Ossau-Iraty

I was just back in the Basque Country in France and had the opportunity to taste a 10-month old version of this cheese.  It was spectacular!  This is a sheep’s milk cheese from the Midi-Pyrenees region of France.  Records of Ossau-Iraty go back to the 1^st Century BC.  It is known by various names, including Abbaye de Belloc.  It is a hard sheep’s milk cheese with a granular texture and a nutty flavor.  It has a less-salty flavor than many cheeses.  Serve it the way it is served in the Basque Country – with a flavorful cherry jam.