Elizabeth, N.J.-based Atalanta says it introduced Snowdonia Cheese Co.’s first-ever vintage cave-aged cheddar: Rock Star cheddar. The new product adds to Atalanta’s range of award-winning, contemporary cheeses crafted in the Welsh tradition. Snowdonia partnered exclusively with Atalanta to bring this vibrantly flavored cheese from North Wales to the U.S. market.

Formed by the family of third-generation dairy farmers, Snowdonia Cheese uses local natural resources to produce its premium, uniquely flavored cheeses. Snowdonia Cheese uses a former slate mine buried 500 feet deep in Snowdonia National Park, a protected Dark Sky Reserve, as the perfect setting for aging this luxurious, distinctively rich cheddar, Atalanta says.

The 18-month maturation in sealed slate chambers gives Rock Star Cheddar its depth of flavor — characterized by a savory tang and finishes with a caramel overtone. The smooth, dense texture is punctuated with the occasional crunchy crystal, a highly desirable characteristic of cave-aged cheeses, Atalanta says.

“It’s a real labor of love to mature a cheese deep underground in such a remote setting, and for us, it’s worth it,” says Richard Newton-Jones, commercial director at Snowdonia Cheese Co. “The flavor is stunning, and the setting is incredible — it’s a real honor to work with the natural landscape in this way, surrounded by the majestic beauty of Snowdonia.”