Appalachian

Appalachian — Meadow Creek Dairy, Galax VA. Raw Jersey cow milk, French tomme style (loosely Tomme de Savoie / Toma Piemontese), natural rind. This wedge labelled "aged over six months" (older end; young wheels lean lemony/bright). Seasonal make, grazing season only (mid-March to December). Founders Rick and Helen Feete; dairy est. 1988, first cheese 1998. Appalachian is the flagship/original (Helen Feete). Super Gold, 2023 World Cheese Awards (top 100 of 4,502). Approx $42/lb specialty retail; Murray's, Saxelby, Eataly. Siblings: Grayson (washed rind, Taleggio style), Mountaineer (alpine, larger wheel, logged 2026-05-07). Personal: third cheese on a home board with Saint Angel triple-creme, a Thomasville Tomme, chorizo/salami/bresaola, strawberries, seaweed crackers and chutney. Tried many times over the years plus siblings. Earthy, hay, barnyard funk; mouthfeel blends soft and firm and melts; earthy edge into a pleasant bitterness on the finish. Familiarity earned it the third slot. Score 17/20 — aroma 2, flavor 6, texture 3, balance 3, craftsmanship 2, personal_enjoyment true. Gate offline; manual AI review only.