Beverage of the Week (BOW)

Christian Drouin Poiré Pear Cider (France)

Product Story

This beautiful and complex cider is made with a blend of many different pear varieties including Plant de Blanc, Muscadet, Avenelle, and Poire de Grise. The pears are carefully crushed and then pressed to extract the juice. The juice is quickly sent to the fermenters where it is allowed to ferment very slowly over a period of five to eight weeks. The Poiré is bottled when half-fermented resulting in the bubbles being captured in the bottle naturally. It's a wonderfully complex, low-alcohol cider that's perfect on many occasions.

Brand Story

Christian Drouin Sr. bought a quaint country house set amongst orchards in Gonneville in the heart of Calvados Pays d'Auge in Normandy, France. He soon discovered that the price he could obtain for the apples he harvested would barely cover the cost of the harvest. His friend had a mobile still and advised on how to press the apples into cider and distill the cider into Brandy. Drouin Sr. had no previous experience but he did have good taste and had a great appreciation for quality wine and spirits. This, too, was his guide. The younger Christian Drouin is said to have contracted the Calvados virus from his father. While the stocks of incredible Calvados grew vintage after vintage, Christian knew that he must grow the reputation of Calvados and find customers for the great Brandy first in France and then the world. He succeeded. When I first met Christian Drouin well more than a decade ago he transmitted the Calvados appreciation virus to me and I've never been the same.

Tasting Note

Light golden color with a semi-hazy appearance. The nose offers a wonderful mélange of pear varieties some being fruity while others more austere mingling with soft earth tones and hints of mineral. The palate echoes the nose delivering an incredibly complex blend of both sweet and tart pears notes with subtle citrus and mineral notes finishing with bright citrus accents. Medium-bodied with a very bright dose of acidity. It drinks with ease being quite refreshing.

How to Serve

Drink chilled in a white wine glass. It's very refreshing aperitif but it pairs well with any seafood and is terrific with Camembert de Normandie or a Pont l'Evêque.

Price: $ 12

BevX Review: http://bevx.com/beer-detail/?id=579