Manchego Reserve (Extra Aged) - Whole Wheel (7 pound)

The package was shipped via FedEx 2-day, which at this time of year is perfect, and it arrived in great shape.I weighed the wheel after removing the vac-seal bag, and it came in at 114.2oz, or 7lb 2.2oz. It did have a near-term "best by" date of late May, but since it's unlikely any of it will be left by mid-June, I'm not concerned. I cut the wheel into 7 large chunks and one small chunk for immediate tasting, and vac-sealed the 7 large chunks.The cheese is outstanding, and I foresee the purchase of another wheel in my future.

Some believe aged sheep's cheese to be the healthiest of cheeses. Count me among them. As a long-time cheese lover, I find it especially easy to digest. Perhaps why it’s almost the only cheese I eat now. I even use it for my home made pizzas. And Manchego is my favorite of those I have tried so far. But where to buy it? I live in the USA, not Spain. Well, Costco has a fine 6 month aged version. Trader Joe's has a similar version, as well as a 12 month aged version. Sam’s Club has a version with no age listed, which appears to be younger. And, of course, Whole Foods and other gourmet stores carry it, but at a price that may make it too pricey for daily use.The longer the aging, the greater the flavor and the more easily it is digested. So I am always on the lookout for a good 12 month aged version. I have ordered from this vendor twice. The first time I received a Navarro brand cheese, which was as good as any I have sampled. The second time I received a very different brand, darker yellow in color and not quite as good in my opinion, but still excellent. Since the price is very reasonable, I consider this a good option for 12-month aged Manchego.Update 4-2-20:Still buying this cheese. Still excellent. Hands down my favorite cheese overall.Update 4-11-21This is an excellent aged Manchego, but the method by which it is shipped is really adequate only for short distances or during the coolest part of the year. It is packed in an insulated wrap with a couple of ice packs in a cardboard box and sent by FedEx ground. Order on a Monday and not a Friday! I live in Arizona and it’s shipped from Florida: a long, potentially very hot drive away. I’ve had it arrive in the summer with much of it’s fat content in the form of a liquid extruded from and surrounding the cheese, resulting in a very dry, subpar product. It was still edible, but not what I really wanted. With climate change this is becoming an issue for me even in the Spring. It is a very fine cheese at a good price, however, so I just try to time my orders with temperature in mind.

We were annoyed that the first wheel sent was the wrong product (3-month old vs the 12-month ordered) but Carmen & Lola made it right and then some. As for the cheese, to tell the truth this is a good, not great Manchego but considering the cost to fly to Spain and get it at the source this is a great deal.

I ordered this by mistake; however, we were Pleasantly surprised.

I really like this cheese. It arrived still cool in its foil bubble pouch with ice packs still cold.

This cheese is amazing! Would love if there were a soft sheep cheese. Very limited diet and it is a blessing to finally have a cheese that my body accepts. Thank you.

By the time the shipment arrived, ice was melted and all the oils had seeped out of the cheese hard cover. Cheese was very dry and crumbled. Expensive mistake. Don't order in the dead of summer. It too hot to ship

Good price but I don’t think this is extra aged cheese. This Manchego is pretty young