Raw Sheep/Cow Milk, Putney, VT
One of the finest examples of farmstead sheep milk cheesemaking in the US, the Invierno is Vermont Shepherd creamery’s winter production cheese which becomes available the next fall. It is produced during the cold months when the sheep have rich milk and the cows are making lots of protein. The wheels are aged from 4 to 8 months during which a dry and earthy natural rind develops. The paste is a light golden straw color and slightly crumbly in texture while retaining a nice amount moisture to not be drying. Flavors are subtle but expressive: fresh grasses and herbs interplay with high notes of Meyer lemon and a beautiful lingering sweetness on the finish.