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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Beudin/Bordelet 18 year Calvados


The next in our series of tastings from Nicolas Palazzi is a Calvados. Eric Bordelet is a Normandie based producer of wonderful apple and pear cider (seriously, go buy one of his ciders right now! You won't be disappointed.). Bordelet is also sitting on a bunch of aged Calvados that should be heading our way soon. This one was selected by Bordelet but distilled by Henri Bernard Beudin. It's a single cask distilled in 1997.

Henri Bernard Beudin Calvados, Eric Bordelet Selection, 18 years old, 53% abv ($115 for 375 ml)

The nose on this is immense with apples, wood and caramel, like a giant caramel apple...with wood. It's one of those noses that fills the room. The palate is deep, thick and intense. It's got strong woody notes, acidic apple, some spice - a nice touch of anise, and even some dusty bourbon and chocolate notes. It trails off with dried apple that lasts into the finish, which is just pure apple. The flavors are intensely concentrated, and the mouthfeel is thick and syrupy. It's strong for its proof. Water brings out the acid and pure apple flavors.

While I haven't written that much about it, I'm a big Calvados fan, and this is the most intensely flavored Calvados I've ever had. Not everyone will love it. It's bold, woody and on the dry side, but its intensity and complexity make it a true stand-out. Yes, it's expensive, but in this case, I'd say it's worth it, a must have for any Calvados lover.

From what I understand, this is available on the East Coast (and on-line at Astor Wines) but not in California yet. Hopefully, we will see it soon.

Thanks to PM Spirits' Nicolas Palazzi for the sample. 

 
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7 comments:

  1. IvanNovember 10, 2015 at 8:08 AM

    Damn you to hell. Bordelet is a star in Cidre. I love Calva (Mainly drink Huard & Groult). I'd love to try this but it's kinda pricey for me. Now I have to find a placing serving this.

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  2. UnknownNovember 10, 2015 at 12:31 PM

    Please let us know if this becomes available on the west coast, I sure would like to try it.

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  3. FlorinNovember 10, 2015 at 12:47 PM

    Cask strength Calvados - now, that's something I've never tried, but hope to, someday...

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  4. AnonymousNovember 11, 2015 at 1:52 PM

    i'd drink calvados all the time if i could afford it. how does this compare to the 16 year camut?

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  5. skuNovember 13, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    I haven't had the 16 yo, but this is a different animal from any of the Camut's I've had. They have a very traditional (and very delicious) Calvados profile. They are also almost all 80 proof. This is a high proof monster that is much drier and woodier than any Camut I've had.

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  6. BrailleNovember 19, 2015 at 10:08 AM

    Damn, just noticed the bottle size. Ouch. Absolutely love his ciders...

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  7. FlorinSeptember 21, 2016 at 11:35 AM

    This Bordelet is seriously good! The nose is very fresh and apple-y, like the Hubert 2006 dialed up to 11. But also pure and clean, any defects sanded out by the cask. The mouthfeel is immensely rich, and in fact it reminds me of some of the best Transilvanian "palincā", high-strength double-distilled plum brandy that I've had. The finish keeps going and chances are that will stay with you hours later, like a Cask Strength Laphroaig. I'm very happy - and surprised - with the cask treatment! It was very gentle, for 18 years old, and does not take away from the apple flavors at all (like, say, the Huard 99/92/90 does).

    By the way, this is my hot take based on a 5ml or so sample. I just couldn't resist it - and it's *that* good. I could drink cases of this - and without a doubt it's the best Calvados I've had - but I know that at this price I won't. Charles Neal, it's your move!

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