The Best Cheeses for Your Christmas Table

We are less than a week away from Christmas Eve and our shop is buzzing with activity. Between cheese platters, gift baskets and the opening of our second shop we haven't had a second to even breath. But finally today it feels like we have all our orders under control, the last of our shipping has been done and I got a chance to focus on some of the amazing cheeses in our case. With Christmas Eve only a few days away here are my picks for the best cheeses of the season and if I wasn't flying to the French Alps on Christmas Eve, what I would serve for my own celebration.

1. Harbison
Harbison is made on the farm by our friends at Jasper Hill in Vermont and this show stopping cheese has been spectacular this year.Its rich, gooey paste is slightly sweet and grassy, mushroomy and vegetal with a complexity that will leave you swooning. Harbison also makes a stunning presentation with its spruce bark wrapping and mottled blue and green molds on the bark. I suggest digging in with a spoon, grabbing the best baguette you can find and washing it down with a Belgian Saison, a craft cider or your favorite Pinot Noir.

2. Pleasant Ridge Reserve Extra Aged
I have always been a huge fan of this cheese no matter what its age but for the holidays Andy Hatch the cheesemaker and owner at Uplands Cheese Co. hooked us up with a few wheels of the longer aged variety. These 12-18 month wheels are full flavored, rich and buttery with flavors of nuts, fruit, herbs and almost an olive-y note. I think the finish rivals a great French Beaufort. Maybe I should pack a piece and test it against Beaufort when I'm in the Savoie later this week.

3.Stichelton
Christmas isn't Christmas without a good Stilton and our latest batch of the raw milk variety is showing as good as ever. These wheels are fudgy and moist with flavors of buttermilk up front, punchy blue, minerally spice in the middle and the LONGEST lingering flavor of barnyard, earthiness I've ever tasted. Truly spectacular and screaming for a vintage Port. Our friends at Harry's Wine & Liquor say the 2000 Graham's Vintage Port is the way to go. Add a jar of Harvest Song Preserved Walnuts and you will think you are in heaven. 

4. Brabander

I wanted to include Black Betty(the more aged version of the goat gouda Brabander and named for affineur and friend Betty Koster) as my pick but we sold the whole wheel in 2 days so we don't have any! Brabander however is equally worthy choice. It is younger than the Black Betty but still full of caramelly flavor and a creaminess that leaves you wanting more. 

5. Petit Vaccarinus

This Swiss version of Vacherin Mont d'Or is a celebration in a box.  Petit Vaccarinus is made between October and March, when the cows are no longer grazing on high Alpine pasture and are in the barns eating hay instead of grass. Flavors are strong and include mushrooms,earth, peanuts and straw and the texture is pure silk. This cheese makes a stunning presentation and requires nothing more than a great white wine like a Pinot Gris or Gewurztraminer.