Availability:
Calvados
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Adrien Camut 6 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Pays d’Auge, Normandy, FRANCE$180. 00Bottle$2160.00 DozenABV: 40%The Camut family have been producing Calvados from their 115 acres of Orchards in Pays d’Auge since the 1800s. Their brandy is made exclusively from estate grown apples then aged in old Limousin Oak casks. 40% Alc/Vol
Click here to learn more about Calvados.![978456123465_1.jpg]()
Cadenheads Distillery Dupont 13 Year Old Pays d'Auge Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$160. 00Bottle$1920.00 DozenABV: 44.8%Cadenhead's latest shipment includes this youthful, vibrant and fruity 13 year old apple brandy from the Dupont Distillery, bottled as part of their newish "Alternative Spirits range".
Etienne Dupont has been in charge of Domaine Dupont since 1980, when he took over from his father Louis and his grandfather Jules. Today the Domaine consists of 27 hectares (approx. 6000 trees) of typical apple varieties used for the production of Cider, Pommeau and Calvados. Etienne studied the art of double distillation in Cognac were he worked in close partnership with an oenologist. From the picking of the apples to the final ageing of the Calvados, Etienne is committed to producing the finest quality, even at the expense of the yield.
Bottled at 44.8%, according to Cadenheads, expect notes of tropical fruits before transitioning to darker, red fruits in the finish, accompanied by more dessert elements.
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Christian Drouin Reserve Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 40%Between September and November, Drouin harvests thirty organically grown apple varieties including bitter, bitter-sweet, sweet and sharp cider, then naturally ferments them. Typically kept for months in vats and tuns, young cider is distilled to produce fruity spirits destined to be sold as young calvados, while cider that’s kept longer is distilled around June to produce a more robust spirit better suited to long ageing. Drouin uses casks that may have previously contained sherry, port, rivesaltes (a type of sweet wine) and banyuls (French fortified wine). In this example, the Réserve is a blend of several distillates mostly aged in smaller used casks. The style intends to offer a nice balance between primary orchard fruit notes and spices. 40% Alc./Vol.
Silver Medal, International Spirit Challenge 2022 (UK)
Bronze Medal, IWSC 2019 (UK)
Silver Medal, Vimoutiers 2018 (France)![Christian Drouin Selection Calvados (700ml)]()
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Christian Drouin Selection Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 40%Column distilled from Perry Pears and cider apples. While Pays d'Auge Calvados typically benefits from extended ageing, Calvados from the Domfrontais region is more approachable young. Add old oak to the mix and the result is a deliciously fruity expression: Brimming with apple tart, ripe pear and orchard cider flavours and balanced by hints of cinnamon and crisp acidity, this is the perfect choice for Summer sipping or long drinks. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Double Gold Medal, ADI's Judging of Craft Spirits, 2018, USA.
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Christian Drouin VSOP Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$124. 99Bottle$1499.88 DozenABV: 40%Also referred to as 'Pale & Dry' Drouin's VSOP lands at a minimum of four years old. Produced from Pays d'Auge fruit with a portion aged in small 225 litre x-wine casks, plus a number of x-fortified wine casks, it's described as a crisp, focused and appetising Calvados showing lovely balance and persistence. Expect notes of sweet cider, baked apples, gingerbread, vanilla and cinnamon with a supple, generous palate and an apply finish. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Lush notes of salted butterscotch, maple and pear play against a drying core of oak; more fruit comes through on the finish. Relatively full-bodied, with a buttery, palate-coating feel. 90 points - wineenthusiast.com
...Ripe, dripping baked apple with flecks of delectably musty golden pear on the nose lead into a heavenly calvados. Bountiful apple charm from the lightness of its blossoms to the astringency of its skin and everything in between. Graceful aging imparts just enough vanilla and caramel to encapsulate this classic of the category. 92 points - Excellent / highly recommended, Ultimate spirits challenge, USA (2019)
"Exuding warm spice, lightly caramelized sugar, and fresh apple peel, Christian Drouin VSOP Calvados checks all the classic cider brandy boxes and more. Sweet baked pear, cardamom, and warming butter round out the middle, with faint licorice and clove on the end balancing out what is otherwise a jubilantly hedonistic flavor profile." 94 points - distiller.com
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Christian Drouin XO Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$165. 00Bottle$1980.00 DozenABV: 42%Other reviews... For their XO product, Drouin incorporates a portion of ex-cognac casks into the usual mix, otherwise dominated by ex-Bordeaux barrels. The youngest spirit in this bottle is eight years old, but it includes some far older stocks as well. The influence of cognac and sherry casks here is almost unmistakable, but adds a welcome aromatic signature. The nutty, saline and sea-breeze character form a nice counterpoint to the dense, vivid, ripe apple component. This has clearly gained depth and complexity with age, but it has not fallen into the trap of becoming too oxidative or overwhelmed by wood. 90 points - distiller.com
Notes from the producers... offers a harmonious nose mixing baked apples, almond and spice hints. The mouth is supple, soft and well developed. Fruity at first it evolves towards vanilla and woodier notes.
Score 90+, Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge.
Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirit Competition (USA) 2019
Drouin Calvados began rather unintentionally. Christian Drouin Sr., grandfather to the current head of the company, purchased a country house in the Pays d'Auge area of Normandy in 1960. The house sat on a farm with an apple orchard and Drouin Sr. harvested the apples on his estate in hopes of seeing a return. He was disappointed to find that the price for apples was so low that he wouldn't even recoup harvesting expenses, so he held onto his fruit and sought an alternative solution. His friend, Pierre Pivet, had a mobile still and would travel to various farms to distill cider into calvados. He agreed to advise Drouin on pressing his apples into cider and distilling the cider into calvados, teaching him the art from start to finish. Thanks to Pivet, even the earliest bottlings from the company were of a consistent and high quality. For the next twenty years, Drouin dived headfirst into the distillation process, before putting eux-de-vie aside for aging. Ever since, the family business has continued to blossom with his grandson, Guillaume now at the forefront of production and business management.
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1995 Christian Drouin Pays d'Auge Port Cask Finish Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$290. 00Bottle$3480.00 DozenABV: 42%A nineteen year old Calvados finished in ex Port casks for twelve months. Tasting note: Deep copper / auburn colour. A touch of varnish followed by whiffs of baked apples, cinnamon and emerging oak, drying the nose-feel. Light, fruity entry develops body with green apple flavours and a peppery thrust. Astringency and spice almost overwhelm the final stages. At the tannic end of the scale, so best with food. 42% Alc./Vol.![48905141051_1.jpg]()
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1989 Christian Drouin Pays d'Auge Sherry Cask Finish Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$430. 00Bottle$5160.00 DozenABV: 42%Tasting note: Polished copper / old gold colour. Slightly shyer on the nose than the 1995, but also rounder and less spicy. Woody notes feature early before an understated rush of orchard fruits. Sweet cider, apple tart and tannic oak extend the aftertaste. Still vibrant for its age, with enough astringency to work as a between-course palate cleanser. 42% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... Silver Medal,Best in class, I.W.S.C. London 2008 (UK)![Pierre Huet Cordon Or 30 Year Old Calvados (700ml)]()
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Pierre Huet Cordon Or 30 Year Old Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$329. 99Bottle$3959.88 DozenABV: 40%If you are looking to take your Calvados experience to another level, Pierre Huet has two new bottlings available: a 1972 vintage and this, the 'Cordon Or' . They are very different expressions but equally deserving of attention. Fermented in one hundred year old oak and aged in separate barrels for a minimum of 30 years, venerable apple brandies like this can be shape-shifting spirits - which ups the complexity and enjoyment: In the initial pour, aromas leap from the glass with pure, perfectly mature whiffs of poached pear and baked red apples over cigar box, cinnamon and fruit pastries. In later passes, the accent remains on shellac and vanillin oak. Even at thirty years old, when most are overburdened by tannin, this feels fine-tuned delivering impressive fruit intensity with acidity and oak in support; The finish adds an almost crunchy acidity and delicate astringency that's like biting into a piece of fresh fruit. The aftertaste leaves a final impression of rusticity - fermier cider, half-ripened pears, quince paste and hints of soft cheese rind combine with a salivating freshness. It's a gorgeous Calvados experience that boasts a range and depth that only great age brings, while keeping true to the orchards that conceived it. Allow 10-15 minutes in the glass to show its best. 40% Alc./Vol.
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Roger Groult Venerable Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 41%The Groult family orchards are planted on fine silty soil, over flint clay. The estate has been in the family’s hands for five generations, and has been producing Calvados from estate fruit and neighbouring growers since the 1890s. Traditional techniques are employed to ensure that reputation created by the Groult family for consistent quality is maintained.Tasting note: Polished bronze / topaz colour. Cognac-like elegance with lovely depth and integration to the bouquet; apple flan, pear tart and sweet baking spices, in particular, cinnamon. 4-5 minutes of swirling introduces notes of ripe red apples and vanilla. This shows beautiful fruit and oak integration; more baked orchard fruits, nutmeg and nuances of bitter dark chocolate through the finish. Concludes elegant, long, mature. The right mix of fruit and barrel age. 41% Alc./Vol.
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Roger Groult 3 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 40%A Pays d’Auge Calvados produced from around twenty varieties of cider apples: sweet, bitter-sweet, bitter and acidulous including Bisquet, Binet Rouge, Noel des Champs and Egyptia. Distilled over a wood fire in three small traditional pot stills, this was initially matured in 300 litre barrels allowing a greater contact of the spirit to wood. Tasting note: Pale gold. The bouquet is fresh, bright and crisp with aromas of cider, baked green apples / pears as well as cinnamon and hints of clove. Follows through in a light to medium bodied Calvados developing with flavours of ripe apple, pear cider and lively acidity. Trails off mildly varnishy, warming, dry, spicy. Medium long. Nice youthful style. Perfect for cooking and long drinks. 40% Alc./Vol.![435678976546789_1.jpg]()
Roger Groult Reserve Ancestrale (19th - 20th Century Blend) Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$830. 00Bottle$9960.00 DozenABV: 40%The culmination of several generation's work, Réserve Ancestrale beautifully expresses the full ageing cycle of Calvados Groult. Matured and blended in the casks that belonged to Pierre Groult (1830-1918), this exceptional Calvados is the oldest eaux-de-vie of the domain. Extremely limited stocks. Other reviews... "What's in this bottle is incomparable: the oldest spirits of the property blended with dazzling mastery. On the nose and palate, an almost perfect balance between power and elegance, pure charm and fascinating complexity." - Le Figaro Magazine (December 2014)![460156180615_1.jpg]()
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Roger Groult Whisky Cask Finish 9 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 46%New as of 2017, another of Groult's experiments in brandy maturation is this whisky cask finish. Suitably, the barrels were sourced from a distillery in Brittany, France with the finishing period lasting just a few months. Tasting note: Deep gold. Orchard fruits are evident, but the aroma seems smothered rather than enhanced by the finishing. Extra vanilla? Possibly a touch of smoke? On the palate it's more typical, with baked apple and late hints of cider, but pulls up short. 46% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... "It is spicy, iodized but creamy, almost buttery in the mouth."
- M. Hervé Lalau (Wine & spirits journalist)![156011861055_1.jpg]()
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Roger Groult Sherry Cask Finish 11 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$215. 00Bottle$2580.00 DozenABV: 46%Tasting note: Deep amber topaz. Varnishy with some sherry sweetness emerging. Hints of apple and dried pear, but by no means overtly fruity. There’s a slightly thin, metallic feel in the mouth. Recovers definition through the aftertaste with some attractive stewed pear and chocolate notes, but lacks the vibrancy and fruit of Groult's other bottlings. 936 bottles. 46% Alc./Vol.![1560156151_1.jpg]()
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Roger Groult 8 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$135. 00Bottle$1620.00 DozenABV: 41%A Pays d'Auge Calvados matured in 2000 litre, oval shaped oak barrels (which improves contact with wood). A delightful digestive, but also recommended for drinking as a “Trou Normand” (during a meal) or with accompanying cheeses. Tasting note: Brilliant deep gold. Only slightly less perfumed than its younger sibling; Green apples, cider, roasted chestnuts with lively acid lift. Further exposure accents pleasing woody notes (cedar, sandalwood). Fuller and richer than the 3 year old with middle weight flavours of baked apple and light spice, keenly balanced by fresh, cidery acidity. An appealing combination of youth and middle age. 41%Alc./Vol. Other reviews... International Wine & Spirit Competition (August 2014) :GOLD MEDAL (category : Calvados from 8 to 12 yo) "A Calvados that embodies noble classicism. An almost candied fruit, like an apple roasted with honey and butter. Mouth is round and just as greedy as the nose. Seduction and pleasure."
- La Revue du Vin de France (October 2012): Ultimate Beverage Challenge of New York (March 2010): 95 points ("Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation")![1023730_1.jpg]()
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Victor Gontier Calvados Domfrontais Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 40%Tasting note: [2005 vintage] Gontier is based in Saint-Georges du Rouellet, deep in the heart of Domfrontais. This bottling is labelled ‘fermier’ or 'farm-made', indicating that it was made entirely on a farm in a traditional way. Deeply coloured, initially varnishy, then dry cider-like on the nose (pears more than apples), it's full and round with ripe spiced pear flavours followed by apple pie, late cinnamon and acacia. It feels less woody than many Pays d'Auge examples, so less tannic at the finish, but also not quite as fresh and vibrant. 40% Alc./Vol. Apple brandies from the 'AOC calvados Domfrontais' region in the south of Calvados are uncommon in Australia. The appellation was created in 1997 and reflects the long tradition of pear orchards in Domfrontais due to the region’s clay and limestone soil which is better suited to the strong, deep roots of pear trees. Consequently, Domfrontais Calvados differ from their Pays’d’Auge counterparts by being made from at least 30% pears, as well as the traditional Calvados component of apples. The inclusion of pears makes not only for a lighter-coloured spirit, but also one which emits a more feminine and elegant bouquet. The regulations are otherwise similar to the A.O.C. Calvados and require a three year minimum of ageing in oak barrels; orchards to consist of at least 15% pear trees (25% from the sixteenth harvest) and only the column still is to be used. Other reviews... [1997 vintage] Gontier make some real artisan Domfrontais. Colour: gold. Nose: extremely aromatic, with the pears in the front and wonderful notes of artisan poiré (pear cider). Then Turkish delights, Haribo bears, bubblegum, liquorice allsorts and lastly, moss and fern after a heavy September rain ;-). Spectacularly fresh and aromatic. Don’t get me wrong, bubblegum does not suggest immaturity in this context, at all. Mouth: fresh, well on the fruits, very clean, with a saltiness and notes of fresh walnuts plus just a little grapefruit. Not extremely complex but very ‘chiselled’, which makes it dangerously quaffable, not only as a digestif. A calvados that left the ghetto! Finish: not too long but still very clean and easy. Comments: very, very dangerous, and much to my liking. I think this baby would even bear one ice cube later in summer…
85 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com![1021762_1.jpg]()
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Berneroy Fine Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 40%Produced since the 1940's, Berneroy and Cie was purchased by the Camus Cognac company in the 1970s. It continues to offer a range of quality apple brandies at reasonable prices. Pale gold with a pale straw hue. Perfumed aromas of very ripe Johnathan apples, cream and a trace of cinnamon and clove. Powerful, spicy apple flavours are medium dry, clean with a nashi pear like characteristic balanced by fresh acidity and a drying spirit warmth. Aftertaste of dried apple, pear and clove. Solid value entry-level Calvados. 40% Alc./Vol.
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Cadenheads Distillery Dupont 20 Year Old Pays d'Auge Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$240. 00Bottle$2880.00 DozenABV: 48.7%Cadenheads continue to explore new spirits, this time adding apple brandies to their portfolio. A couple of bottlings are from the Domaine Dupont Distillery and include a youthful, vibrant and fruity 13 year old and a richer, more wood driven 20 year old. The Domaine dates back to 1887 when Jules Dupont arrived at La Vigannerie (the old name of the current estate) as a tenant farmer. He began producing cider and calvados, and through the sale of these he was able to purchase the estate in 1916. The distillery has diligently focused on high quality instead of big volumes, in part through the manual sorting of apples at the estate (which is very rarely seen in the making of cider nowadays) to the bottling of natural strength calvados.Mitch Graham, writing for Cadenheads offers his thoughts on how best to enjoy these spirits:
"I have always said that I will never tell anyone how to drink their whisky, and this is the same with any spirit really. A lot of you will have been drinking a lot longer than I have, so I wouldn’t want to insult you – so to answer the question, drink it how you like! Calvados tends to be served as an aperitif or digestif during long meals. It also goes well with desserts. Some will also serve calvados mixed with coffee at the end of a meal. It can also be used in the making of some lovely cocktails too, like the apple old fashioned – a nice autumnal twist on a classic!"Notes from Cadenheads... Here we discover just how rich and very enjoyable a great aged Calvados can be. Nose: very different to any we have tried tonight! Some Apple for sure but the overlay of woody notes is interesting, with a little spice and maybe damson jam, soft creamy vanilla ice cream. Palate to Finish: Almost rum like for a moment with a big hit of toffee and cinnamon buns with vanilla cream filling! (Who needs a dessert) Apple and coffee froth add another amazing layer to this dram. Truly outstanding Calvados so drink this one slowly sit back and relax as you find layer upon layer in this single cask vintage.
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Chateau du Breuil 15 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$125. 00Bottle$1500.00 DozenABV: 41%Château du Breuil is one of Normandy's most prestigious Calvados distilleries, producing Calvados Pays d'Auge (AOC), Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados liqueur and plum brandy. The company is exclusively distributed through traditional networks and exports 55% of its sales to around fifty countries. Fruit is grown in the grounds of Chateau du Breuil on 42 hectares of hillside orchard, then naturally fermented without additives. Following double distillation, this brandy is aged for at least 15 years in oak casks with the result characterized by an outstanding roundness, leaving the apple, wood and almond flavours to come out fully in a refined, complex blend.
No tasting notes available. 41% Alc./Vol.
Rated 96-100 points by wineenthusiast.com
Silver Medal and "Best in class" - International Wine & Spirit Competition - London 2008.![1025822_1.jpg]()
Chateau du Breuil Réserve des Seigneurs 20 Year Old XO Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Pays d’Auge, Normandy, FRANCE$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 40%Unlike Calvados "AOC", Calvados with the AOC "Pays d'Auge" requires cider apples produced in the Pays d'Auge area and a double distillation in alembic pot stills (as opposed to column stills elsewhere) as well as control of flavouring elements. As the most quality oriented appellation it naturally makes a finer Calvados, due to the class of apples produced by the local soil, and the elimination of the roughest alcohols during the distillations.
Château du Breuil is one of Normandy's most prestigious Calvados distilleries, producing Calvados Pays d'Auge (AOC), Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados liqueur and plum brandy. The company is exclusively distributed through traditional networks and exports 55% of its sales to around fifty countries. Fruit is grown in the grounds of Chateau du Breuil on 42 hectares of hillside orchard (22,000 apple trees), and naturally fermented without additives. Maturation takes place for two years in Limousin or Troncais oak casks.
This is the high point of Chateau Breuil's portfolio with Calvados at a minimum of 20 years of age. We've managed to secure a small quantity at a more than reasonable price given such a venerable pedigree. An opportunity not to be passed by, unless you're planning a visit to Normandy! The XO has been awarded numerous accolades since 2006 including:
Gold medal - General Competition of Paris (Ministry of Agriculture) - 2006
Bronze Medal - International Wine and Spirit Competition - London 2009
Gold Medal - International Wine and Spirit Competition - London 2010
Silver Medal and "Best in Class" - International Wine and Spirit Competition - London 2011
Silver Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition - London 2012![1018471_1.jpg]()
Chateau du Breuil Pays d'Auge 12 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 41%Château du Breuil is one of Normandy's most prestigious Calvados distilleries, producing Calvados Pays d'Auge (AOC), Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados liqueur and plum brandy. The company is exclusively distributed through traditional networks and exports 55% of its sales to around fifty countries. Fruit is grown in the grounds of Chateau du Breuil on 42 hectares of hillside orchard, then naturally fermented without additives. Following double distillation, the brandy is aged for at least 12 years in oak casks with the result characterized by an outstanding roundness, leaving the apple, wood and almond flavours to come out fully in a refined, complex blend. 41% Alc./Vol.
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Chateau du Breuil Pays d'Auge Fine Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Pays d’Auge, Normandy, FRANCE$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 40%Château du Breuil is one of Normandy's most prestigious Calvados distilleries, producing Calvados Pays d'Auge (AOC), Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados liqueur and plum brandy. The company is exclusively distributed through traditional networks and exports 55% of its sales to around fifty countries. Fruit is grown in the grounds of Chateau du Breuil on 42 hectares of hillside orchard, and naturally fermented without additives. Maturation takes place for two years in Limousin or Troncais oak casks. Enjoyable consumed straight both during or after a meal, but also makes for a refreshing Summer drink when mixed with tonic. 40% Alc./Vol.
Chateau du Breuil's Fine Calvados was awarded a Silver Medal and "Best in class" at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, London 2006.
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Chateau du Breuil Reserve du Chateau 8 Year Old Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 40%Château du Breuil is one of Normandy's most prestigious Calvados distilleries, producing Calvados Pays d'Auge (AOC), Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados liqueur and plum brandy. The company is exclusively distributed through traditional networks and exports 55% of its sales to around fifty countries. Fruit is grown in the grounds of Chateau du Breuil on 42 hectares of hillside orchard, then naturally fermented without additives. Following double distillation, this brandy is aged for at least 8 years in oak casks with the result characterized by an outstanding roundness, leaving the apple, wood and almond flavours to come out fully in a refined, complex blend. 40% Alc./Vol.
Silver Medal and "Best in class" - International Wine & Spirit Competition - London 2008.
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Chateau du Breuil Pays d'Auge V.S.O.P. Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Pays d’Auge, Normandy, FRANCE$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 40%Château du Breuil is one of Normandy's most prestigious Calvados distilleries, producing Calvados Pays d'Auge (AOC), Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados liqueur and plum brandy. The company is exclusively distributed through traditional networks and exports 55% of its sales to around fifty countries. Fruit is grown in the grounds of Chateau du Breuil on 42 hectares of hillside orchard, then naturally fermented without additives. Maturation of the V.S.O.P. takes place for four years in Limousin or Troncais oak casks.
Tasting notes... Pale gold appearance with a pale straw hue. Dense, perfumed aromas of baked apple, pastry and cinnamon - liquid apple pie! The entry is off dry, mouth filling and sweetens at mid palate with flavours of apple pie and nashi pear balanced by drying acidity and a warming spirit. Good length. Delicate and dry, spicy apple / pear aftertaste. 40% Alc./Vol.
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Christian Drouin Selection Calvados (350ml)Normandy, FRANCE$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 40%Column distilled from Perry Pears and cider apples. While Pays d'Auge Calvados typically benefits from extended ageing, Calvados from the Domfrontais region is more approachable young. Add old oak to the mix and the result is a deliciously fruity expression: Brimming with apple tart, ripe pear and orchard cider flavours and balanced by hints of cinnamon and crisp acidity, this is the perfect choice for Summer sipping or long drinks. Chefs will appreciate the small format. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Double Gold Medal, ADI's Judging of Craft Spirits, 2018, USA.
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1980 Comte Louis de Lauriston Calvados Domfrontais (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$290. 00Bottle$3480.00 DozenABV: 42%Apple brandies from the 'AOC calvados Domfrontais' region in the south of Calvados are very rarely discovered in Australia. The appellation was created in 1997 and reflects the long tradition of pear orchards in Domfrontais due to the region’s clay and limestone soil which is better suited to the strong, deep roots of pear trees. Consequently, Domfrontais Calvados’s differ from their Pays’d’Auge counterparts by being made from at least 30% pears, as well as the traditional Calvados component of apples. The inclusion of pears makes not only for a lighter-coloured spirit, but also one which emits a more feminine and elegant bouquet. The regulations are otherwise similar to the A.O.C. Calvados and require a three year minimum of ageing in oak barrels; orchards to consist of at least 15% pear trees (25% from the sixteenth harvest) and only the column still is to be used. Tasting note: The bright gold colour shows excellent purity. An initial varnish note is absorbed into the gorgeous orchard phase that features apple pie and cinnamon followed by the scent of green apple peel which adds freshness. Several minutes in the glass finds succulent notes of stewed apple and pear amidst flashes of varnish. Final stages find apple core with the aromatic richness leveling out. The palate is pleasingly dry, fresh and fruity with a superb sweet / acid balance; mid palate features baked apple, quince paste and fruit pastry flavours. Finish is crisp, light and lip smacking, becoming bone dry as the apple / acid finale fades with excellent length. 42% Alc./Vol.- Domaine Dupont Original Calvados Apple Brandy (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%
Etienne Dupont has been in charge of Domaine Dupont since 1980, when he took over from his father Louis and his grandfather Jules. Today the Domaine consists of 27 hectares (approx. 6000 trees) of typical apple varieties used for the production of Cider, Pommeau and Calvados. Etienne studied the art of double distillation in Cognac were he worked in close partnership with an oenologist. From the picking of the apples to the final ageing of the Calvados, Etienne is committed to producing the finest quality, even at the expense of the yield.
Dupont's 'Original' Calvados is produced from a blend of 30% of sweet apples, (mainly Rouge Duret) 30% 'bitter' apples (Mettais, Saint Martin, Frequin and Binet Rouge) and 40% apples with moderate acidity (mainly Rambault). The fruit is cropped manually, then mixed together, crushed and pressed. Following fermentation, the cider is double distilled. The spirit matures for a minimum of two years - initially in 3000 litre oak barrels, then in 400 litre, second fill casks which impart minimal tannin and flavour compounds, ensuring the Calvados retains its "Original" fruity flavours and a very pale colour.
Tasting note sourced from the producer: Appearence: White with pale yellow shade. Limpid and bright. Nose: Powerful, fine, fresh and complex. Green apple and citrus fruits aromas, shades of sherry. Floral. Taste: Fresh, supple, round in mouth, substantial, very retro-olfactif, long and intense. Serve at freezing temperature with smoked or marinated fish dishes. 40% Alc./Vol.
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G.E. Massenez Calvados Vieux (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%A beautifully presented Calvados that many will buy for the bottle alone! A traditional aperitif and 'hole filler' between dishes, serve it neat, over ice or in cocktails. 40% Alc./Vol.
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Lecompte 5 Year Old Pays d'Auge Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCEReduced from $150.00$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 40%Other reviews... The aroma suggests baked apple and caramel, plus a hint of cedar. The palate leads with a resin-like note, leading into cedar, spice, and chamomile tea, finishing with hints of dried apricot, cooked banana and vanilla. Feels relatively hot. 86 points - wineenthusiast.com
![Lecompte 12 Year Old Pays d'Auge Calvados (700ml)]()
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Lecompte 12 Year Old Pays d'Auge Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCEReduced from $185.00$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%Other reviews... Finished in port wine barrels, this Calvados has a relatively dry, bold character. Rich aromas include baked apple and caramel, with a hint of sherry. Meanwhile, the palate starts with tea, cedar and oak, rounding out to caramel and toffee on an exceedingly long finish spiked with stewed apple, orange peel and nutmeg. The overall effect is lots of flavor, but not much sweetness, making for a food-friendly sip. 91 points - wineenthusiast.com
Notes from the producers... "While the fruit is still dominant, the blend of Lecompte 12 renders it more complex and more intense than its younger sibling, with a remarkable aromatic maturity. Elegant cinnamon and nutmeg aromas rub shoulders with complex hints of caramelised apples and roasted hazelnuts, punctuated by a final flourish of liquorice. The result is a Calvados of extraordinary finesse and outstanding length of flavour."
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- Nick's Import
Nikka Rita 30 Year Old Apple Brandy (700ml)JAPAN$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenABV: 43%We're very fortunate to have secured what is reportedly a very, very rare 30 year old Japanese Apple Brandy. Named as a tribute to Rita Taketsuru, who supported Masataka Taketuru's dream of making whisky in Japan, the brandy was bottled in 2014 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Nikka Whisky. A blend of apple brandies, the aroma and flavour are described as "Still lovely and sweet and deepening over time" - like Rita herself. Taketsuru's association with apples dates back to 1934 when he experienced his first autumn in Yoichi where the locals were busy squeezing apples. The juice was to be sold by Nikka while their whiskies matured and played an important role in the formation of the business. Indeed, the original company name was "Dai Nippon Kaju", meaning "The Great Japanese Juice Company", hence there has always been a bond between Nikka and the local apple industry. Apple wine was released in 1938 followed by the first brandy in 1940. Extremely limited.![1972 Pierre Huet Vintage Calvados (700ml)]()
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1972 Pierre Huet Vintage Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$650. 00Bottle$7800.00 DozenABV: 40%Deeper in colour than the Cordon Dor, Huet's 1972 shows its age; more restrained on the nose, at first more woody too, so give it 10-15 minutes to reveal its full aromatic range, running the gamut of quince paste, apple tart, rose hips as well as secondary notes of fine dark chocolate, rancio and old books, becoming more fragile over time. On the palate the orchard fruits are preserved, complexed by notes of rose wax, chamomile tea, green apples as well as suggestions of figs and poached pears and even some vaguely herbal moments making this a compelling, entrancing Calvados that demands multiple tastings to fathom. The stunning rebound is usually the reserve of Hors d'age cognacs, adding whisps of Turkish delight, apple peels, balsa wood, crushed pine buds and more. It's the antithesis of Huet's more exuberant thirty year old, but just as good. Aged for a minimum of 38 years in oak barrels, limited to 900 bottles globally. 40% Alc./Vol.
![Pierre Huet Tradition 15 Year Old Calvados (700ml)]()
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Pierre Huet Tradition 15 Year Old Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 40%Pierre Huet is one of the oldest Calvados estates in France, having begun production in the 1800s. The house is situated in the Pays d'Auge region and is led by Francois-Xavier Huet who has modernized the operation, introducing sustainable practices such as replacing the oil used to heat the stills with wood chips from the estate. Two stills operate: a pot still for the AOC Pays d'Auge production and a column still for the Calvados AOC production. Hot water from the distillation heats the visitor centre in winter. Combining the robustness and strength of a Hors d’Age with the length and sweetness of an ancestral Calvados, 'Tradition' fills a gap in the category with a well-aged apple brandy that retains good fruit definition without being overly woody or tannic. The bouquet opens with baked apple, pear and cinnamon, and although it loses steam after air contact, the palate makes amends in a succulent combination of ripe pear, sweet apple cider and vanilla notes that make this easy to like. The supple texture is a delight, while the spicy lift and gentle astringency through the finish add the necessary balance. Huet has assembled this blend using brandies aged at least fifteen years, however, some casks are considerably older. 40% Alc./Vol.
Silver Medal General Agricultural Competition of Paris 2019
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Pierre Huet Fine Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 40%Tasting note: Aged for 2 to 3 years. Pale gold. Varnishy in the initial pass; 3-4 minutes of swirling and air contact releases moderate scents of apple cider, ripe pear and sweet spice. Light on entry, developing medium dry flavours of apple pie and dried pear with a flare of spirit heat; astringent and thinning out through the finish, losing definition. 40% Alc./Vol.![Victor Gontier Calvados Domfrontais Apple Brandy (500ml)]()
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Victor Gontier Calvados Domfrontais Apple Brandy (500ml)$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 Dozen[2005 vintage tasted] Gontier is based in Saint-Georges du Rouellet, deep in the heart of Domfrontais. This bottling is labelled ‘fermier’ or 'farm-made', indicating that it was made entirely on a farm in a traditional way. Deeply coloured, initially varnishy, then dry cider-like on the nose (pears more than apples), it's full and round with ripe spiced pear flavours followed by apple pie, late cinnamon and acacia. It feels less woody than many Pays d'Auge examples, so less tannic at the finish, but also not quite as fresh and vibrant. 40% Alc./Vol.
Apple brandies from the 'AOC calvados Domfrontais' region in the south of Calvados are uncommon in Australia. The appellation was created in 1997 and reflects the long tradition of pear orchards in Domfrontais due to the region’s clay and limestone soil which is better suited to the strong, deep roots of pear trees. Consequently, Domfrontais Calvados differ from their Pays’d’Auge counterparts by being made from at least 30% pears, as well as the traditional Calvados component of apples. The inclusion of pears makes not only for a lighter-coloured spirit, but also one which emits a more feminine and elegant bouquet. The regulations are otherwise similar to the A.O.C. Calvados and require a three year minimum of ageing in oak barrels; orchards to consist of at least 15% pear trees (25% from the sixteenth harvest) and only the column still is to be used.
Other reviews... [1997 vintage] Gontier make some real artisan Domfrontais. Colour: gold. Nose: extremely aromatic, with the pears in the front and wonderful notes of artisan poiré (pear cider). Then Turkish delights, Haribo bears, bubblegum, liquorice allsorts and lastly, moss and fern after a heavy September rain ;-). Spectacularly fresh and aromatic. Don’t get me wrong, bubblegum does not suggest immaturity in this context, at all. Mouth: fresh, well on the fruits, very clean, with a saltiness and notes of fresh walnuts plus just a little grapefruit. Not extremely complex but very ‘chiselled’, which makes it dangerously quaffable, not only as a digestif. A calvados that left the ghetto! Finish: not too long but still very clean and easy. Comments: very, very dangerous, and much to my liking. I think this baby would even bear one ice cube later in summer…
85 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com
