The origins of the Epoisses cheese can be found at the Abbaye de Citeaux, in the Bourgogne region of France. It's there that the monks first produced this remarkably complicated cheese.
We are told that Napoleon was partial to this cheese and ate it with Chambertin wine.
The Epoisses cheese was very popular in the early part of the twentieth century but disappeared during the second world war. It was only in 1946 that two local Bourguignon families started to produce it.
The well known Epicurean Brillat Savarin called Epoisses the King of cheeses. Many people consider it one of the most interesting French cheeses. It is often compared to the character of two well known French historic personalities, the Epoisses has the force of Charles le Temeraire and the sensibility of Madame de Sevigne.
The cheese has a powerful rich flavour with a pungent smell, the pate, a mouth watering taste of sweet, salty and creamy milk flavours.
The pate is fine textured. The rind is regularly washed in Marc, this adds to its complexity and fascinating taste.
White wine: Chassagne-Montrachet (Chardonnay grape) or Marc de Bourgogne
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