The average price you would expect to pay for a decent block of cheese in a supermarket is probably about £3. In my opinion it is very difficult for a block of cheese to justify a price in excess of £5, given the wide variety of delicious options available for less than that. With that in mind, can this cheese justify its exorbitant price point of £7.75, especially in the face of the cost-of-living crisis? Read on to find out.

Epoisses is a village in Burgundy, France, from where this cheese originates. The cheese is a soft cheese, with an orange rind which is repeatedly washed in a form of brandy called Marc de Bourgogne.

The packaging recommends that the cheese is left to sit for half an hour outside of the fridge prior to consumption for the best experience, however I was too excited to wait and dug in at once. The cheese is delicious, as you would expect given its price! It has a gloriously rich flavour and is surprisingly easy to eat, given its strength.

I found that the flavours came in three waves, first a buttery burst, followed by a farmyardy flash and finally a winey wash as the flavours retreat. This final flavour helps to prevent the cheese from being too stodgy and allows you to eat plenty without getting sick of it.

After my initial excitement, I then waited the requisite 30 minutes and came back to the cheese with high hopes. When trying it on a cracker for the first time I’m embarrassed to admit that I made an involuntary noise of delight upon discovering new highs in the realm of supermarket cheeses.

This cheese pairs excellently with grapes, pears, a sweet white wine and a salty cracker.

So, did this cheese justify its extreme price? In my opinion, it absolutely did. I rate this cheese an incredible 9.7 out of ten, which makes it one of the best cheeses I have ever tasted. It is just a shame that such a lovely experience is locked behind such a high price point – despite my deep love for this cheese, I can not justify spending such a large amount of money on a single block of cheese with any regularity. With that said – I believe that this cheese is a must-try cheese for anyone and everyone reading this review.

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