Ros (Ombra)

Producer

Josep Cuixart

Country

Spain

Region

Catalonia

Size

3 ins high

Weight

2-2.5 lbs

Website

Milk

Sheep

Classification

Firm

Rennet

Vegetable

Rind

Natural

Josep Cuixart, an esteemed Spanish cheesemaker, began Formatges Can Pujol in 1980. With milk from his small herd of goats he produced fresh, ready to eat cheeses at a small factory. However, by 1990, the business had expanded to the point that he was ready to move to a larger location, where the business remained for seven years. Soon after the move, Josep began producing aged cheeses starting with what would become his signature cheeses, Nevat. Now located in the village Vilassar de Dalt, north of Barcelona in Cataluña, Spain, Josep has developed a reputation for excellent cheeses including Nevat and Ros. Formatges Can Pujol still uses the milk from their own herd of goats, but also buy milk from neighboring farmers in their area in order to keep up with demand. Ros (also marketed under the name Ombra in the USA) is an aged sheep's milk cheese invented in 1993. The name Ros means "blondie" in Catalan and was chosen to reflect Cuixart's nickname, (due to his fair hair) and the straw color of the cheese's interior when mature. Wheels are about three inches tall, with a natural rind, coated with gray and brown molds. The minimum age is four months, but the cheese can withstand up to ten months of ripening.

Tasting Notes

The interior paste is firm and close-textured and occasionally studded with crunchy nuggets of crystalized amino acids. Flavors are of butterscotch and pineapple, and well balanced between citrus acidity and the sweetness of the milk.

Pairings

The sweetness of the cheese pairs well with a fairly spicy wine, such as Rioja.