Le Vache de Chalais looks like a Banon, and is made from cow's milk, as the name indicates. It is truly a gourmet cheese, wrapped in chestnut leaves or grape leaves that has been soaked in white wine (eau de vie), and tied with raffia.

This lovely cheese comes from the Provence, which is the same region as Saint Marcellin. When the cheese is young, it is chalky and crumbly, with a sweet-tart tang, but during ripening, when the leaves become more brittle and turn brown, the cheese becomes creamier.

The rind will be covered with a blue-yellow mold crust and is slightly chewy. The flavor is complex and you might need a couple of bites to really appreciate all the flavors.