Kupela Basque Cider

June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 cidersays Kupela, review basque, Basque cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, French, french cider, French cidre, Kupela, tasting notes

Review of Kupela’s Basque Cider, from France. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

>>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: Basque Cider
Cidery: Kupela
Cidery Location: Anglet, France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 330ml bottles
Style: French (Basque region), Demi-Sec (medium dry)

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).

Cider Description: From the Basque region, this distinctive cider is tasty, tangy, smooth yet expressive. Cellar master, Agustin Etxeberria has created this modernized version of traditional Basque cider – making it light, but dry and slightly tangy, with subtle effervescence. The fleeting hint of sweetness, is balanced immediately by the acidic cider apple flavors. 100% natural and 100% refreshing. Fermented in the bottle, try this is a real alternative to beer.

Cidery Description: Located in the Basque region of northern Spain, Kupela cider is produced using traditional Basque methods. Kupela pays tribute to the Basque sailors who embarked on lengthy sea voyages with cider in barrels (“Kupela” in Basque), rich in vitamin C to fight scurvy. Its acidity, its lightness and its fruitiness match perfectly with the gastronomy acclaimed by modern Epicureans.

Price: n/a (retails for $5.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of green apple & pomace, pineapple, lemon, honey, and mineral. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high complexity. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. Not at all what I was expecting from a French or Basque cider, but in a good way. I’m not typically a fan of Spanish Basque cider due to the sourness, but it was absent. This may be the first French Basque cider I’ve tried though. It would be a fun cider to bring to a party, as its qualities remain crowd-friendly (not sour, bitter, or funky, and mid-level sweetness), plus it has some nice complexity.

Most Similar to: not any French or Basque Spanish cider I’ve tried, but an Italian cider, Bertilinos, except even more complex

Closing Notes: Although ‘Basque’ cider is more commonly associated with Spain, the Basque region spans both Spain (Northern) and France (Southwestern).

Have you tried Basque French cider? What did you think?

Cidre de Rhuys Brut

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 cidersays Cidre de Rhuys, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, French, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Cidre de Rhuys Brut, from France. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Brut
Cidery: Cidre de Rhuys
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 330ml and 750ml bottles, and kegs
Style: French cidre from the Brittany region

Availability: semi wide release (see here)

Description: For three generations our family has perfected the craft of making artisanal natural cider. Made from only freshly harvested fruit, each apple is carefully selected and hand picked. A slow fermentation allows the cider to develop its rich fine flavours and gentle acidity without the use of added sulfites or pasteurization. Award winning in both regional and international competitions, please enjoy our cider fresh and lightly chilled.

Price: ~$4?
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was the only French cidre available at the time in single serve bottles, and I hadn’t tried it.

First Impression: Moderate brown amber hue. Very high carbonation with some foam (I ended up spilling about 1/3 of the bottle upon opening!). Smells of sweet bittersweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied with a fluffy texture. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of primarily apple pomace, with some brown sugar and caramel. Moderate length finish. Moderate flavor intensity, apple flavor, and sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, its not one of my favorite French cidres. It smelled quite sweet and of apple juice, but the flavor was surprisingly dry and mild, of apple skin, with some hints of richness. With the flavor profile I think I would have liked it a bit sweeter.

Most Similar to: Herout AOC Cotentin Extra-Brut and Aval. However, for a single serve Brittany France cidre, I prefer Celt (this has a bit less sweetness and more complexity though) as well as Lefevre Winter Cidre.

Closing Notes: This also comes in a Doux version, and in larger bottle sizes, but I’ve only seen this one.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Domaine de la Minotiere Cidre Fermier Bio Doux

October 27, 2017October 29, 2017 cidersays Domaine de la Minotiere, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidre Fermier Bio, Domaine de la Minotiere, French, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Domaine de la Minotiere’s Cidre Fermier Bio Doux. It is my first time trying this, but I have had many French ciders, such as these.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Winesellers, Ltd. 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: Cidre Fermier Bio Doux 2015
Cidery: Domaine de la Minotiere
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 3.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: Norman French cidre, Organic, Doux (which means sweet)

Availability: Semi wide release in the U.S. through Winesellers, Ltd. Their cider portfolio also includes Manoir de Grandouet, Le Brun, & Cidrerie Daufresne from France, Dunkertons from England, and Sidra Asturiana Mayador from Spain.

Cider Description: This cider is full-bodied and slightly sweet, with subtle apple character and a beautiful balance of acid, tannin, and sugar. It has a mix of citrus peel, fruity aromas of apricot and citrus fruit, and musty floral notes.

Cidery Description: Domaine de la Minotiere is a small 15-hectare single domaine of cidre orchards cultivated under 100% organic certification. The specialty is traditional farmhouse cidre produced both in a dry (Brut) and sweet (Doux) style. The Domaine de la Minotiere owns a long tradition and elaboration of farmhouse cider coming from the fruit of its orchards, in a place called the “Golden Triangle” – known to be the best area to produce cider.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $12)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer contacted me

First Impression: Light amber hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of funk and apple pomace.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied and frothy. Low tartness, acidity, tannins, and funk. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of apple pomace and juice, yeast, earth, caramel, and green apple. The main flavor of the cider dissipates fairly quickly, but a very light apple pomace flavor really lingers. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I was expecting this to be very sweet, but was pleasantly surprised. I loved the flavor profile. Similar to Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut, the funk/barnyard scent was quite strong, but didn’t transfer much to the flavor, and dissipated over time. It was also similar to the Grandouet in how the ripe apple yeasty funky characteristics of the Norman cider were expressed without any perceived sourness (yay!), and that it was more rich than fruity. This cider is also an excellent value for being imported and Organic.

Most Similar to: Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut and L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut (very much so, although this is sweeter than both of those), Manoir De Montreuil Cambremer, and Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge

Closing Notes: It seems odd to have a cider with only 3% ABV, but that is fairly common in France (some are even lower!). I found a post online of someone recommending this as a brunch cider, and I totally agree. They also have a drier (Brut) version of this cider that is 5% ABV, which I also plan to try.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Le Brun Poire

October 25, 2017October 21, 2017 cidersays Le Brun, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, France, French, hard cider, Le Brun, perry, Poire, tasting notes

Review of Le Brun Poire, a French perry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had Le Brun’s Brut and Organic cidres (and several other poires).

Cider: Poire
Cidery: Le Brun
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: Breton French poire (perry)

Availability: Semi wide release in the U.S. through Winesellers, Ltd (new to their portfolio as of October 2017). Their cider portfolio also includes Manoir de Grandouet, Domaine de la Minotiere, & Cidrerie Daufresne from France, Dunkertons from England, and Sidra Asturiana Mayador from Spain.

Description: LeBrun Cidres have been produced in Brittany, France since 1955. Cidres are made using the traditional method of natural fermentation of pure pressed juices from handpicked pears. It all starts with the fruit. The cidery selects superior quality pears.

The orchards are carefully looked after until maturation of the fruits. The pears are picked by hand in order to prevent any damage. Preparing the fruit before cider making is always a process. The pears are collected and aged in special wooden cases for about 3 weeks in order to enable the fruit to slightly dehydrate and concentrate its aromas. The pears are then ready to be mashed. Once this is done, the result (pulp plus juice) is left to rest in a tank. This helps balance the taste profile of the future perry by sweetening possible harsh overtones. The pulp/juice is pressed again to get pure juice.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $10)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer/distributor contacted me

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of candied dried pear and lemon.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. A hint of tannins. Notes of dried pear, candied pear, lemongrass, green apple, and honey. Moderate length finish with lingering lemon. Moderate pear flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Great! I was surprised with the dryness, lightness, and sharpness, as I was expecting something that was sweeter, fuller bodied, and lower acidity, like the others I’ve tried. Perries are usually on the sweeter end as pear juice has unfermentable sugars (sorbitol). I liked it however, especially the complexity. This would be especially nice in summer, at only 4% ABV (and its really affordable too).

Most Similar to: Not anything I’ve tried. The other poires I can remember trying were semi-sweet, such as from Christian Drouin, Dan Armor (the sweetest of these), Domaine Pacory, and Eric Bordelet (the driest of these).

Closing Notes: This is a great addition to Le Brun’s U.S. lineup, which already has “Brut” and “Organic” varieties of cider. Winesellers also offers a French perry / poire from Daufresne, which I will be trying soon.

Have you tried Poire? What did you think?

Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut

October 23, 2017November 3, 2017 cidersays Manoir de Grandouet, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidre Fermier Brut, French, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Manoir de Grandouet, tasting notes

Review of Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut. It is my first time trying this one, but French cidre isn’t new to me; here are some of the ones I’ve tried.

Cider: Cidre Fermier Brut
Cidery: Manoir de Grandouet
Cidery Location: Pays d’Auge, Normandy, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: Norman French cidre, Brut (which means “dry”, but for French cider is typically semi-dry ish, vs. the sweeter “doux”)

Do you ever notice how French cidery and cidre names all seem to sound the same, and often even the labels look the same? I have a tough time remembering which ones I’ve tried! Having a list has definitely come in handy.

Availability: Semi wide release in the U.S. through Winesellers, Ltd. Their cider portfolio also includes Le Brun, Domaine de la Minotiere, & Cidrerie Daufresne from France, Dunkertons from England, and Sidra Asturiana Mayador from Spain. Or, if you are lucky enough to live in France, the Grandouet cidery’s website has a cider locator.

Cider Description: After a long and slow fermentation of about 5 months, the cider is bottled and kept in our cellars for more than a year. It develops tannic, smoked and slightly leather aromas. Lovers of traditional cider will appreciate this cider of character, rustic and drier. Yellow-orange, it has a slight bitterness which makes it a thirst quenching cider. This cider can be enjoyed during a meal, accompanied by dishes (meats, fish, seafood) or Norman cheeses (Camembert of Normandy AOP, Pont-L’Evêque PDO and Livarot PDO). It can also be enjoyed in kir, with a cream of fruits (raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant).

Cidery Description: Grandouet is located in the heart of Pays d’Auge at 2 km from the village of Cambremer on the “Route du Cidre”. The terroir and the climate make it a privileged site for cider products. In this typical farm of the Pays d’Auge, dedicated to apple and milk AOC, the production remains faithful to the traditions and know-how transmitted to the Grandval family for three generations.

It is amazing how old and generational many French cideries are! Their website has more info on their family cidermaking history (it is in French, but the Chrome browser at least has a translate option, at the right side of the web address area).

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $11)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer contacted me (I previously reviewed their Dunkertons cider)

First Impression: Moderate orange amber hue. Moderate carbonation and high foam. Smells of funky ripe yeasty French apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied, with a very frothy fluffy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins, bitterness, and funk. No sourness. Notes of ripe cooked bittersweet apples and pomace, residual yeast, orange, butterscotch, and earth/smoke. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Great! I loved how the ripe apple yeasty funky characteristics of Norman cider were expressed without any perceived sourness, which can be common (such as in Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche). I liked that this was more rich than fruity. It would make a great introduction to Normandy cider for someone who had only tried the easier to drink Breton ciders from Brittany France (which are typically completely clean, ie. free of funk and sourness, plus often sweeter). The funk in this cider was primarily in the scent, and subsided a bit over time, so if you find funk off-putting (like my husband), I’d recommend pouring the cider and letting it sit a bit before drinking. The level of sweetness was spot-on for me. It was quite frothy though, which slowed me down a bit while drinking it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Most Similar to: L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut (very much so), Manoir De Montreuil Cambremer, and Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge, or for a rare U.S. made French-style cider, 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this cider, as I’m not sure if it is available locally. I have several other French ciders from the importer/distributor to try next, including another from this same cidery.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Domaine du Verger Rosé Cidre Bouche

March 10, 2017March 3, 2017 cidersays Domaine du Verger, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Domaine du Verger, France, French, hard cider, red fleshed, rose, tasting notes

Review of Domaine du Verger’s Rosé Cidre Bouche, a French cider made with some red-fleshed apples to give it a rosé hue. It is my first time trying this cider and anything from this cidery.

Cider: Rosé Cidre Bouche
Cidery: Domaine du Verger
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 2.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottles
Style: French rosé doux/sweet cidre from French cider apples, including red-fleshed varieties

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: 100% apple juice from 90% bittersweet apples and 10% bitter apples. The pink coloration is natural from the adjunction of a specific variety of apple with red flesh named : Baya Marisa. To make a cider “doux /sweet” the alcoholic fermentation is shorten to about 5 weeks leaving higher natural residual sugar and resulting of a lower alcohol content. It is then followed by a filtration and an adjunction of Co2 for carbonation.

The bittersweet apple varieties are from Brittany France and the bitter apple varieties are from Normandy France.

Cidery Description: Since 1983 the Val de Rance cooperative has brought together the cider-making experience of 300 passionate local growers from Brittany. After recent investments, the cooperative has expanded and modernised its equipment. Today, Val de Rance represents over a 1,000 acres of orchards, producing ten to fifteen thousand tons of apples each year.

The cider from Domaine du Verger is produced from 100% apple juice. All the apples are harvested 90% from Brittany (bitter-sweet) region and 10% from Normandy (bitter). After being cleaned, the apples are gently crushed; they are then fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, and carefully filtered with the addition of Co2 for the carbonation.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was the first time I had seen the brand, and the first time I had seen a rosé French cidre.

First Impression: Light rosé hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mildly fruity.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium bodied, with a fluffy frothy texture. Moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of strawberry, white grape, and pomegranate. Low apple flavor. Low complexity. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked the flavor, and loved the higher carbonation and texture. However, it was sweeter, lower ABV, and more juice-like than I prefer.

Most Similar to: I’ve had several ciders from red-fleshed apples, including Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, and Snowdrift Red. This was quite different than any of those ciders, and quite different than any of the French ciders I’ve had. It tasted more like a cider from American dessert apples which was back sweetened with a lot of fruit juice, then highly carbonated.

Closing Notes: Rosé (grape) wine is from blush grapes. For cider, it typically refers to red-fleshed apples. Here is a nice article on rosé cider. Cidre Bouche literally means “cider with a cork”; many French ciders are named as such.

Have you tried Domaine du Verger Rosé Cidre Bouche? What did you think?

Virtue Lapinette

January 30, 2017January 28, 2017 cidersays review, Virtue cider, cider review, cider tasting, French, hard cider, Lapinette, Michigan, tasting notes, Virtue

Review of Virtue Lapinette, described as a French Brut style cidre aged in French oak barrels. It is my first time trying it, although I’ve had their Mitten and Cherry Mitten.

Cider: Lapinette
Cidery: Virtue
Cidery Location: Fennville MI
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American French-style barrel aged cider

Availability: DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, WA, and WI (per this diagram)

Cider Description: This Norman-style cidre brut is fermented with French yeast and patiently aged for months French oak.
Lapinette offers a complex nose of both farm and barrel, with a refreshingly dry, mineral finish.

Cidery Description: Virtue is a craft cider company launched in 2011 in Fennville, Michigan, by Gregory Hall, former brewmaster at Goose Island, and co-founder Stephen Schmakel. Our mission is to make European-style ciders from fresh heirloom apples — never from concentrate — and employ traditional farmhouse production methods that include native and secondary fermentation, use of wild yeasts, and an expansive oak barrel-aging program. We partner with local family farms by purchasing the highest quality apples for our ciders.

They have a tasting room in Fennville.

Price: $10.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. This was a good deal, I hadn’t tried it, and it appeared to be a style I’d like (French), so I bought it.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of green apple, white grape, and must.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low funk and bitterness. Hints of sourness and tannins. Notes of green apple, white grape, lemon, yeast, and mineral. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability and complexity.

My Opinion: I was expecting a full on French-style cider, the typical apple-forward type (although if I had looked at photos of the cider online I would have known better just based on the color). However, this is more of a Farmhouse-style cider, with astringency, heirloom apple flavor, citrus notes, and some sourness & funk. This was nice (I especially liked how juicy the flavor was) and well made, but not a style I enjoy.

Most Similar to: Millstone Farmgate Dry and WildCraft Dry

Closing Notes: I hope to try more ciders from Virtue in the future.

Have you tried Virtue Lapinette? What did you think?

L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut

January 9, 2017January 6, 2017 cidersays L’Hermitiére cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Cidre Brut, France, French, hard cider, L’Hermitiére, tasting notes

Review of L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut, a sparkling Farmhouse style cider from Normandy France. It is my first time trying this one, although I’m a fan of French cidre.

Cider: Cidre Brut
Cidery: Cidrerie L’Hermitiére
Cidery Location: Le Theil-sur-Huisne, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: French cidre

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Cidrerie L’Hermitière Cidre Brut is lively and complex, with the delicate aroma of ripe apples, leather, and freshly mown hay.

Cidery Description: This cidrerie, which sits among the rolling hills of the Perche region of Normandy, makes only pure juice ciders in the farmhouse style, that ferment naturally and are bottled without any pasteurization or carbonation – a prime example of the ancestral cider-making process.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never seen cider from this cidery.

First Impression: Medium pumpkin amber hue. Very high carbonation. Smells apple and yeast forward, with some funk and hints of honey.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied with a frothy texture and very carbonated mouthfeel. Low tartness, acidity, and tannins. Hints of bitterness and funk. No sourness. Notes of apples, apple pomace, yeast, honey, orange, and butterscotch. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it, with the flavor of a Normandy France cider without the sourness, and without too much funk, plus the higher carbonation level more typical of Brittany France cider, yet more complexity/depth.

Most Similar to: A milder Normandy France cider.

Closing Notes: I’m a big fan of French cider (as long as it isn’t sour). They can be surprisingly affordable too. Someday I want to go to France and try the less commercial stuff (as I assume that similar to the U.S., the large producers are the ones that have the wider distribution).

Have you tried L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut? What did you think?

2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche – 2015 Vintage

November 25, 2016November 28, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cidre, cidre bouche, French, hard cider, keeved, tasting notes, Traditions

Review of 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche, a French-style keeved cider. This is one of two ciders which they released to start off their new Traditions line. Their Traditions line will replace their separate Traditions brand and focus on barrel aged vintage cider from heirloom apples. The other is Riverwood, which I’ll be reviewing next. Two others will soon be released, Afton Field and La Mûre. Its my first time trying this cider, although I’ve tried many other ciders from 2 Towns (see here).

Keeving is a special labor intensive process of fermenting the cider slowly, starving it of natural nutrients. It results in an apple-forward, naturally sweet, lower ABV, and higher carbonation cider. This is typical for French cidre, but is very rare in the U.S.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by 2 Towns. 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: Traditions Cidre Bouche
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis Oregon
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 375ml bottles
Style: American craft French keeved style cider from heirloom apples, oak aged

Availability: Limited (only 240 cases of 12 bottles), although 2 Towns ciders are generally available in AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA, and Minneapolis MN & Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Oregon grown bittersweet heirloom apples. Old world keeving method. Aged in French oak casks….Inspired by the bittersweet ciders of France, Cidre Bouché is made with an Old World process called keeving. We start with 100% traditional cider apple varieties like Kingston Black, Michelin, Reine des Pommes, Dabinett and Muscat de Lense, and then let the fruit ‘sweat’ and intensify in aroma. Next, the apples are crushed and left to soak on the skins before the juice is fermented slowly over the course of a year, and aged in French oak casks. When finished, this keeved cider is rich, thick and brimming with overripe bittersweet apple character. Pairs well with classic French fare— think savory crepes, pork terrine, camembert and blue cheese.

Cidery Description: At 2 Towns Ciderhouse we believe that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right. Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar, concentrates or artificial flavors, and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider.

Price: n/a
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Hazy medium orange amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells slightly funky and apple forward.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate to high acid. Low funk and tannins. Hints of sourness and bitterness. Notes of unfiltered apple juice, apple pomace, honey, orange, grapefruit, and butterscotch. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it, and thought it paired well with Thanksgiving dinner. It got a bit funkier as it warmed up, so I preferred it cold. I’m a fan of these sorts of bold and rich ciders, and of (not too funky or sour) French cidre.

Most Similar to: French cidre. It definitely seemed true to the style, in between Normandy and Brittany French cidre as it was a bit funky (as Normandy cidre can tend to be), but not overly so. However, it was a bit higher acidity and more fruity though (although the grapefruit I picked up might have been more from the high acidity than anything else), which was a nice twist.

Closing Notes: I look forward to trying the other ciders in their new Traditions line. I think they made a great choice to release them in smaller 375ml bottles, as it will reduce the price point and increase the number of bottles available. I also think the switch to keep these under their 2 Towns brand but in a separate category was a smart move.

Have you tried 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche? What did you think?

Le Brun Organic Cidre

August 24, 2016September 10, 2017 cidersays Le Brun, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, France, French, hard cider, Le Brun, organic, tasting notes

Review of Le Brun Organic Cidre. I’ve tried this previously on tap (the only cider I’ve tried from Le Brun), but wanted to give a bottle a go.

Cider: Organic Cidre
Cidery: Le Brun
Cidery Location: Plovan in the Brittany region of France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: Brittany French cidre, organic, secondary fermented

Availability: semi wide release (imported by Winesellers Ltd., Niles IL)

Cider Description: This cider presents lightly sweet, fruit and then develops to be more dry as the taste goes on. Tannins feel fairly high, acidity is moderate and a fairly bitter/sharp to end, with a mild hint of wood in the aftertaste. This cider has a juicy feel to it, but also has depth and character.

Apple Varieties: Kermerrien, Marie Ménard, Douce Moên, Peau de Chien, Douce Coëtligné

Cidery Description: Le Brun Cidres have been produced in Brittany, France since 1955. our cidres are made using the traditional method of natural fermentation of pure pressed juices from handpicked apples

Price: $10.99
Where Bought: The Wine Seller in Port Townsend WA, which had a nice cider selection for a small shop, including this one (which I haven’t seen locally lately) and a couple others I hadn’t even seen in Seattle (I picked up one other bottle too)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Amber orange hue. Moderate carbonation with foam upon pouring. Smells of rich apples with hints of funk and must.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness, acidity, funk, and tannins. No sourness or bitterness. Notes of bittersweet apples, apple juice, apple pomace, orange, floral, and must. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this. I’m a fan of Brittany France ciders in general too (but not typically Normandy France ciders, which tend to have sourness). However, I remember it tasting more clean (no funk) when I tried it on tap, which I prefer.

Most Similar to: Other ciders from Brittany France, such as Celt and Dan Armor, which I think I slightly prefer, and are both more affordable too ($8 for a four pack of 11.2oz bottles of Celt and $5 for a 750ml bottle of Dan Armor – only sold at Trader Joe’s).

Closing Notes: This is a nice selection from Le Brun. I hope I can find their other varieties locally to try (I know at least a couple others get imported).

Have you tried French Cidre? What did you think?

Le Pere Jules Brut

January 13, 2016January 11, 2016 cidersays Le Pere Jules, review Brut, cider, cider review, cider tasting, France, French, hard cider, Le Pere Jules, Normandie, Normandy

Review of Le Pere Jules’ Brut 2012 cider, from Normandie France.

Cider: Brut
Cidery: Le Pere Jules
Cidery Location: Normandie France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: French cidre

Availability: Semi-wide release (apparently one of the easier to find French ciders in the U.S.)

Cider Description: Our cider is produced from no less than 20 different varieties of apples. This gives it a very nice balance between the sweet, bitter and acidic varieties. After a fermentation process that is modified in its length to produce the “brut”, “demi-sec” and “doux” varieties, and a light filtration, it is bottled in order to naturally develop its own natural gas. This gives it the fine bubbles that we are known for.

Cidery Description: It was upon his return from the First World War in 1919 that Jules Desfrièches – who had already earned the nickname of “Père” Jules or “Father” Jules – with a love for his region and its apples, decided to turn his passion into his trade. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by his grandparents, who were themselves in love with Normandy and its treasures. With their help, Jules learned to make cider with the apples from the family farm. He then started to sell his products locally. Due to the appreciation for its quality, the “Jules Desfrièches” cider was more and more in demand in restaurants in Normandy. Then in 1923, Jules distilled Calvados for the first time, without knowing that it was the beginning of an institution.

In 1949 his son, Léon Desfrièches, joined the family business. On his arrival, he created the brand “Le Père Jules,” in honor of his father. The production continued to expand and the market for cider and calvados developed to the point of being sold in some of the best restaurants in France. Thierry Desfrièches, the grandson of “Père”Jules joined his father in the business in 1976. With a careful eye on the business and its evolution, the first export sales were started in 1980 in Europe and then later throughout the world. The son of Thierry, Guillaume Desfrièches, joined the family business after he finished his studies in oenology in 2002 to become the fourth generation in the affair. Since 1919, quality and rigor are the driving forces of four generations of producers that have continued to be faithful to the traditional methods with a love for their work. Their only wish is to be able to propose the best products.

Price: ~$12
Where Bought: World Market
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I hadn’t spotted it at World Market before, only commercial cider (although apparently other World Market locations carry craft cider), and was intrigued as I’ve been getting into French ciders. I’ve since also spotted it at the Schilling Cider House in Seattle.

First Impression: Honey-orange amber hue. Still. Smells of bittersweet apples, orange, honey, cork, funk, and sourness.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Moderate bitterness, sourness, and acidity. Low tartness and funk. Light to medium bodied. Long finish. I found the flavor to be completely off, bad, bizarre, etc…I have no better way to describe it.

My Opinion: I couldn’t tolerate more than one sip, and was totally not a fan. And my husband literally spit out his sip. Down the drain it went. A friend of mine described a similar flavor to this cider, saying no one at the dinner party would drink it, yet I’ve seen reviews quite to the contrary online. I think it having no carbonation is a sign of something being wrong, as this cider is supposed to be a sparkling. So, I conclude this was likely a “bad bottle”. Its unfortunate this happens to even the best cidermakers a certain percentage of the time, and if its someone’s first exposure to a cider from that brand, they may not give them another chance.

Closing Notes: Although I have significant doubts as to this being a good sample from Le Pere Jules, this continues the trend of me only liking French ciders from Brittany (such as Le Brun, Celt, and Dan Armor), not Normandy (such as Le Pere Jules, Dupont, and Manoir du Parc)….I like the richer sweeter and more carbonated French ciders than those with any funk or sourness. Note that I considered not posting this review, but I review every cider I drink, not just those I enjoy, and hopefully this isn’t overly negative.

Have you tried Le Pere Jules? What did you think?

Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut De Normandie 2011

November 10, 2015October 29, 2015 cidersays Dupont, review Bouche, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dupont, French, hard cider

Review of Cidre Bouche Brut De Normandie (2011) from Etienne Dupont.

Interesting side note on vintages: In the U.S. current law does not state that cidermakers are allowed to put a vintage or harvest date (only winemakers). Therefore it is rare to see it here, despite the variations in a cider from year to year. Its great to be able to compare reviews and know that you are actually comparing apples to apples (vs. a different vintage of the same cider).

Cider: Cidre Bouche Brut De Normandie, 2011 vintage
Cidery: Etienne Dupont
Cidery Location: Victot-Pontfol France
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 375ml bottle (also available in 750ml size)

Availability: Semi-wide release. See their list of distributors.

Cider Description: Cidre Bouché is created using the traditional method of the Pays d’Auge. Full of fruit and freshness, the taste reveals the aromas of apples and citrus with finesse (“cidre bouché” is a generic term for traditional cider, literally “cider under cork”).

Terroir: Nutrient poor clay and marl soil, perfect for giving small fruit.
Varieties: 80% of bittersweet apples; 20% of acid apples
Harvesting: from October to November

Techniques used: Controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats. Indigenous yeasts. Stabilization of the cider is sought by carrying out successive racking. The fermentation is controlled by successive racking. The cider is bottled unpasteurized between March and April. Density (O.G.): 1060 after pressing, equivalent to 134 g of sugar per litre. 1024 when bottled, which gives 5% alcohol after bottle fermentation has finished.

If well cellared, it can be kept for 5 years after bottling, Because the cider is on its lees, the mouth will improve and become more complex.

Cidery Description: The Louis Dupont Family estate consists of 30 hectares (74 acres) of orchards in Normandy, in the heart of the Pays d’Auge region. The estate produces ciders, pommeau and calvados. For more than 25 years now, the Estate has resolutely followed a path towards high quality. By drawing on the best techniques used to make cognac and its great blends, Etienne Dupont has studied, tried out and refined his cellar work to reach the same levels ofelegance and expressiveness as found in the best wines. Some of these techniques, such as manual sorting of the apples, and even working with an oenologist are found only very rarely in the making of cider.

But just as for wine, the quality of the apples is still the first essential step. It is only after this that the creation of cider can make the most of the apple and its terroir. Specialities of the estate: Ciders bearing a vintage date… a cider blend aged in oak… a blend using traditional methods of making sparkling wines… an apple “sweet wine”… cask strength calvados. Thanks to their qualities of elegance and authenticity, the ciders and calvados from the Domaine Dupont are nowadays appreciated in many countries world-wide. A very great majority of its production goes for export.

See Dupont’s Page on Tasting Cider for some great info. They have an online store which can ship if you aren’t in the U.S. They also offer tours and a tasting room in France.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Recommendation from a fellow cider lover

First Impression: High carbonation and foam. Smells of rich ripe apples, yeast, with a slight funkiness. Hazy deep orange-amber hue.

Opinion: Semi-dry. Very yeasty, earthy, and beer-like. Low acidity. Moderate bitterness. Moderate tannins. Mild sourness and tartness. Mild to moderate funk. Full bodied. More foam than fizz. Long finish. I didn’t find this cider very apple-forward…its other qualities such as the bitterness, funkiness, and foam were a bit overpowering for my palate. It left me wanting the rich ripe apple flavor that I smelled.

Most Similar to: The beer-like aspect reminds me of Square Mile Original, but that is a completely different style of cider. I’ve only tried a handful of French ciders, but I seem to be picking up on two categories…the drier funky ones and the sweeter apple-forward ones. As far as the French ciders I’ve tried, this is more along the lines of Manoir du Parc Authentic Cidre (vs. Le Brun Organic Cidre, Celt Cidre Breton Traditionnel, or Dan Armor Cuvee Speciale Cidre Brut). This one was the former, while I definitely like the later, with the Dan Armor being my favorite so far (especially for $5!).

Closing Notes: I wasn’t really a fan. My husband was though (which makes sense as he is a beer fan). However, Etienne Dupont seems to be a big hit in the cider community, so this is great example of why its great there are so many ciders…there is something for everyone. Just because I didn’t care for a cider doesn’t mean you won’t! It appears that most of their ciders have these qualities (and that this may be on the milder side for them), but I may have to do more research to see if I’d be open to trying any of their other ciders. Often not liking a cider will have me want to try something else from the cidery as much as liking a cider will.

Note that it appears this bottle had been in the store for quite awhile. I bought it in the last month, yet I was able to find reviews online of the 2012, 2013, and 2014 vintages. Being in the store (vs. cellared with light & temperature control) can unpredictably impact the flavor, so its unknown how the flavor of this cider changed during that time.

Have you tried Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut De Normandie, or any other French ciders? What did you think?

Dan Armor Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut

September 1, 2015August 23, 2015 cidersays Dan Armor, review cider, cider review, Cidre Brut, Cuvee Speciale, Dan Armor, French, hard cider, hard cider review, imported, Trader Joe's

Review of Dan Armor Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut, a budget-friendly imported French cider from Trader Joe’s.

Cider: Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut
Cidery: Dan Armor
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 750ml glass bottle

Availability: wide release at Trader Joe’s (since Dec 2014)

Cider Description: What Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale is to beer, Dan•Armor Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut is to hard cider. Hard cider has been around for centuries, and is currently enjoying a huge upswing in popularity. With all the options available, we found ourselves drawn to the cork-finished ciders made in the Brittany region of France, where a co-op of apple growers has been producing small-batch, hand-crafted cider since 1953. Their apples are grown in Brittany, and the cider definitely has a “local flavor” that makes it unlike any of the other ciders we offer. Dan•Armor is made with two ingredients – fresh-pressed apple juice and brewing yeast. The cider is bottle fermented (like sparkling wine), which allows the live yeast to develop into fine bubbles – small amounts of CO₂ are added to create uniform bubbles throughout each batch. It’s dry and crisp (thus the Brut designation), with forward notes of apples, and strong, persistent bubbles. It’s incredibly drinkable and not at all sweet, a refreshing take on a centuries-old classic.

Price: $4.99
Where Bought: Trader Joe’s
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Lovely deep golden orange hue. Highly carbonated. Significant head upon pouring which quickly dissipated. Ripe cooked apple, vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar scent.

Opinion: Between semi-dry & semi-sweet, which was sweeter than I was expecting, but good. Effervescent mouthfeel. The ripe cooked apple, vanilla, caramel, & brown sugar notes continue to the flavor. Crisp & smooth, and very refreshing, Light-bodied. Very flavorful and a bit unique, but not bold. Slight earthiness, but no funk. I’m curious what apple varieties they use, but couldn’t find detailed information. Almost no detectable bitterness, acidity, or tartness. This cider was a crowd pleaser, and the other three tasters I had all agreed it was good. It quickly disappeared! Easy to drink, so its probably good it was only 5% ABV.

Most Similar to: Other French ciders, although this is a bit sweeter than typical I believe. French cider seems very similar to English cider.

Closing Notes: Very tasty! This is an awesome deal for $5 as well. I’ll be picking up more for sure.

Have you tried Dan Armor Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut? What did you think?

Celt Cidre Breton Traditionnel

July 15, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays Celt, review Celt Cidre Breton Traditionnel, cider, Cidrerie Loïc Raison, French, hard cider

Here is a review of a French cider, Celt Cidre Breton Traditionnel:

Cider: Celt Cidre Breton Traditionnel
Cidery: Cidrerie Loïc Raison
Cidery Location: Domagné, France
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: single 11.2 oz (330ml) green glass bottle
Availability: unsure (imported by Eurobrew Inc. in Ashland MA)

Description: Cider has sparkled in Brittany since the Iron Age, when Gaul warriors roamed the ancient land named “Armor” or “Country-by-the-Sea.” They worshiped the sun, the moon and the stars and feared nothing but the sky falling on them. Celt cider is named after these proud and fearless warriors who lived in the six Celtic nations known as the “Celtic Crescent”: Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Isle of Man. This is a refreshing “demi sec” cider with a fruity flavor balanced by a crisp dry finish made from the finest apples in Brittany. Authentic and traditionally made hard cider imported from Brittany. 100% fermented apple cider not from concentrate.

Price: $2.50 for a single bottle
Where Bought: Whole Foods
How Found: Browsing. This was a random find. The unique bottle caught my eye as I hadn’t seen it before and have never tried French cider.
Where Drank: home

First Impression: Golden hue. Foamed upon opening the bottle and pouring it. Fairly highly carbonated (it appears CO2 was added per the ingredient list). Sweet crisp apple smell.

Opinion: I’d classify this on the sweeter side of semi-dry. It reminds me of the two English style ciders I’ve tried, Crispin Browns Lane and Aspall Dry Cider. For some reason these three ciders remind me of barrel aged ciders, which is probably a reason why I enjoy them. Of the three I’d probably give a slight edge to the Crispin Browns Lane. I find it very refreshing, with hints of caramel, honey, and vanilla. It has an effervescent mouth feel. It doesn’t however have much complexity and finishes quickly (sweeter start and drier finish). At only 4.5%, this is also a very easy to drink cider. I’m curious if I could find this in multi packs, as that would likely be more affordable. It appears that I can get Loic Raison Brut cider in a 750ml bottle at Total Wine, so I’ll have to see if that is the same thing, but at $10.50 that is actually more expensive. This cider makes me want to try more English & French ciders, as long as they are not too dry. Quite tasty!

Closing Notes: This cider is made from Breton apples and is described as a traditional French cider, described as Brut or demi sec (medium dry). I unfortunately don’t have any additional information on the cidery, as it was difficult to find anything online in English besides some Untappd & RateBeer reviews. Have you tried Celt Cidre Breton Traditionnel, or any other French ciders? What did you think?

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