Review of Maison Herout Micro-Cuvée No. 1 Sparkling Cidre aged in Calvados barrels.  I previously tried a similar Calvados barrel aged cider from Herout, Coup de Foudre Cidre Biologique, plus I’ve had their Brut, Extra-Brut, D-Day Commemorative Brut, and Pommeau.

Calvados = French apple brandy
Cuvée = a French wine term for vat/tank

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Beauchamp Imports / French Cider Inc.  Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free.  The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue.  I love free stuff, especially cider!  Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here?  Contact me.<<

Cider:  Micro-Cuvee No. 1 Sparkling Cidre aged in Calvados barrels
Cidery:  Maison Herout AOC
Cidery Location:  Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy, France
ABV:  6.5%
How Supplied:  750ml corked & caged bottles
Style:  French cidre, from cider apples, Calvados barrel aged

 

Availability:  In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online at their French Cider Inc. website (at the time of this review, they are able to ship to WA, OR, ID, CA, NV, NM, AK, ND, NH, & DC).  They also offer a number of other selections from Herout, plus ciders and Pommeaux from many other makers.

Cider Description:  Dense and complex, the Micro-Cuvée No. 1 Cidre is fermented for at least three months in an oak barrel that was previously used to age AOC Calvados. This gentle barrel fermentation gives this cider a very fine, fruity taste that is amplified by slightly tannic Calvados flavors on the finish.  Higher alcohol content due to aging in Calvados barrels.

Cidery Description:  Since the 1940s, Hérout cidre has been produced by the Hérout family on the Cotentin Peninsula on the Northwest coast of Normandy France, in Auvers, where apples thrive in its lush and oceanic climate.  They are the newest cidre AOC in France, since May 2016.  The cidermaker Marie-Agnes Herout was awarded the highest civilian honor in France for her 16 years of work getting the AOC recognized – Le Croix de Chevalier, Legion d’Honneur (Knights Cross for the Legion of Honneur).  See here for more information on the cider and here for more information on the cidery.

Price:  n/a (retails for $29)
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  it showed up

First Impression:  Light gold hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells of musty rich apple.

Tasting Notes:  On the sweeter side of semi-dry.  Light to medium bodied.  Low tartness.  Low to moderate acidity.  Low funk and tannins.  Hints of bitterness.  No sourness.  Notes of rich apple, must, orange, honey, leather, and earth/cork.  Long tannic slightly bitter finish.  High apple flavor, complexity, and sessionability.  Moderate overall flavor intensity.

My Opinion:  Awesome!  I really enjoyed it, especially the flavor profile and complexity.

Most Similar to:  Herout Coup de Foudre Cidre Biologique except more complexity and less bitterness

Closing Notes:  French Cider Inc has an awesome cider selection!

Have you tried French cider?  What did you think?