Cidrerie Dausfresne has had a successful start to 2017 with their recent Médaille D’Or (Gold Medal) at the prestigious Paris Agriculture Fair. The small orchard and cidrerie of Daufresne is certainly putting out excellent products that are being recognized at the world’s various competitions. Each year, Daufresne crushes 150 tons of apples which mostly come from their own orchards but includes some from surrounding farms. The use traditional French cidre varietals, including but not limited to: Germaine, cimetière de Blangy, binet rouge, bisquet, St Martin, Noêl des champs, Président descourt, moulin à vent, mettais, & rambault. Daufresne has certainly come a long way in the 5 short years since Ghislaine Davy purchased the estate from the Daufresne family!
This is their Cidre de Normandie Artisanal Brut which means it’s a dry cider typical of Normandy using traditional methods.
Appearance: Light gold.
Aroma: Caramel, light brown sugar, apple pie, spice, buttery.
Taste: Medium tannins, medium- acidity, medium+ astringency.
Overall Impression: The Daufresne Brut is a very nice cider with a healthy dose of elegance. Stylistically, it steers away from the more rustic aspects of French and Norman cider towards the more subtle fruity and spicy side. It’s an excellent cider to use for introducing neophytes to French cidre without sacrificing taste and quality. It’s also excellent if you’re mood isn’t tending towards the funkier side of Cidre when you’re looking at the shelf.
CO2 Levels: Medium sparkle.
Geography: Pays d’Auge, Normandie
Apples: Germaine, cimetière de Blangy, binet rouge, bisquet, St Martin, Noêl des champs, Président descourt, moulin à vent, mettais, rambault, and more.
Availability: Imported by Winesellers, LTD.
5% ABV
If you’re curious about Daufresne’s Poiré, you can read my review here.
