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French Comté crowned world’s best cheese at prestigious awards
24-month-aged cheese was victorious in narrow tie-breaker
A French cheese has been crowned the world’s best at the most recent World Cheese Awards.
A 24-month-aged Comté Juraflore (Comté Fort des Rousses 24 Mois) took the coveted crown, beating more than 5,000 other cheeses from across the world.
The award – organised by the Guild of Fine Food – sees the cheeses assessed by a panel of experts. This year it was hosted in Cordoba, Spain.
The Comté narrowly beat an Ossau-Iraty from Agour in south-west France and a Swiss Gruyère to the top spot.
All three final cheeses actually tied on points, leading to a rare tie-breaker that saw their lowest and highest scores subtracted to come up with a final winner.
Critics highlighted the complexity of the Comté, an unpasteurised cow’s milk cheese.
“What I liked about this cheese was the complexity,” said expert Rafael Domínguez González on the Guild’s site. He was one of the 14 judges to assess the cheeses that made it to the final round.
“It evolves in the mouth. Those beautiful, nutty savoury flavours really left a mark on me. Sometimes you just know. The moment I tried this one I said straight away ‘This is my choice’.”
Producing cheese since 1907
The local creator behind the cheese is Fromageries Arnaud, a family-run business that has been producing delicacies since 1907.
“We are very proud, for the milk producers, for the cheesemakers, for the affineurs, for everybody – for the whole company,” said Jean-Charles Arnaud, the third-generation owner of Fromageries Arnaud to the Guild following his victory.
“It’s a real family affair, we are from the mountains in the Jura and make the four AOP cheeses Comté, Morbier, Mont d’Or, Bleu de Gex du Jura, but specialise in quality, long maturing cheeses in an emblematic area, The Fort des Rousses,” he added.
This is a 19th-century fort that has been converted for ripening cheeses.
It was his fourth time entering the awards.
“For us it is major, we are located on mountain roads at the heart of a natural park, the microbial diversity of our milk on a daily basis is essential – then using affinage methods that perpetuate the very oldest production methods.”
The Charles Arnaud 24 mois minimum Comté extra cheese is available – alongside several others – online. It costs €28.90 per kg.
What would you rate as the best cheese in the world? A Comté, an Ossau Iraty, or something else? Let us know via feedback@connexionfrance.com
