Hapu, kuiv, veinine, viinamarjane, marjane. Hea.

The wine barrel aged version in this new series of 'vintage' Quintines, from an Italian style, quite elegant and inviting bottle, bought at Bierhalle Deconinck. Snow white, medium thick, mousy, stable, irregularly lacing head on a hazy yellow blonde beer with vague greenish tinge - remarkably more pale in colour than the cognac barrel aged version of course, because the latter is based on Quintine de Noël which has a darker malt profile. Aroma of indeed dry white wine, green banana, red apple, clear vanilla-scenting oak wood, rhubarb stew, ripe pear, paprika crisps, pineapple and an interesting hint of sweaty Brettanomyces from the wine barrel, creating another layer of depth. Very fruity onset, lots of pear, pineapple and fried green apples, sweetish but not overly so, fizzily carbonated and supple and lean in body, seemingly lighter than the cognac version. Cereally, white-bready pale malt sweetish core, tangy and spicy finish with gently warming, fruity white wine-like alcohol paired with again that mild Bretty side note, elegantly drying woody tannins and a citric hoppy edge - even if actual bitterness remains on the soft side and clearly subordinate to the play of wine-like fruitiness and juiciness - a play well played here, because this is an elegant, refreshing, complex and very charming beer, like a high quality dessert wine. Lovely, I must find that rum barrel aged variant as well now!