Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut de Normandie

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 8

Sampled from bottle at State Line, 2006 vintage. The pour was hazy golden in color, ample carbonation to display. The aroma was farhouse funky apples, musty cellar elements, some cinnamon too. The flavor was excellent, about as impressive as a straight cider could be. Funky musty apples with an earthy softness and woody presence. Mouthfeel was effervescent, finishes semi-dry. Thanks, Robert, good stuff, my go-to cider now (not that I ever "go-to" such things, but when I have the urge....)!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours with a nice, fizzy, almost champagne level of carbonation. The head is a pale, just off-white color and the cider is a nice, brilliantly clear gold color. The carbonation makes an expressive, aromatic, apple note quite noticeable as I am pouring this cider. This smells of fresh, aromatic apples that are backed by a bit of flinty yeast and a touch of alcohol towards the end.

Fairly sweet tasting, though not sticky in any way and there seems to be a touch of butter to the finish (seems to be a bit of diacetyl, though it can be hard to pick out at times from underneath all of the fruit notes). The carbonation provides a nice, almost peppery note and there is perhaps a touch of spicy notes that also help to balance the up front sweetness. Lightly tart tasting throughout the flavor profile, which also helps to provide some balance. This is quite aromatic in its apple flavors / character, almost floral in a sweet nectar sort of manner. Definitely very apple like, though not in a simplistic Red Delicious way, instead it has a complex, aromatic apple character that is quite refreshing and quite tasty. This has a substantial level of tannin to it as well, which really helps with not only the texture, but also the complexity and balance of this brew.

This is definitely a great example of a cider that captures the apple character quite well. I'll admit to preferring the funkier and drier examples, but this one is certainly no slouch and is very enjoyable. Even the diacetyl note that is softly in the finish of the flavor is not able to detract very much here.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

2002 Vintage. 375ml bottle. Apple gold color, slightly hazy. Large sized white foamy head. Aroma is apples, pears, with a touch of must and leather. Medium bodied cider. Apples are semi sweet, with touch of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is a lot of guezze /lambic qualities here as well. Leather, must and funk complement the fruit sweetness. A touch tart and perhaps a little lactic (but in a good way). Nice very complex cider. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Ok now we are talking! A cider that isn’t a sticky sweet alcopop. The apperance is a cloudy yellow. The aroma is apples of course but a touch of lemons and bread. The taste is a litte on the thin side but flavorful nonetheless. It doesn’t have an overload of apples in the flavor. There is a certain lambic type quality to this that’s hard to put a finger on it. Woodchuck are you taking notes, this is how its done. I cant wait to try more traditional ciders.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

1999 on draft at Monk’s. Cloudy gold color with no head or lacing. Aroma of horseblanket, and dry spiced, apple. Spiced taste of brett, and a fresh, dry apple finish. Light carbonation, this was great!