Challerhocker

Challerhocker is a thermized cow's milk Swiss Alpine from eastern Switzerland, aged at least 10 to 12 months and washed in brine and a proprietary spice blend as it ages in the cellar. It sits in the same family as Gruyère and Comté, but pushed a step further.

The paste is dense and smooth with the satiny pull of a properly aged Alpine. It breaks in clean slabs under the knife. Flavor is the whole reason to buy this one: brown butter and toasted hazelnut up front, then roasted onion and caramel through the middle, with a savory finish that lingers on the palate. The brine and spice wash is doing real work here, building that depth and complexity.

If you already love Gruyère and Comté and you want to see what the next gear looks like, this is it. It's made in very limited production. And yes, this is the cheese from Curb Your Enthusiasm, also known as "Vonderdonk"!