Chaource and Langres

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Chaource (AOC 1970) and Langres (AOC 1991) are the two great cheeses of the Champagne region — one a snow-white, cream-hearted cylinder, the other a sunken-crowned, orange-washed wonder, and together they represent two fundamentally different approaches to soft-ripened cheesemaking. Chaource is made in the Aube department from whole cow's milk, lactic-set over 12-24 hours (like Brie de Melun, the slow lactic set creates its distinctive texture), drained in cylindrical moulds, salted, and aged for a minimum of 14 days (often 4-6 weeks). The rind develops a dense Penicillium candidum bloom. At 14 days, the interior shows a chalky, mousse-like core surrounded by a cream-line (the softened paste just beneath the rind). At full maturity (6 weeks), the entire interior becomes a flowing, almost liquid cream with intense mushroom, butter, and lactic flavors. The chalky-core stage is actually preferred by many — the textural contrast between crumbly center and flowing cream-line is Chaource's signature. Langres is made in the Haute-Marne and is one of France's most visually distinctive cheeses: a small cylinder (150-800g) with a concave depression on top called the fontaine (fountain), formed because the cheese is never turned during affinage — the top sinks as the cheese ages. The rind is washed with annatto-tinted brine, giving it a brilliant orange color. The traditional finish: pour a splash of Marc de Bourgogne or Champagne into the fontaine before serving — the spirit pools in the hollow, seeping into the cheese, creating an extraordinary aromatic marriage. Langres has a rich, slightly smoky, tangy character with a supple but not runny interior. Both cheeses pair magnificently with Champagne — Chaource's cream tempers the wine's acidity, while Langres's tang and spirit-infused character creates a more complex dialogue.

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