At the beginning of 2019, I went to a cider tasting event where multiple cideries of Quebec were present to offer their products. Cidrerie Le Somnambule was among them & it was love at first sight. Their ciders were well crafted with great complexity & a mouthfeel that was always flawless. This is their brut one inspired from Normandy-style ciders. It is unfiltered, without any inputs & its effervescence is made with the Charmat method.
Le Brut
Brewed by Cidrerie Le Somnambule
Type: Sparkling Cider - French
Region: St-Henri-de-Lévis, Quebec, Canada
ABV: 7.0%
Apples: Almost exclusively Cortland
Appearance: 7.5/10
First off the bottle is amber which is perfect for containing any beverages. It is topped with a standard crown cap, making it slightly less practical, but more efficient toward oxidation prevention. The label offers some information on the cider, its organoleptic traits & how it should be enjoyed. The liquid is a nice clear golden colour with multiple fine bubbles forming everywhere. The head is white, thin & short-lived, but the effervescence lasted until the very end of my glass.
Nose: 12/15
The nose is very aromatic with sharp notes of sun-drenched fresh apples, juicy peaches, papaya & cantaloupes. It offers warm & tropical fruits as well as faint oranges, mangoes & floral aromas. It is very rich, I was expecting something much simpler, although this surprising complexity is more than enjoyable. I mean, it is still quite straightforward, but it possesses much more depth than I thought. Like my last tasting, this is dominated by a single apple, in this case the Cortland. This variety usually lend a faint apple aroma, however, this is much more flavourful.
Mouth: 11.5/15
The effervescence is delicate and paired with a lively acidity, it offers a crisp & refreshing taste. The fact that the cider is brut, meaning very dry, increases this crispy sensation. Its quench-thirsting & mouth-watering at the same time. The tannins are soft & pleasant and the body is quite full adding some depth to the palate. Despite the high ABV, the ethanol is minimal & doesn’t disrupt the overall profile. The cider has a great balance although at some point I find the acidity to be a little too intense for my liking. It makes it less refreshing & more sour.
Finish: 8/10
The finish is long with juicy apples & a nice bitterness which entices me to take another sip. The lack of sweetness plays a crucial role in making this a perfect quench-thirst.
Overall: 78/100
The mosaic of aromas & the delightful mouthfeel makes this cider a genuinely enjoyable experience. I honestly wish I had bought the biggest bottle. Don’t make the same mistake I did.
3-word Description:
Aromatic, crisp & dry.
The Reference
More information @lesomnambule.com
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