New grape lambic by Cantillon with a somewhat puzzling name: 'maatjes' in Dutch either refers to young herring or simply means 'buddies'... My bet is on the second option in this case, of course: it was made with three different grape 'cépages', unusual for a grape lambic even today, and I assume these are each other's best buddies here. Huge thanks to Leander for sharing the bottle (and the others), as this one was not on the menu at Cantillon's attic bar anymore. Off-pink, bubbly, open ring for a head (but not too much head expected anyway), misty ruby red robe with deeper burgundy glow. Aroma of sour grapes more than wine, still dry rosé and oxidized old Chardonnay elements, apple slices, sour cream, elderberries, beetroot, wood, forest floor, touch of chlorine. Very fruity onset, not just (tart) grapes and grape skins but also ripe redcurrant, elderberry and oxidized red apple, medium carb with smooth vinous body, slight minerality running underneath all that tart - yet not sharply sour - red fruit. Cereally, supple core, yoghurty 'lacticness' (fruity and a bit sour cream-like) and woodiness are important structures but it is still the trio of grapes which dominates, not in a very wine-like way, but in a very pure 'grapey' way. Creamy, dry, tart and very fruity finish, retaining its altogether mild sourness all the way through. Interesting - this may not be Cantillon's most overwhelming grape lambic to date (and let us not forget that they are the pioneer of the concept at least in modern times, ignoring the grape lambic advertised already in 1901 by blender Servaes in Ixelles), but both the creamy and the minerally aspects do set it apart a bit. Very glad I had a taste of this rarity, in any case.

Bottle at Cantillon. Murky pinkish/reddish poor with a tiny white head. Not much in the nose. On the sour side with berry and vinous highlights. Funk and horse blanket backbeats. Good body and mouthfeel.