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: Time lets internal cracks and uneven texture become visible to inspectors.

Time lets internal cracks and uneven texture become visible to inspectors. ✓ — Right: the 12-month wait is a quality gate, not just a calendar rule. Early in life a wheel's rind and interior are still changing, so flaws such as cracks or uneven texture may not be detectable yet. Waiting gives inspectors time to judge the developed structure before they fire the official selection mark.

Waiting twelve months is enough because aging automatically removes any hidden flaws. — No: aging changes flavor and texture, but it does not erase hidden flaws. A wheel that develops cracks or uneven texture can still fail the consortium's 12-month inspection. The mark means the wheel was judged, not that time healed everything.

Salt must finish spreading evenly through the wheel before it can be marked. — Not the main reason: salt is added during the make and does spread through the wheel, but the official selection is about quality, appearance, and texture. If salt movement were the gate, a calendar could settle it. The 12-month check exists because internal quality has to be inspected, not merely aged.