the cheese blog

Shepherd’s Basket

The second cheese from Valley Shepherd Creamery was Shepherd’s Basket. This cheese is also made from raw sheep’s milk and is cave aged for up to 5 months.

The rind has a similar color and pattern to Manchego as this cheese is made in a Basque style. The cheese has a slightly fruity aroma. The interior is pale white with a few eyes through the paste. The texture is semi-firm and every so slightly crumbly. The taste had a mild saltiness with hints of hazelnuts and stone fruits (apricots, peaches). This cheese had a nice complexity.

I served it on the Thanksgiving cheese plate and it didn’t last long at all. It was one of the more popular cheeses on the plate! I think I’ll be buying this often (when I can find it) as it really is a great alternative to imported Manchegos.