From the Cheese Portraits series.

Made with raw milk from pasture fed cows, this is a rarity from Asturias, the northwest region of Spain. The name translates as "King Silo" as an homage to the king of Asturias in the 700's and "Rojo" as red. Aged in caves along the Nalon River, Rey Silo is a rich, complex and true expression of the land, with a wealth of some of the oldest classic Spanish cheeses.

The paste glows red-orange with specks of pimenton in the paste and wheels aged in underground caves. The result is a tangy, purity, somewhat yeasty flavor profile that has a robust flavor and some residual heat. The texture is firm, crumbly and truly gratifying to bite into.

I was practically hypnotized the moment I saw an image of this beauty when Hunter Fike, of Di Bruno Bros posted it. He told me it's a very rare cheese to get in the states, that they only get a couple deliveries a year, and the Spring batch is especially great.

Origin: Spian

Price: $550