Doux de Montagne, A Rare Pyrenees Cow Cheese

The shelves at the Cheese Importers of Longmont, Colorado, and indeed any well stocked, well run cheese operation, have so many options from which to choose that I end up standing there paralyzed by indecision, there just being too many good options from which to choose. The well known or rare cheeses are always the first to be chosen, for example one of my first purchases in Europe was Brie de Meaux, but eventually curiosity takes over and the less spoken of cheeses have their day. This was the case with Doux de Montage, a name that refers to the smoothness of the paste and the mountains from which it supposedly originates; a French cheese that may not be a masterpiece but is well worth trying.

Origin: The Western Pyrenees, France

Milk: Cow, pasteurized

Rennet: Animal

Affinage: 2-4 months

Notes: Factory made, no long tradition of excellence, but for all that not half bad. Shamelessly Snackworthy.

Thoughts: Although the flavor holds together nicely, this paste dissolves the instant it hits the tongue. The sweet milky goodness, with the occasional hint of mushroom and fruit, just melts and almost overwhelms with richness. The aftertaste is surprisingly sweet, almost like icing, and while the overall flavor does come off rather artificial and one-dimensional it is by no means bad for the casual snack. 

Caution

There are better cow's milk cheeses to be had both for serious gourmet tastings as well as for the occasional snack, but a little variety never hurt anyone. The spice of life, or?