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Saint-Felicien

Producer
Various
Country
France
Region
Rhône-Alpes
Size
3.5-4.5 in diameter, 1 in height
Weight
4.5 - 6.5 oz
Website
Milk
Cow
Classification
Soft
Rennet
Animal
Rind
Mold Ripened

 

Saint-Félicien is a soft cheese made from cow’s milk and cream. It ages for 2-6 weeks, developing a bloomy rind and a natural golden-beige color. Because the creamy and delicate paste can become runny, it’s sometimes sold in a small ceramic crock or in a wooden box.  

Saint-Félicien is considered a dauphinois cheese, which refers to the former French province of Dauphine in which it was born. Today it’s made in the Haute-Ardeche area of the Rhône-Alpes region. It’s quite is similar to another dauphinois cheese, the more common Saint-Marcellin, however the Saint-Félicien is slightly fattier and creamier, and can be larger in diameter.

Tasting Notes

Like Saint-Marcellin, Saint-Félicien is a soft, gentle and highly accessible cheese. Its softness is due to the hand-scooped, uncooked and unpressed curd during fabrication, as well as the occasional addition of cream. It is creamy, buttery, slightly tart, and nutty.

Pairings

Because Saint-Félicien is so mild, it works well as the introductory cheese on a cheese plate. Pair it with light and fruity wines that can enhance the soft flavors of the cheese; a Côtes du Rhône (Crozes-Hermitage, Vacqueyras) or a Beaujolais (Brouilly, Morgon).

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