Why Délice de Bourgogne is the Triple Cream Cheese of Your Dreams

In our new series of cheese profiles, we further examine those cheeses that have been called out as best sellers from places in our “Cheese Shops We Love” series. Up first, the decidedly delightful Délice de Bourgogne.

Délice de Bourgogne is definitely a conversion cheese: one that is capable of moving people who are unexcited about the idea of fancy cheese from the “meh” to the “yeah!” column. And what’s not to love? The cheese is literally and aptly named “delight,” (of Burgundy,) and described as “buttery, creamy, and luscious” by Christian Petty, Store Manager and Cheese Buyer of Minneapolis-based shop, Surdyk’s. Délice de Bourgogne tops Surdyk’s best seller list, as well as other stores we have profiled. Available at both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a best-seller in those places also, for its approachable, downright delightful manner.

What is Délice de Bourgogne?

Délice de Bourgogne is a soft-ripened, pasteurized cow’s milk, triple-cream cheese coming from the Burgundy region in France, and modeled after an older, Burgundy-based cheese of a very similar style, Brillat-Savarin. (In fact, depending on what size Délice de Bourgogne you’ve got in your basket, it technically qualifies as Brillat-Savarin.)

History of Délice de Bourgogne

While Délice de Bourgogne gives the impression of being an elder statesman of the bloomy-rind category, in reality it’s a bit of a younger model (at least in name) as French cheeses go, developed in 1975 by Jean Lincet at Fromagerie Lincet. Brillat-Savarin, its parent cheese, dates back to the 1890s, and still a teenager by certain French cheese standards. Délice de Bourgogne has a registered trademark by Fromagerie Lincet, but neither it nor Brillat-Savarin is a PDO cheese. 

How is Délice de Bourgogne Made?

Pasteurized cow’s milk is fortified with additional fresh cream or crème fraîche, bringing the butterfat content to about 75% for Délice de Bourgogne. Inoculated with penicillium candidum cultures, the cheese is aged for at least one week for smaller rounds, (which qualify as Brillat-Savarin,) and two weeks or more for larger ones, (which don’t,) resulting in a smooth, bright white exterior, and a dense, homogenous interior with serious cream line potential. 

Délice de Bourgogne Tasting Notes

As a young cheese of considerable butterfat, Délice de Bourgogne is typically described as lactic and sweet, with just a hint of gentle, mushroomy earthiness, especially near the rind. Its mild nature, combined with its opulent texture, makes it the closest one may come to eating straight butter in polite company.

Délice de Bourgogne Pairings

For accoutrement pairings, try Delice de Bourgogne with something sweet to round out its light tang, such as fig or cherry preserves. For a truly inspired dessert preparation, swap it out for the marshmallow in a s’more.

 Because Délice de Bourgogne is rich in texture but delicate in flavor, its ideal wine pairing is a sparkling that won’t overwhelm it but can help scrub your palate clean in anticipation of the next bite. For a terroir-driven pairing, try a Crémant de Bourgogne sparkling. Other rich Burgundy white wines such as Mersault also mirror Délice de Bourgogne quite well. For domestic selections, try a crisp California Sparkling like Taralyn Brut, a NYIWC 2022 Double Gold winner or a rich California Chardonnay such as Edna Valley Vineyards Chardonnay, another Double Gold winner.