Why does a Parmigiano Reggiano wheel wait until at least 12 months for the official selection mark instead of being fully approved when it is molded?

Answer: Hidden defects emerge

Hidden defects emerge ✓ — Right: the wait lets the wheel reveal whether its structure is sound. At 12 months, the consortium evaluates appearance and internal texture before applying the official selection mark. The neat twist is that time is not only adding flavor; it is also giving defects enough time to become detectable.

Age alone is enough — No: age is necessary but not sufficient. A wheel reaches the minimum maturation point, then still has to pass selection before receiving the official mark. That makes the mark more than a birthday stamp: it signals that the cheese survived both time and quality judgment.

Salt must finish moving — Not the main reason: salt is part of the make process, but the official selection is about quality, appearance, and texture. If salt movement alone were the gate, a calendar would be enough. The point of the 12-month check is that the wheel's internal quality has to be judged, not merely aged.