Epoisses AOP Bois Xavier David

Epoisses AOP Bois Xavier David, 250g, wooden box

Delight in the unique flavors of Epoisses AOP Bois Xavier David. A washed-rind Burgundian classic from the Germain dairy at Vaux-sous-Aubigny, supplied by Xavier David. Each cheese is rubbed by hand with Marc de Bourgogne five times, which builds the brick-orange rind and the famously pungent, spoony paste.

Why you'll love it

• Washed five times — Hand-rubbed with Marc de Bourgogne, balancing Geotrichum for creaminess against Brevibacterium linens for color and character
• Four to seven weeks — Ripened to a soft, oozing interior under a fine-textured rind
• Woodland and floral — Aromas of undergrowth and forest floor with a gentle animal note, then a balanced, slightly lactic palate
• AOP protected — Époisses earned AOP status in 1991, one of the first Burgundian cheeses to do so
• In its wooden box — Packed in a wooden box, so it travels and presents well

How to enjoy Serve at room temperature, scooped from the top with a spoon or spread on crusty bread. Pair with a Marc de Bourgogne, a white Burgundy, or a Gevrey-Chambertin; it is also the classic match for a baked potato.

One of the great stinky cheeses of France, this is Burgundy in a wooden box: gently pungent outside, molten and savory within.