9.4/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
Golden-brown colour with plenty of legs. Woodsy, earthy aroma with a mix of figgy dark fruits and apricotty bright ones...a little molasses in there as well. More complex aroma than the Neige but perhaps less enticing. The flavour on the other hand...oh shit...toasty, woodsy flavours with soft brown sugar, dashes of malic acid, rich clean fruit and the strong suggestion of nutmeg. Exquisite. Recent vintages have a lot of lychee aroma.
Tried
on 18 Jul 2005
at 00:50
9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Bright light golden colour, with legs. Sweet aroma with bright fruits, pie crust and sugar. Rich, brown sugar palate with lots of fruit. Warmth comes in late but well-balanced by all the sugars. Light spice in the finish. A liquified apple crumble.
Tried
on 18 Jul 2005
at 00:48
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bright, very light yellow/green colour. Bright, fruity, leathery aroma with hints of wood and alcohol. Dry, tart character light fruitiness. Alcohol comes in very light. Only slight hints of sugar.
Tried
on 18 Jul 2005
at 00:46
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
RBSG 2003 Vintage Deep gold color with the same legs seen on all of this cideries creations. Fruity aroma, complex. Cinnamon, spices, apples! Syrup is light on the tongue. Very tasty sipper.
Tried
on 16 Jul 2005
at 18:42
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
RBSG bottle Clear gold color. Beautiful legs. Fresh apple aroma, earth and spice. Complex. Light syrup on the tongue. Again nice amount of sweetness but very little acidity. Very tasty!
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jul 2005
at 18:38
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
RBSG bottle Sparkling clear light golden yellow. Aroma is fresh apples and spice. Very aromatic. Light on the tongue, very little acidity and hides the alcohol well. Warming after. Very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jul 2005
at 18:34
9.2/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 9
2004 bottle sampled 6/4/2005 at Mondial. Stumbled upon this unknowingly and was left dumbfounded. All I scribbled down on my notes was the phrase, "just so complex!". You better believe I remember the rest, though.
A warm-toned honey and apricot colored cider, with some gleaming copper and brass, and darker caramel shades in the middle. Legs are left in response to swirling the thick, limpid, liquid. Aroma of cinnamon, cloves, sweet apple skins and pulp, rich butter pie-crust with freshly baked, warm apples and a glass of brandy. Vanilla and almonds in there as well. Flavor is explosive, complex and just stupefying. Rich cinnamon-flavored iced cream, with warm cointreau-soaked apples atop. Brandy, luscious caramel and full, sweet red apples, never syrupy or cloying. Powerful finish is warming, well-spiced of clove, allspice, oranges and vanilla. Body is gentle yet strong, very impressive and easy to sip. Finish does not "make you pay for it" by dousing you with alcohol. Tremendously balanced and just pure flavor from start to finish. As David says, this one is seemingly perfect in its own right, and takes the route of the wonderfully balanced, full bodied, strong and complex Belgian Strong Ale, whereas a perfect 5 in my book would also be an ultra funky farmhouse cider, for which I have more preference. This is incredible though. Glad we discovered it.
A warm-toned honey and apricot colored cider, with some gleaming copper and brass, and darker caramel shades in the middle. Legs are left in response to swirling the thick, limpid, liquid. Aroma of cinnamon, cloves, sweet apple skins and pulp, rich butter pie-crust with freshly baked, warm apples and a glass of brandy. Vanilla and almonds in there as well. Flavor is explosive, complex and just stupefying. Rich cinnamon-flavored iced cream, with warm cointreau-soaked apples atop. Brandy, luscious caramel and full, sweet red apples, never syrupy or cloying. Powerful finish is warming, well-spiced of clove, allspice, oranges and vanilla. Body is gentle yet strong, very impressive and easy to sip. Finish does not "make you pay for it" by dousing you with alcohol. Tremendously balanced and just pure flavor from start to finish. As David says, this one is seemingly perfect in its own right, and takes the route of the wonderfully balanced, full bodied, strong and complex Belgian Strong Ale, whereas a perfect 5 in my book would also be an ultra funky farmhouse cider, for which I have more preference. This is incredible though. Glad we discovered it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Jun 2005
at 13:23
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
2004 bottle, sampled at Mondial, 6/4/05. Very light pinot-grigio-like color, with just a touch of light tangerine juice color, adding a bit more depth. Little to no legs on the glass. Aroma is flowery, peachy and very simple. Sweet apple juice, bits of funky mushed apples, golden delicious apple-skins and vanilla. Flavor has plenty of apple-juice notes, clear, crisp and clean, with yellow apples, apple sauce and light dry yeast notes. A touch of more concentrated honeyish sugar and alcohol on the finish, light vanilla, cloves/nutmeg and a warming sensation are felt. Light textured and very belying the 12 abv, not syrupy nor cloying. Easy drinking ice-cider. 2014 375 mL bottle drunk 10/20/23, thanks willrunforbeer. Deep copper. Rich apple skin, white pepper, papier maché. Restrained rich sugar. No alcohol. Rich, sweet, caramel-laden. Yeah, still thinking the first harvest hasn't slowed enough acidity to develop? It's VERY sweet. I mean, ice ciders are sweet, but this isn't showing me enough ample acidity. Still lovely.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Jun 2005
at 13:11
7.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
Bottle: Poured a dark yellow still cider. Aroma of sweet concentrated apple juice with a liquorish feel to it. Taste is sweet though not overly sweet with a discreet warming feeling from the alcohol. I have no problem of believing that 3kg of apple are include in this bottle. Very good stuff overall.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 May 2005
at 09:34