Review of Eric Bordelet’s Sidre Brut Tendre.  I’ve previously had the non-Brut (sweeter) version of this same cider (see here), as well as his Poire Authentique and Nouvelle Vague Sidre.

Cider:  Sidre Brut Tendre
Cidery:  Eric Bordelet
Cidery Location:  Normandy, France
ABV:  4.5%
How Supplied:  750ml corked & caged bottles
Style:  French craft cider from cider apples, sparkling, brut (dry), naturally fermented

 

Availability:  Semi wide release.  In addition to France and the U.S.A., the website says the ciders are available in Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brasil, and South Africa.

Cider Description:  Traditional semi dry cider.

They also make a non-brut (sweet) version of this cider.  I’ve read the only difference between the two is that this drier version was allowed to ferment fully, while the sweeter version has fermentation stopped early.

Cidery Description:  The Bordelet family’s biodynamic orchards are in southern Normandy. The orchards as well as the cider making is undertaken by former Paris sommelier Eric Bordelet. All tolled, the orchard is 37 acres, seven and a half of which bear apple and pear trees 50 years old. The estate holds 20 varieties of apples and 15 varieties of pear. This is cider you are going to want to make a special effort to seek out.

See here and here for more information.

Price:  $12
Where Bought:  Cheese Plus in San Francisco CA (across the street from The Jug Shop) – I highly recommend both shops
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing, on a cruise port stop – it was a really neat store, with lots of fancy wine and other beverages (they probably had 8 cider varieties, national, Spanish, and French – I also picked up some cans of Embark cider), cheese, charcuterie, and other fine foods – perfect to pick up items for a dinner party, or just a sandwich for lunch

First Impression:  Moderate gold hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells of apple pomace.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Low tartness and acidity.  Moderate tannins.  No bitterness, sourness, or funk.  Notes of bittersweet cider apple juice and pomace, yeast, caramel, oak, and orange.  Moderate length finish.  High apple flavor and sessionability.  Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion:  Awesome!  I think I enjoyed this more than the sweeter version.  I loved the complexity (more than the sweeter version).  Completely clean (no sourness or funk), so it would be a great introduction to French cider.  It is amazing that Bordelet can create such a clean cider with wild fermentation.  This would also make a nice brunch cider, due to the lower ABV, and it is food-friendly (I had it with some smoked salmon).

Most Similar to:  Bordelet Sidre Tendre (non-brut), Bordelet Nouvelle Vague Sidre, and Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge

Closing Notes:  It looked like this bottle sat around for awhile in the store, as the label was messed up (and it was at a lower price than I’d expect).  It was also a bit less carbonated than I’d expect, which can happen over time.  However, it was still awesome.  Ciders like this can even improve with age.

Have you tried Eric Bordelet cidre?  What did you think?