12/IX/20 - 75cl bottle @ Cantillon brewery (Brussels), BB: n/a (2020-890) Thanks to Erwin and ElManana+1 for sharing today’s beers.

Clear ruby red beer, small creamy light pink head, pretty stable, non adhesive. Aroma: very fruity, grapes, funky, dusty, berries, acidic impression. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: very sour start, bitter as well, some tannins, grapes, fruity, bitter, wood notes. Aftertaste: bit sweet, pretty fruity, grapes, nice acidity, some tannins, lemony touch.

Yet another new grape lambic from the present-day pioneer of grape lambics, this time with an actual connection to their pioneering work: the idea to use Grenache Noir grapes in lambic comes from De Vini, the winemaker that provides the Viognier grapes used in Vigneronne, the first grape lambic ever made by Cantillon – and therefore the first one made in our modern time as well. Regularly shaped, pale pinkish-white, mousy, slowly opening head on an initially clear, deep and beautifully glowing ruby red robe with vague burgundy tinge, turning misty with sediment. Aroma of ripe blueberries, rosé wine, some vanilla-scenting oak, cooked plum, black cherry, brambleberry wine, rosehip tea, almond, restrained farmland touch in the end after the sediment was added. Tart onset but in a mellowish, rounded way, yet intensely fruity from the start, with a very ‘deep’ and noble blue ‘grapeyness’ – which nonetheless remains streamlined, ‘bright’ and focused, with side notes of juicy black cherry and ripe blackberry, indeed reminiscent of the dark, deep, sweet, luscious and almost port-like character of Grenache Noir, but integrated elegantly in a lambic context. Medium carbonation, supple and relatively ‘light’, notably elegant body, light bready core soaked in big dark grape juiciness dominating the finish, where soft grape skin tannins and hints of lemony funk and farmland from the lambic importantly play in the background. That typical Grenache sweetness, richness and ‘dark juiciness’ is the key aspect here and made somewhat subordinate to the lambic itself, albeit in an extremely gracious, streamlined, smooth way. No doubt these bottles will develop a more outspoken and funky lambic character in the coming years as the fruit fades and the wild yeast agents become more prominent, but in this younger form, this feels like more like Grenache wine diluted with a splash of young lambic than lambic with Grenache grapes in it – which in itself is obviously not an issue for me. Divine indeed.

Big thanks to the folks at ML fontainas. Clear red with a small pink head. Aroma of big funk, vinous notes, citrus, deep funk. Flavour is moderate sweet and bitter. Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

Bottle shared at lock in at ML fontainas. Clear deep purple, small dark pink head. Blackberries, dry grape skins, dabk cellar funk, dank grape skins, raspberries, earthy berries. Medium sweet and sour. Solid medium bodied. Merci!!

O, przehajp niemaly. Znaczy pewnie, ze pyszka, ale jakis taki niezdecydowany, ze to winogrona bym chyba nie zgadl, jest zaskakujaco malo wytrawny, spora mineralnosc, lekko cierpki posmak, dzikusy w tle, sianowate. Moze musi polezec?

750 ml bottle at Ammutsøn, bottle date is 22 Dec. 2020. Dark ruby body, with a tiny, pinkish head. Lovely aroma of dark grapes, red wine, dark berries, wood, cheesy funk, some citrus, red apple. Tastes similar, with more jammy berries as it warms. Medium, slick mouthfeel, with an average carbonation. Finishes smooth, medium dry, wooden, moderate funky, vinous, slightly warm, with green apple skin, grapes, some berries. Amazing! So deep and complex, with loads of beautiful dark grape notes. Drinks really vinous, while there are also distinctive funk and wood notes. Perfectly balanced, elegant stuff, outstanding even for Cantillon means! Score: 9 / 4 / 9 / 4 / 18

0,75l from bottle at Ammutson, Vienna. Bottled 22.12.2020 (sic!). Deep dark reddish hazy color, small pink color. Smells strong grape notes, subtle funk, grassy, light horse radish, berry notes, blackberry, very very nice smell. full body, soft carbonation. Tastes berry notes, grapes, red wine, spices, grassy, blackberry, wood, light cherries. Finishes dry and lightly sour with notes of berries, grapes and grassy notes. Very nice one, love the grape and berry notes. Great balance 9,4,9, 4,18

Rerate: 02.09.2021: 0,75l from bottle at the brewery. Reddish Bordeaux like color, small pink head. Smells red wine, tannins, grapes, grassy, peppery, spices, Lovely smell. Full body, smooth soft carbonation. Tastes grapes, grassy, citric, tannins.finishes lightly sour with notes of grapes, tannins, and spicy notes. Very lovely, amazing taste.

8,4,9,4,18

Small white rim terminating over clear cardinal red beer. Vinous, red barriques, winegrapes, raisins, faint lemon and horseblankety, I schotelvod /I Red wine, red fruit, bit of raisinsbread, cherries. Light body, acidthinning, mild carbonation. A new try from Cantillon, outstanding as usual.