Etienne Dupont Organic Cidre Bouché Brut de Normandie

Brewed by Domaine Familial Louis Dupont
Style: Cider
Victot-Pontfol, France

Purchase Oct 2006 at discount Hands down the best cider I have ever had, And I have had quite a few. Golden yellow color that looks like it is alive. Darker around the edges off the glass ( like wine ) It looks so nice I had to go show my wife. Armors of way more than apples. The oak comes through clear as a bell, along with some light herbal fragrances. The teats is to die for. More think and dense that I was expecting. The herds and oak are here to. Carbonation is way less then I was expecting. Similar to a lot of stouts or porters, not like other ciders that are more like sparkling wines. Highly recommended. It like a elixir of life.

2005 vintage: Pristine yellow gold. White head nosily fizzles as it slowly diminishes into a consistent, well-retained collar. Zingy, saliva-inducing aromas of unripe peaches, grass, melon, leather, bandage, dried apples, and musty basement. Notably minerally as well. Hints of iron and cedar. Soft, big-bubbled crackle of carbonation. Soft, well-rounded lactobacillus tartness immediately fuses with a bright kiss of explosive fruit which packs supple weight and a high concentration of refined sweetness. Notes of leather and oak gorgeously contrast with the slick body and remarkably succulent apple character as they lend light grip. Complexity is through the roof, and the balance is awe-inspiring. Brett-derived phenols crisply sparkle with pinpoint definition which echoes the equally snappy apple profile. Perfumey esters enhance the lift and bolster the quaffable nature of the cider. Borderline-brisk acidity lightly buckles the cheeks as it lends slight firmness to the otherwise resoundingly juicy body. Faint apple skin bitterness complements the structure as it harmonizes with the poignant yet artfully understated oak character. Tannins are nonexistent which allows the fruit to showcase its pureness. Acid continually teases the palate as it wavers in and out of the dense residuals. Lovely interplay between dryness and sweetness as it finishes with a lengthy fusion of pineapple, peach, musty cellar, and vibrant apples. Both a rustic and extravagant cider from France’s finest. Not stocking this by the case should be a sin. This is divine.

2003 bottle. Picked up at Brawley’s in Charlotte. Flippin’ beautiful. Cider poured a hazy medium yellow with a small, frothy, white, diminishing head. The aroma was a simple,sublime symmetry between apple and yeast. The nose was packed with fresh, sweet fruit and moderate-to-heavy funky notes of lemon, barnyard and cellar. The flavor was heavily sweet, trace acidic and lightly bitter with a short, lightly acidic fruit-juice like finish. The body was medium, the texture was water-to-velvety and the carbonation was fizzy. An increadible taste; I find myself craving it. It also gets even more points from me for being a great example of how beautiful simple, whole foods can be.

(750ml bottle) Many thanks to Muzzlehatch for providing this fine Normandie sample at the Ciderwinder Tasting, April 2005. Pours a large frothy, short-lived head with a cloudy, sediment-filled golden body. Unfiltered and unpasturized. Sour, mossy, farm. Very good flavour. 7-Up mixed witth imploded apples. Dry fruity finish. Lovely!

750mL Bottle: 2004. Organic, unpasteurized. Looks good. The pop of the cork doesn’t yield too much of a pop, more like a slight sigh. Not too much head retention but you can see the carbonation as you pour it into a glass. The nose is both sweet and tart with some light sulfer notes and a pleasant apple juice bouquet. A bit funky, but not too dry or old smelling. The flavor is lightly sweet with a lingering syrupy apple taste that tickles your tongue while the smell of dusty wild yeasts plays a bit with your nose. The finish is perfectly balanced and overall this is a great cider. Perfectly balanced to lovers of both gueuze-like funky french ciders and the pleasant sweeter ones you find from most other areas.

Consumed May ’06. Hazy yellowish-orange, decent head, lots of sedimant. Huge geueze like aroma. Sour apples, tart apple skin. Flavor much the same, with maybe a little cork character. Very dry, crisp. Very nice overall.

[750 ml, 2006 vintage] This bottle opened with some serious force, with the pressure pushing the cork out as soon as I opened the cage. Impressive. Pours a very hazy, golden yellow color, with some serious carbonation and a good-sized white head. The aroma is incredible, with some almost gueuze-like funk, and sweet floral fruit. Flavors are slightly tart and acidic, with some remaining juicy sweetness from the apples. Tart acidity makes a quick appearance, as well as some slightly cheesy brett & pedio, finishing somewhat dry. An incredible blend of flavors all around. Very well balanced, and very complex.

2003 750mL bottle drunk on 5/26/07
Interestingly enough, I had the non-organic version of the same year, though it was only 2 years old, vs. this 4 year old bottle. I certainly can’t tell the difference from the organic and non-organic version, but obviously, the difference in age made the difference in flavor. I think this one is probably best around 2 years old, as it was just a touch tired at 4 years, with tons of dryness and a little bit of paperiness on the finish. That being said, it was still absolutely delicious, and full of fun wild yeast notes. Never overdone in barrel character, the wood only adds a moderate layer of complexity that does not outdo the apples. Lots of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cheesy lacto character, with a champagne-like effervescence and quenching body.
Lacing is provided as well, and the clear liquid shines a brilliant gold with a thin white head perched atop that falls quickly, just like champagne.
With age, also, comes stronger, more earthy flavors and aromas, gaining more "farmy" character and less clear brett, lacto, oak delineations. Quite well-homogenized in to one big wild, sweaty, cheesy apple concoction. Moderate sweetness still exists. It’s incredible to see how they’ve managed to keep some residual sugar from being eaten by the critters. Moderately acidic finish may be a bit too aggressive, but is certainly nothing unusual for the style. Splendid as always from Dupont.