Description
Montgomery Cheddar Truckle
About Montgomery Cheddar Truckle
There are some cheeses that just belong at Christmas, and for me Montgomery Cheddar is definitely one of them.
This 2kg Montgomery Farmhouse Cheddar truckle is a whole, clothbound cheese made especially for the festive season. It has all the wonderful complexity of Montgomery Cheddar, but in a size that makes a fabulous centrepiece for a Christmas cheeseboard — or a rather brilliant present for someone who takes their Cheddar seriously!
We only have a limited number of these truckles each December, so if you want one for Christmas, it’s worth ordering early.
Montgomery Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese
Jamie Montgomery is the third generation of his family to farm at Manor Farm in North Cadbury, Somerset, and his Cheddar is probably one of the most famous farmhouse Cheddars in Britain. Many people would argue it is one of the best. I certainly wouldn’t disagree.
The cheese is made using raw milk from the farm’s own herd and traditional Cheddar-making methods. The curds are cut, stacked and turned in the process known as cheddaring, before the cheeses are wrapped in cloth and matured.
That cloth makes a real difference. Rather than sealing the cheese in plastic or wax, the traditional cloth binding allows it to breathe as it matures. Natural moulds develop on the outside and the cheese gradually loses moisture, helping to create Montgomery’s slightly drier texture and wonderfully concentrated flavour.
One of the things I love most about Montgomery is that it isn’t completely predictable. The cheese changes subtly throughout the year depending on the milk, the season and the individual batch. Occasionally we even find a little natural blueing within the paste. It’s all part of the character of a proper farmhouse cheese.
Protected by PDO Tradition
Montgomery is one of the small number of cheeses entitled to use the name West Country Farmhouse Cheddar PDO.
To qualify, the cheese must be made in Somerset, Dorset, Devon or Cornwall using traditional methods and local milk. The curd must be cheddared, the cheese must be matured for at least nine months and production has to remain firmly rooted in the West Country.
It means that although Cheddar is now made all over the world, cheeses such as Montgomery still have a direct connection to the place where it all began.
Montgomery Farmhouse Cheddar – Jen’s Tasting Notes
Montgomery is everything I want a Cheddar to be.
It has a firm, slightly crumbly texture and a wonderfully long flavour. I often find nutty and savoury notes, a lovely tanginess and sometimes something a little earthy or brothy. Then another batch comes along and gives you something completely different.
That variation is part of its charm. This isn’t a cheese designed to taste exactly the same every time. It reflects the milk, the seasons and everything that has happened during its maturation.
And yes, I am slightly biased. But I’ve eaten an awful lot of Cheddar in my time and Montgomery is still the one I’d choose.
How to Serve and Pair Montgomery Farmhouse Cheddar
- Make sure you take it out of the fridge a good hour before you want to eat it. With a whole 2kg truckle, I’d cut what you need and allow that piece to come up to room temperature rather than warming the entire cheese each time.
- Classic pairings: A proper West Country cider and Montgomery Cheddar just make sense together. They come from the same part of the world and the apple freshness works beautifully with the cheese’s savoury richness.
- Something a little different: If you prefer wine, I love Montgomery with a fruity Cabernet Sauvignon. There’s enough fruit and structure to stand up to all that flavour.
- On the plate: This is crying out for a proper ploughman’s — good sourdough, pickle, perhaps an apple and a generous wedge of Montgomery.
- In the kitchen: It makes an absolutely fabulous macaroni cheese, although I always have a slight problem with cooking with Montgomery because I’d rather just eat it.
Jen’s note: Montgomery is my absolute favourite Cheddar. We had a 6kg wheel as the base of our wedding cheese cake and, if I ever make it onto Desert Island Discs, a wedge of Monty is absolutely going to be my luxury item.
Buying Montgomery Farmhouse Cheddar
- Brand or Producer: The Montgomery Family
- Product name: Montgomery Farmhouse Cheddar
- Milk: Cow
- Country: England
- Region: Somerset
- Strength: Mature
- Vegetarian: No
- Suitable for pregnancy: Yes
- Allergens: MILK
Sizes and Prices
- Available as a 2kg clothbound truckle, £60.00
Storage Advice
- Keep refrigerated
- Wrap in waxed paper or cling film
- Remove from the fridge before serving
- Consume within 10 to 14 days of opening
Delivery and Collection
- UK wide courier delivery
- Click and collect from our Pangbourne shop
- Free local delivery available for selected postcodes
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, starter cultures, rennet, salt
