Hunter Belle Cheese 'Belleyere'

Gruyere-style (Hard Cooked)
Cow's milk (Brown Swiss)
Hunter Valley
~3kg wheels
2-4 months maturation
www.hunterbellecheese.com.au

Hard cheeses are not widely made in Australia, let alone in New South Wales, so Hunter Belle's 'Belleyere' rates a special mention. Pronounced bell-yeah, it is made in a Gruyere-style, and matured for around 3 months.

Hunter Belle 'Belleyere'

Owned and operated by Geoff and Tania Chesworth, Hunter Belle makes cheeses exclusively from the milk of Brown Swiss cows, sourced from a single herd near Singleton. Most of them have belle-themed names, a legacy of the original cheesemaker which is being continued by current cheesemaker Tim Gadischke.

The rich milk from these pasture-fed cows produces a deep, golden colour in the 'Belleyere'. It has the slightly pungent aroma of a smear-ripened cheese like Tilsit, a compact Gruyere texture, a mild Cheddar-like tang, and a lingering sweet aftertaste - a little bit of something for everyone.

Hunter Belle Cheese 'Goldenbelle'

Washed rind
Cow's milk (Brown Swiss)
Hunter Valley
200g logs
7-8 weeks maturation
www.hunterbellecheese.com.au

With its shape and colour resembling a gold ingot, this cheese certainly lives up to its name. 'Goldenbelle' is one of the most delightful washed rinds I've tasted recently - in fact, I'd go so far as to say it's as good as any brand of French Pont l'Évêque available in Sydney.

Hunter Belle 'Goldenbelle'

I ate it right at its 'best before' date (which we all know really should be 'best after') so it was beautifully stinky with just the right amount of funk. The flavour, like most washed rinds, was milder than the aroma, with a lovely milky, creamy texture. It has a great balance between the natural sweetness of the milk and a delicious savoury edge, with just a hint of ammonia in the corners (common in square-shaped cheeses).

Hunter Belle is located at Muswelbrook in the Upper Hunter Valley, a couple of hours from Newcastle and beyond the well-trodden path of the Pokolbin vineyards. All of their cheeses have 'belle' references in their names.

Goldenbelle will be added to my list of perfect summer BBQ cheeses - put it out on a warm day and watch friends enjoy its meaty savouriness with a nice hoppy ale. Cheers!