We got some artisan cheese in this afternoon, four varieties of Sartori Reserve BellaVitano: a few small wedges of their Merlot, Black Pepper and Gold, and a 20 lb. wheel of their Raspberry BellaVitano. I had to cut that big mutha of a wheel so I could better fit it in the deli case and have it ready for smaller cutting (the smallest we cut to sell is half-a-pound). Naturally I had to taste it.
Oh...my...gosh...! This stuff is absolutely freaking awesome. I swear I could have just locked the front door, grabbed that 10 lb. half-wheel and just gleefully munched the rest of it in the back room for a couple of hours. It's a semi-crumbly Parmesan-like cheese, a tad moist and cream colored like vintage porcelain, with a nice yeasty aroma. The yeast aroma no doubt comes from the New Glarus Raspberry Tart Beer that the cheese is soaked in. The taste is unbelievable...slightly fruity, just a hint of saltiness, creamy and subtle.
This is a dignified cheese, well-mannered and gentlemanly, complex but quiet...not the kind that knocks you over like a heavyweight roundhouse punch, but rather like a series of those quick Bruce Lee short jabs that made the bad guy look confused ("I think I just got hit...a whole bunch of times") right before he drops to the ground. Even the rind, purpley from the raspberry beer, is dang yummy. I've found at least a few of my Christmas gifts this year.
This Raspberry BellaVitano is so good that you'll want to Google it just to find out more. That's how I felt anyway, so let me save you some trouble. Here's a couple links with raves from another cheesaholic (she's right on the money):
Best New Cheeses in the World
Sartori Reserve Raspberry BellaVitano - one of the best new cheeses I've tasted so far this year -- took gold for Best New Cheese with additives. This is the same cheese I raved about at July's ACS contest -- where it also took a blue ribbon.
On Location: Meet the Cheesemaker
This little treasure won't be available in retail stores until October, but I suggest you purchase a wheel as soon as it hits the market...It boasts an amazing, almost cravable taste reminiscent of an aged, premium Cheddar balanced by a full flavored Parmesan. One word: wowsers.
Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 12:01AM 
On the second day of Christmas Stumpjack gave to meeeeee... 
Jingle Bell Java
