Mostbaron Exibatur 2015

The history of Birnenmost (pear wine) in Lower Austria is really fascinating. Here is another fun fact. In the 18th century, the consumption of Birnenmost was so high in Melk, Lower Austria that beer and wine producers felt threatened by it. For this reason,  a police order was issued in 1770 in Melk on banning the sales of Birnenmost in taverns. The ban was supposed to increase the sales of wine and beer. I’m not sure if it helped at that time but one thing is certain. The popularity of Birnenmost in Lower Austria survived also this ban.

Exibatur 2015 is another Birnenmost from the product range of Verein Mostbarone from Lower Austria. Exibatur is a local term for the plough. Let’s see how this Birnenmost will perform.Company: Verein Mostbarone
Place of Origin: Öhling, Lower Austria, Austria
Apples: a blend of Dorschbirne and Grüne Pichlbirne
Sweetness as per label: halb-trocken (semi-dry)
ABV: 6.6%
Package type: 750 ml green bottle with screw cap
Recommended type of glass: white wine glass

Appearance: pours a clear pale straw yellow with no head. No carbonation. Body is medium.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is moderately strong. Fresh green apple, ripe and overripe yellow apple, mirabelle plums, fresh pear with a hint of baked apple.

Taste: it starts lightly sweet with medium acidity of lemon. Low bitterness, burnt caramel, very low astringency. Finishes with a lingering low acidity of lemon with a hint of burnt lemon, ripe yellow apple and a touch of acidity.

Overall: The more Birnenmost I drink, the more I like it. Exibatur has a strong yet refreshing and elegant taste. It has a distinctively refreshing style due to lovely, delicate and longlasting acidity of lemon. It’s full-bodied, balanced and vibrant. And, clear without any off-notes. I must admit that drinking Exibatur was a pure pleasure to me due to a unique combination of refreshing yet powerful flavours. Summarizing, Exhibatur 2015 is a well-made, versatile and refreshing option that may please a crowd. 5/6

Availability: from their online shop

Price: Exibatur 2015 was a sample provided by Toni from Mostbarone.

Mūrbūdu Pussalds

Do you know where did the name of Mūrbūdu actually come from? In Latvian, Mūru means ‘wall’ and Būdu means ‘house’. So if you combine these two words together you get ‘the wall house’. This is because the building where guys from Mūrbūdu make their cider comes from the Soviet era. When Mūrbūdu took over the run-down USSR-style building, there were only walls. Hence, the name.

Today’s review is on the semi-sweet cider Pussalds from Mūrbūdu.Company: Mūrbūdu Sidra Darītava
Place of Origin: Ērģemes pagasts, Valkas novads, “Klētnieki”, Latvia
Apples a blend of apple varieties from old apple orchards
Sweetness as per label: pussalds (semi-sweet)
ABV: 5%
Package type: 330 ml amber glass with crown cork
Recommended type of glass: wine glass or snifter

Appearance: pours a clear golden with a little head that quickly dissipates. Low and artificial carbonation.  Body is low to medium.

Aroma/Nose: the scent is strong and with notes of ripe and sour yellow apples, mirabelle plums and some alcohol.

Taste: my initial taste is sweet of sugar with low acidity of lemon. On the mid-palate, yellow apples, ripe pears, mirabelle plums and low astringency. Finishes lightly acidic with a touch of astringency and alcohol. 

Overall: First of all, I would rather classify it as sweet than semi-sweet. I thought it was way too sweet for my liking. Also, I didn’t like the sugary taste in the beginning. But this is exactly what others may appreciate in this cider. Secondly, Pussalds has a structure and lovely fruity notes and clear taste. The same happens in the scent. It tastes apple-y so you can taste the fruit it was made from. Overall, Pussalds is a good cider but rather for those who like their cider on the sweeter side. 4/6

Availability: in around 60 bars and restaurants in Riga incl. Spirits and Wine, Folkklubs Ala, Trompete Taproom, Kanepes Kulturas Centrs, Radisson Hotel and Laska Bar. Online from Calyce Cider – they ship to Germany, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Italy and Portugal!

Price: Pussalds was a sample provided by Paul from Mūrbūdu.

Crest Cyder Traditional

If you read my visit recap to the Crest Cyder Company (click here for the visit recap), a Somerset cider maker, you may remember that I mentioned their Traditional was a proper and tannic cider I could drink every day. It’s time to evaluate it’s taste, smell, appearance and texture. Company: Crest Cyder Company Ltd
Place of Origin: Eaton Crescent, Somerset, UK
Apples: a blend of bittersweet and bitter-sharp varieties
Sweetness as per label: dry
ABV: 6%
Package type: 500 ml clear glass with crown cork
Recommended type of glass: wine glass

Appearance: pours cloudy amber with an orange hue and no head. No carbonation. Body is low to medium.

Aroma/Nose: the aroma is strong. On the nose medicinal notes with hints of orange, orange flower. Spicy of nutmeg. And, notes of funk.

Taste: my initial taste is dry with low acidity of orange. Smokiness, orange flowers, medicinal notes, fresh green crisp apple, lightly watery with medium astringency on the mid-palate. Finishes with flowery notes, dried apricots, low bitterness. lightly watery and herbal notes. 

Overall: Before writing this review, I tried Traditional a couple of times. I liked it the first time I tried it and I still enjoy having it. Traditional is a light offering that has a good structure and a broad array of notes both on the palate and on the nose. I especially loved the flavour of orange and orange blossom in combination with medicinal notes and smooth tannins. It’s something that I could drink on a daily basis (and, actually do quite often!). But I’m sure that due to medicinal notes and farmhouse character it won’t be everyone’s’ favourite. So the Crest Cyder Traditional is only for those who enjoy proper Somerset cider. 4.5/6 

Availability: online through Scrattings. in the UK and in many European countries

Price: a sample was provided by Michael and Carol from Crest Cyder. 

Ramborn Apple and Quince Blend 2017

It’s time to turn to Ramborn cider that was made in 2017 in combination with quince. It’s their limited edition cider.Company: Ramborn Cider Co.
Place of Origin: Born, Luxembourg
Fruit: apples and quinces
ABV: 7%
Package type: 750ml clear glass bottle with crown cap
Recommended type of glass: white wine glass or chalice glass

Appearance: pours a cloudy pale golden and a huge white foam that slowly reduces to a ring. High carbonation. Body is medium. Sediment on the bottom.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is moderately strong. Notes of wood, unidentified fruits, mirabelle plum, quince, banana and yeast.

Taste: my first taste is dry with a touch of sweetness, low acidity of lemon. Smokiness, low to medium astringency, distant apricot, watery, a bit yeasty. Finishes with a touch of astringency, herbal notes, low bitterness and off-taste of yeast.

Overall: my first time trying this cider was at Cider Gourmet in Frankfurt at CiderWorld2019. I loved its fruitiness and low residual sweetness that rounded up the taste. But judging by the taste of the currently sampled cider, fermentation must have kicked in again making this cider highly carbonated, taste bone dry and yeasty. Unfortunately, for this review, I should evaluate a bottle that was sent to me by Ramborn not cider I had at Cider Gourmet. And, the content of a bottle of Apple and Quince Blend 2017 that was provided by Ramborn is weak. The nose is not rich. The palate is unbalanced, a bit yeasty, not really fruity and with a rather short finish. It’s drinkable but drinking is not entertaining like it was at Cider Gourmet. So I think it would be fair to give two scores. Cider at CiderGourmet would get most probably 4.5 (based on my memories) but this particular bottle sent me for a review gets only 2/6. 

Availability: in Luxembourg from Ramborn’s farm.

Price: Apple & Quince Blend was sent to me by Ramborn Cider Co.

Tabun Cydr z Otomina Wytrawny 2018

Michał is a Polish cider maker, who established his cider business only in September 2018 and is lucky to have a very supportive wife Agata running a restaurant and a stud farm Tabun in Otomin, located approx. 7 km from Gdansk, Poland. For five years, he has been making cider and dreaming of setting up a cidery until his wife Agata finally convinced him to quit his job in the construction industry and do something he really loved, making cider. Isn’t Michał a lucky guy?

Apples that are used for his cider come from a single orchard. Michał works with both old apple varieties such as Landsberger Reinette, Kaiser Wilhelm or Transparente de Croncels but also with dessert apple varieties such as Champion, Spartan, Lobo or McIntosh.

At the moment, Michał has only one cider in his product range Cydr z Otomina Wytrawny (Cydr from Otomin Dry), which is bottle conditioned. However, Michał has lots of new ciders that are still ageing and will be released very soon.

Company: Restauracja Tabun
Place of Origin: Otomin, Pomerania, Poland
Apples: a blend of 14 apple varieties including 8 dessert or cookers such as Golden Delicious, and 6 old apple varieties such as Kaiser Wilhelm or Transparente de Croncels
Sweetness as per label: wytrawny (dry)
ABV: 6%
Package type: 750 ml green glass with crown cork
Recommended type of glass: flute or white wine glass

Appearance: pours a cloudy golden yellow with a tiny white head. Medium to high natural carbonation. Body is medium.

Aroma/Nose: the aroma is strong with notes of funk, lemon, herbs including peppermint. A hint of sulphur and vinegar. Lightly spicy.

Taste: it starts bone dry with low acidity of lemon. Further down it gets watery with low astringency and citrusy notes of lemon. Finishes with citrusy and herbal notes.

Overall: the cider made by Michał is a drinkable, citrusy refreshing farmhouse cider. So due to some funkiness, it might not be suitable for every palate. As for me, I enjoyed having it and wouldn’t mind having it again. But still, I have a few critical notes to make. It lacks body and tastes too watery. I think that a tiny bit higher level of sweetness and acidity could round up the taste and make this cider full-bodied. Also, it finishes too quickly, the taste simply doesn’t last long so there is still room for improvement. As I said earlier, I liked it nevertheless and can imagine it will pair great with a variety of dishes.  3.5/6

Availability: at Restauracja Tabun in Otomin and from Alfroalko in Gdynia.

Price: a bottle of this cider was provided by Michał (Restauracja Otomin)

Ivan & Cyrill Hossli Siider 2016

Siider is made by two brothers Cyrill and Ivan in Aargau, Switzerland. Cyril is studying winemaking in Switzerland and Ivan is a wine lover. One day an idea of making cider from apples grown in their grandfather’s apple orchard came to them. It is worth mentioning that in the past, “suure moscht’ was a popular beverage in this area but then sadly faded into oblivion. Cyrill and Ivan’s first cider trials started in 2012 with 25 bottles. They enjoyed what they made, hence in 2014 they bought their first oak barrel. In 2016, they had already 12 oak barrels.

Siider is made with 20 apple varieties. Juice is fermented with wild yeasts in oak barrels and subsequently undergoes secondary fermentation in a bottle.

Company: Ivan and Cyrill Hossli
Place of Origin: Aargau, Switzerland
Apples: a blend of twenty apple varieties
Sweetness as per label: trocken (dry)
ABV: 7.7%
Package type: 750 ml green glass champagne corked and wired bottle
Recommended type of glass: white wine glass

Appearance: pours a hazy golden with a large white head that quickly dissipates. Medium carbonation. Body is low.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is strong. Yeasty with notes of banana, yellow apples, grass, wood and orange.

Taste: my first taste is dry with medium to high acidity of lemon. Then comes a watery note, smokiness, a note of a lemon peel, yellow apples and low bitterness. Finishes with a note of orange and mandarine flesh, a bit woody of apple stems and a mineral note.

Overall: Siider made by the Hossli brothers is fruity with a pleasant note of orange and mandarine flesh. But it leaves a long aftertaste of lees. Also, Siider tastes very yeasty so I suspect it wasn’t disgorged or wasn’t disgorged properly? I hate to say it but it wasn’t a pleasure drinking it due to a light bitter/lees aftertaste. The taste was long and the scent was strong so it surely has a potential and it tastes natural but it’s simply not there yet. 3/6

Availability: in bars and restaurants in Aargau.

Price: Siider 2016 was a sample provided by Cyril Hossli.

Mostbaron Preh 2017

I’m sure that everyone heard about Empress Maria Theresa from history classes in school. But did you know that Maria Theresa ordered the planting of trees along roadsides? Long-lived trees were planted along the main roads so they were easy to recognise. Fruit trees were planted in the countryside so farmers or soldiers passing through the country could benefit from it and collect the fruit. The importance of fruit trees in Austria was also recognised by Maria Theresa’s son Joseph II, who awarded farmers a silver medal when they planted over 100 fruit trees. More to that, in order to obtain a wedding license, several fruit trees had to be planted.

This is how Maria Theresa and Joseph II contributed to the expansion of the popularity of u.a. Birnenmost in Mostviertel.

Today’s Birnenmost is called Preh. ‘Preh’ means pride is Mostviertel dialect. Company: Verein der Mostbarone
Place of Origin: Öhling, Lower Austria, Austria
Apples: a blend of Stiegelbirne and Speckbirne
Sweetness as per label: halb-trocken (semi-dry)
ABV: 7.2%
Package type: 750 ml clear bottle with screw cap
Recommended type of glass: white wine glass

Appearance: pours a clear very pale straw-yellow with a light greenish hue and no head. No carbonation. Body is low to medium.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is strong with notes of gooseberries, chalk, mirabelle plums, grass and a hint of caramel.

Taste: it begins lightly sweet with low to medium acidity of lemon, mirabelle plums, gooseberries,  a touch of bitterness and lemon peel. Finishes with very low astringency and a hint of peppermint.

Overall: Remembering my previous experience with Brous, I tried Preh almost immediately after removing it from the fridge. Interestingly, despite serving it at low temperature, the scent was still exceptionally strong and fruity of gooseberries. Not only the scent was strong but also the taste was longlasting. I adored the nicely balanced acidity and sweetness. I must say I thought that Preh was really delicious. Also, when it warmed up. The Mostbaron Preh is indeed a Birnenmost to be proud of. I’d love to have it again. 5/6

Availability: from their online shop

Price: Preh 2017 was a sample provided by Toni from Mostbarone.

IESSEL Cider

IESSEL is an old name for the IJssel river, which is one of the largest rivers in the Netherlands. IESSEL is also a name of cider crafted by Marin van Sprang and Rob le Rutte based in Deventer. Deventer used to be a large fruit growing area before most of the orchards were cut down. Rob and Marin take care of a few orchards left with old apple varieties such as Kasseler Reinette, English Winter Gold Pearmain or Purpurroter Cousinot. In addition, Marin and Rob initiated a Dutch network of cidermakers so they can exchange knowledge and experience in cidermaking.

Their IESSEL Cider is made from whole juice, fermented and aged at least 6 months in barrels. Last year, it was named the best Dutch cider of 2018.Company: Iessel Cider
Place of Origin: Diepenveen, Overijssel, Netherlands
Apples: a blend of old apple varieties such as Kasseler Reinette, English Winter Gold Pearmain or Purpurroter Cousinot
ABV: 6%
Package type: 500ml amber glass bottle with crown cork
Recommended type of glass: chalice glass or wine glass

Appearance: pours a lightly cloudy golden with a tiny white head that quickly dissipates. Low carbonation. Body is medium.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is moderately strong and herbal with notes of herbs such as peppermint. But also with a touch of orange. Hints of vinegar and sauerkraut.

Taste: it starts dry with a touch of sweetness and low acidity of lemon and grapefruit. On the mid-palate yellow apples, herbal notes, smokiness, orange and moderate to high astringency. Finishes with a note of peppermint, distant bitterness and a touch of alcohol.

Overall: It’s a quite interesting cider. Although initially, I couldn’t taste much apart from herbal notes and smokiness after a few sips (perhaps the serving temperature was too low), I could taste a pleasant combination of citrusy flavours, quite a strong astringency with herbals notes. I must say that I was amazed by the astringency here as I simply didn’t expect it. As if the IESSEL was made with real cider apples. Critical notes are quite quick finish and a very distant aftertaste of lees. Overall, IESSEL is a very tasty and food friendly cider with depth and lovely flavours. I enjoyed having it and would like to have it again. If only its taste lasted longer… 4.5/6 

Availability: currently sold out but a new batch will be available in the end of April from CiderLab.

Price: a sample of this cidre was provided by Marin from IESSEL cider.

 

Mūrbūdu Zaļš 2018 Sausais Jaunsidrs

Zaļš, green in Latvian is my next cider made by Paul from Mūrbūdu after their Pussauss Abolu Sidrs.Company: Mūrbūdu Sidra Darītava
Place of Origin: Ērģemes pagasts, Valkas novads, “Klētnieki”, Latvia
Apples a blend of local apple varieties
Sweetness as per label: dry
ABV: 4.6%
Package type: 330ml amber glass with crown cork
Recommended type of glass: wine glass or snifter

Appearance: pours a clear golden with a little head that quickly dissipates. Low carbonation.  Body is low.

Aroma/Nose: the aroma is intense and fruity with notes of ripe yellow apples and apple skin with baked apples and vanilla biscuit/cake.

Taste: my first taste is dry, watery of medium to high acidity of lemon. Lemon taste and acidity linger on. Finishes dry with a note of lemon, a touch of green apple and mirabelle plums. 

Overall: the scent is lovely, very fruity and apple-y. It’s really exceptionally rich and beautiful. So, you obviously get hungry for more. But what you actually get is quite disappointing. Taste-wise, I didn’t get much apart from a quite high acidity of lemon and a watery taste. One can tell that Paul is skilled in the art judging by a fantastic scent but the taste was rather average and it wasn’t enough to call this cider good. It would go well with food such as chicken, veal or fish. 3/6

Availability: in around 60 bars and restaurants in Riga incl. Spirits and Wine, Folkklubs Ala, Trompete Taproom, Kanepes Kulturas Centrs, Radisson Hotel and Laska Bar.

Price: Zaļš 2018 Cidre verde. Sausais Jaunsidrs. Pētnieku sērija Nr. 01. was a sample provided by Paul from Mūrbūdu.

Cidrerie du Château de Lézergué Les 3 Fréres Demi-Sec

Previously, I’ve reviewed the Les 3 Fréres Doux from Cidrerie du Chateau de Lezergue. Now it’s time for a less sweet offering, Les 3 Fréres Demi-Sec. It was awarded Silver at the 2017 Concours Général Agricole in Paris.Company: Cidrerie du Chateau de Lezergue
Place of Origin: Ergué-Gabéric, Cornouaille, Brittany, France
Apples: locally grown cidre apples
ABV: 4%
Package type: 750ml green glass champagne corked and wired bottle
Recommended type of glass: white wine glass, chalice glass, flute or bollée

Appearance: pours a cloudy pale amber with orange hues and a white head that very slowly reduces to a ring.  High carbonation. Body is medium.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is very strong, refreshing and fruity with notes of fresh green apple flesh, fresh apple juice, apricots, cider apples.

Taste: it starts lightly sweet with low acidity. Followed by a lightly watery note, smokiness, apricots, low to medium astringency, light herbal notes, light woody from stems. Finishes dry with light raisins and a very distant note of burnt caramel -like bitterness and fresh sharp apples.

Overall: The Les 3 Fréres Demi-Sec is a pure pleasure in a glass. It has a structure, good length and gorgeous strong scent. The level of sweetness is just right and will please every cider drinker. I was sitting in the kitchen (because all the best parties happen in the kitchen) and sipping this cidre with a friend (who has a sweet tooth) and we were both oohing and aahing. It’s a very light offering that will go great in the summer but also will taste great in the winter. I enjoyed literally every sniff and every drop. An excellent and very drinkable cidre crafted by Cidrerie du Chateau de Lezergue.  Congrats! 5.5/6 

Availability: mainly in Brittany, France. In Germany from Couple of Wines.

Price: a sample of this cidre was provided by Lucian from Cidrerie du Château de Lézergué.

 

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