{"product_id":"le-swiss-gruyere-aop-1655-cheese","title":"Le Swiss Gruyère AOP 1655 Cheese","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGruyère “1655” AOP\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a premium, high-quality Swiss Gruyère cheese produced under the strict Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) standards in the Gruyère region of Switzerland (primarily Canton Fribourg).\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt represents a select tier of traditional Gruyère, distinguished by rigorous quality controls and exceptional flavor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn short, Gruyère 1655 AOP stands out as a “mountain king” among Swiss cheeses: denser and more refined than standard Gruyère, with superior depth, creaminess, and consistency thanks to strict selection and traditional craftsmanship. It’s a favorite among cheese connoisseurs for both everyday enjoyment and special occasions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin and Production\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProducer\/Affineur\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Made at Fromagerie Le Crêt (among a very small number of creameries) and aged by Fromage Gruyère SA. The “1655” designation celebrates a historic milestone in Gruyère production and was launched to highlight the very best wheels.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMilk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Raw cow’s milk from herds fed exclusively on natural grass and hay from local pastures (no silage or additives). It uses traditional rennet and rare mountain salt from Bex.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProcess\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Wheels (typically 75–88 lbs \/ ~34–40 kg, about 2.5 feet tall) are hand-crafted using ancestral methods, then aged for around 12+ months (sometimes longer for deeper complexity). Only cheeses scoring exceptionally high (e.g., average 19.67\/20 over years in blind tastings by expert panels) qualify for the 1655 label.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAppearance and Texture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRind\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Hard, natural, brownish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaste\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Ivory to light mocha\/golden-yellow color, dense and compact yet somewhat flexible or velvety. It can be slightly flaky or crumbly with small tyrosine crystals (pinpoint crunch) that develop with age.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEyes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Few or none (typical of Gruyère, unlike Emmental).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlavor Profile\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGruyère 1655 is often described as one of the finest expressions of the style—complex, balanced, and multi-layered without being overpowering.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKey notes include:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInitial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Fresh cream, salt, and a bright fruity burst.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMid-palate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Nutty (toasted seeds, hazelnut), sweet (caramelized onions, brown butter toast), and robust fruitiness with earthy\/hay undertones.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Deep, structured umami\/nuttiness, sometimes with beef broth or stone fruit hints. It’s sweet-salty, full-bodied, and elegant.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe exact nuances vary slightly with the pastures and aging, giving it a distinctive “fruity” character tied to the local terroir.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUses and Pairings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcellent melting cheese\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Ideal for fondue, French onion soup, grilled cheese, strata, or gratins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTable cheese\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Great on charcuterie boards with apples, pears, or nuts. Pairs well with white wines (e.g., Chardonnay), light reds, or even drizzled in caramel for a sweet-savory dessert twist.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eIt shines grated, sliced, or melted due to its balanced acidity and structure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fromage Gruyère SA","offers":[{"title":"8 oz","offer_id":43320916148313,"sku":"LGRY-1655-AOP-8OZ","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 lb","offer_id":43320916181081,"sku":"LGRY-1655-AOP-1LB","price":38.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2 lb","offer_id":43320916213849,"sku":"LGRY-1655-AOP-2LB","price":76.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"9 lb (1\/8 Wheel)","offer_id":43320916246617,"sku":"LGRY-1655-AOP-9LB","price":269.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0661\/4466\/5689\/files\/IMG-6680.jpg?v=1778850560","url":"https:\/\/thetablegourmet.com\/products\/le-swiss-gruyere-aop-1655-cheese","provider":"The Table Gourmet","version":"1.0","type":"link"}