4.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5

Somewhat affordable flip-top bottle 750 from Astor Wines. Cider selection was quote sad here for a bit, even during cider week, but they currently carry a dozen or so bottles & this west coast brand not seen much around here. Top heavy Sierra Nevada Sidecar glass. Darker then expected amber pour. Clear. Seriously voluminous head. Smells like a Crispin cider, not certain why. It's this slightly oxidized, slightly too rich, faintly produced product. I think gravenstein is a major apple in California & it just sticks out a little too much & triggers memories of apple sauce. Apple sauce & dry, cracking slabs of 2x4 is what I smell. Faint varnish, a little white wine. Taste is better. Whiskey notes on apples sauce, sans barrels. Varnish fumes again, something like rosewater, oxidized/browned flesh. Faint to good underlying acidity, low tart, dry but slick body. Moderately tannic, but nothing to seriously contrast it. Okay carbonation that exhausts itself way too fast. This looked like a steal at $15 for an heirloom cider, but it was just fancy packaging. Seek out blended stuff from West County or Farnum for great stuff at the exact same price.