Roquefort Gabriel Coulet Petite Cave

Tasting notes of the Curator

This is Roquefort with impeccable manners. La Petite Cave opens with the lush cream of raw ewe’s milk, then unfurls measured salinity and a cool, cellar-fresh minerality. The blue veining is fine and evenly laced—from heart to heel—delivering savor without the sting, a sign of confident affinage. Expect buttered brioche softness at the edge, a gentle lactic sweetness through the center, and blue notes that read more crushed walnut and damp stone than sharp pepper. The paste spreads willingly at cool room temperature, finishing long and clean with a whisper of meadow and lanolin. Among Coulet’s range, La Petite Cave is prized for its softer, silkier profile—mild in the best sense: harmonious, not timid. Matured beyond the AOP minimum (Coulet’s Petite Cave is typically held longer—around four months—to develop that creamy, integrated blue), it shows poise and polish throughout.

Pairings and Suggestions

Fruit & crunch: Pears, crisp apples, or fresh figs with toasted walnuts or hazelnuts.

Sweet counterpoint: Honey (acacia, chestnut, or local wildflower) or a smear of quince paste to soften the salt and lift the cream.

Bread & butter: Warm crusty baguette or a seeded rye; add Échiré or good cultured butter for a luxurious echo of richness.

Charcuterie & greens: Paper-thin bresaola, endive or arugula, and a drizzle of olive oil for a bright, bitter-sweet balance.

Wine & spirits: Classic Sauternes or late-harvest Semillon; Banyuls, Tawny Port, or an off-dry cider. For a savory angle, try a peated whisky splash alongside.

Serve slightly cool (12–14°C). For sauces, whisk into warm cream with a touch of white wine to nap steaks or roasted mushrooms.

Where the mountain breathes

Roquefort is born in caves that quite literally breathe. In the Combalou massif, natural fissures called fleurines pull cool, humid air through the rock, creating a living climate the affineurs steward day by day. Here, Coulet’s exclusive strains of Penicillium roqueforti weave those signature blue-green veins while time and salt do quiet work. Roquefort AOP demands cave ripening (minimum 14 days) and at least 90 days from start of ripening to release; Coulet often matures select wheels longer to perfect texture and balance—La Petite Cave among them. It’s a family craft more than 150 years in the making, now in its fifth generation, and decorated with numerous medals—including Gold at the Concours Général Agricole (2016) and Gold at the Concours International de Lyon (2025).

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate at 2–6°C. After opening, rewrap in cheese paper or waxed paper (then a loose layer of foil) to let it breathe and prevent drying. Store in your fridge’s vegetable drawer or a cheese box to retain humidity and keep aromas contained. Bring to temperature gently before serving; avoid freezing.