Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · France
Saint-Marcellin.
A whisper-soft disc that melts on your tongue like warm butter kissed with earth and fresh grass. Saint-Marcellin exhales delicate mushroom notes beneath its lactic tang—creamy yet bright, with a texture that hovers between solid and spoonable depending on its mood. Best eaten nearly liquid, straight from its earthenware cradle, this is cheese as fleeting experience.
Rate this cheese
Origin
45.3°N · 4.7°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Saint-Marcellin is a tiny disc cheese (80g) from the Isère region of the northern Rhône-Alpes, with records going back to the 15th century when it was reportedly eaten by King Louis XI.
It is consumed very ripe—almost liquid—in its characteristic earthenware pot. PGI was granted in 2013.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · pasteurised
- Family
- Soft-bloomy
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 1–2 mo
- Protected
- PGI · since 2013
- Intensity
- 2 / 5
- Texture
- soft
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Saint-Marcellin's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for soft-bloomy cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 1.5–2 h before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Cut like a cake — slim wedges from the centre, through the rind. Don't scoop the middle and strand the shell.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Saint-Marcellin.
44 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Saint-Marcellin are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Saint-Marcellin at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
