I cracked open my first Montasio yesterday, after a 4 month age.  It was also my first Italian cheese, and my first use of thermophilic starter; so I didn’t know what to expect.  What I got was a really great cheese.  The rind was hard and had a slight moldy taste to it; but the cheese was terrific.  I’d recommend it.

Sounds great, were are the pics
Moldy? the good one or bad type taste?

Not being a mold ripened cheese, I can only assume it was the bad type.  Its not waxed, so there is the likelihood of mold.  Its controlled by periodically washing the wheel with a brine dampened cloth.  Its a very hard cheese, and I’m told that were I to let it age a further 6 to 8 months, it would be suitable for grating.

Rich, what size round is it? If you made a typical 2kg round, be careful about overaging. While the flavor will change over time—usually for the better, there is often not enough moisture in such small rounds of cheese to support very long aging. When I’ve tried it, I end up with a round of cheese that is mostly inedible rind and very little internal, usable cheese!

basicaly u end up with a hockey puck, thats why if u dont have a proper “cave” with the proper moisture content, then it might be better to just wax it. If u continue to wash the cheese with brine u might end up with another type of cheese and a sticky red rind

Rick, it was a 3 lb. wheel, done in a 6” mold.  The rind was not at all thick.  I think that if I were to age it much longer than the 4 months I did, I would definitely wax it.  I would be able to avoid all the washing required with an unwaxed cheese.

GCM aka Rich:

What do you use for a 6” mold?

Don’t want to start another forum controversy, but I use a piece of 6” schedule 80 PVC.  Its about 8” tall and will probably handle as much as a 4 pound cheese.  I also have a 6” stainless steel pipe, but I like the PVC better, as its I.D. is slightly larger.

I use PVC also, but haven’t been able to find a short six inch piece.  Guess I’m going to have to break down and buy a ten-footer.  Thanks.

If you know a contractor he can likely get you a piece of scrap.