its signature pungent aroma. It is aged for at least 6 weeks, allowing its rind to turn sticky and develop a deep orange color. Inside, the pâté is a magnificently creamy ivory to pale yellow color, and it is so smooth that it melts in the mouth. Spice, salt, sweetness, and a hint of a tang hit you straight on the palate. It comes in a wooden box to help preserve its shape.

PREPARATION OR PAIRINGS

This cheese is so soft and creamy that the foremost way to indulge in it is to eat it at room temperature right out of its wooden box with a spoon. You can, of course, scoop it out onto slices of crusty baguette and accompany this delight with crisp fruit like apples and pears.

Epoisses is a challenge to pair with wines, but its best companion is the brandy that gives it its pungency, marc de Bourgogne. It’s so strong and spiced, it pairs perfectly with this cheese. This cheese also presents fine opportunities for beer-lovers. Belgian Trappist beers like Orval or Chimay and French bière de garde don’t wilt under this cheese’s strength. If you’re still pushing for wines, try our Alsatian Domaine Rolly-Gassman Gewürztraminer de Rorschwihr or a sweet wine like a Sauternes or similar Bordeaux blends.

PUNGENT BUT GOOD

Époisses is so pungent it has a certain reputation in France. To maintain this level of notoriety that makes this cheese so good, the Fromagerie Beillevaire with Ferme des Marronniers in Normandie. This is a farm with full organic farming certification in the European Union, ensuring that that every step of the process, the welfare of both the animals and the end products is looked after following the highest possible standards.

DISCLAIMER ON AVAILABILITY OF PRE-ORDERED AIR-FLOWN ITEMS

This is a pre-ordered item at The Bow Tie Duck and will only be available while the producer from overseas is able to supply and allow air-flown delivery. In case of delivery delays, delivery cancellations, “out of stock” notices, or “out of season” notices after purchase, you will be contacted by our Support Team. You will receive a refund or product replacement, or you can choose a new delivery date for your item. In choosing to place an order, you agree to the terms and have read that this particular product is not on-hand. After a short wait, you will receive your orders fresh from the source.

Storage Instructions

Cheeses (except brined ones in jars) should be stored in the crisper or the butter drawer of a refrigerator, not on the shelves themselves. This is to help regulate their temperature and humidity levels—and prevents the formation of mold. Once opened, they should not be kept in their original packaging. Soft cheeses with delicate rinds need to breathe, so they are best placed in glass containers lined with paper towels to absorb extra moisture. Leave the lid open a tiny bit for air to circulate and don’t forget to write up a label with the date you first opened the package. Your cheese will be fine for up to one month. Cheeses are air-flown from France on demand. They are meant to be consumed within 1 to 2 weeks of their arrival at your residence.