Rodolphe Le Meunier, Raw Cow Milk, Charente-Maritime region, France
A cheese rarely seen in the US from a true small artisan producer, the Tome de la Coze looks like it could have been chiseled out from inside of a French cave. The hearty natural rind cuts a striking profile, and adds fantastic earthy flavors to the paste of the cheese. Notes of mushrooms and cultured butter are pronounced up front followed by the flavor of spring vegetables like asparagus and artichoke that round out the finish.