Review of AEppelTreow Winery’s Appely Doux methode champenoise sparkling cider.  I’ve previously tried their Barn Swallow cider on draft.

Cider:  Appely Doux
Cidery:  AEppelTreow Winery
Cidery Location:  Burlington WI
ABV:  8.5%
How Supplied:  750ml corked & caged champagne bottle
Style:  American methode champenoise craft sparkling cider

  

Availability:  At least in CA, DE, IA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, NY, OR, PA, SD, WA, WI, and WA D.C.

Cider Description:  Appely Doux is semi-sweet, fruity and floral.  It is inspired by French Country Ciders, and crafted from a blend of modern and heirloom apple varieties.

Made from Red Delicious, Cortland, and “various old baking apples”.  My bottle was labeled 2012.140.1 and said 2,560 produced (which looks like it was made in 2012, so it may have sat around awhile before me buying it in August 2015).

Cidery Description:  ÆppelTreow Winery & Distillery is a producer of small batch cider, perry and spirits.  Cider and Perry?  We use the pre-Prohibition meaning of ‘cider’, so we’re talking about fermented or ‘hard’ cider. Perry is the pear analogue to cider.  We use lots of different kinds of apples and pears in our products.  Some modern.  Some heirloom – no longer grown for stores. We make a range of styles: sparkling, draft, still/table, and fortified/dessert.  Within a style, we lean to the dry end – but also have some medium-sweet offerings.

They have a tasting room in Burlington WI and opened in 2001.

Price:  ~$17
Where Bought:  Capitol Cider in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I had heard of this cider (the Brut version) from Meredith at Along Came a Cider and it sounded like something I’d like.

First Impression:  Dark straw yellow.  High carbonation, tiny bubbles with foam.  Smells sweet, of rich ripe apples, yeast, and honey.

Tasting Notes:  Between semi-dry and semi-sweet.  Moderate to high acidity.  Low tartness.  Low tannins.  No bitterness or sourness.  Fizzy and frothy mouthfeel.  Notes of citrus, green apples, yeast, honey, and floral.  Slight richness.  Medium bodied.  Medium length finish.  Moderate to high apple influence.  Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion:  Yum!  This is a tasty, unique, and complex well-balanced sparkling cider.

Most Similar to:  This reminds me some of ciders from Brittany France, although slightly lighter.  Its truly sparkling, which most ciders aren’t.

Closing Notes:   This cider was quite enjoyable, so I look forward to trying more from AEppelTreow.

Have you tried AEppelTreow Winery Appely Doux?  What did you think?