2020 La Ferme du Vastel La Tête de R'Hache Cidre Brut
REGION: Normandy, FR
SIZE: 750ml / ABV: 5%
A blend of a few different apples from all orchards. The different tanks were sampled and selected, for blending before bottling. The ferment continues in bottle for a few months until the yeasts are dead and there are sufficient bubbles. Christophe says an 'axe head' (La Tête de R'Hache), in the Cotentin (the peninsula in Normandy where the farm is located), is a person with a slightly hard head - a mule head, a little stubborn, with a little character... So this is a cidre with character!
Electric orange. Subtly fragrant array of apples with gentle florals. Great restraint on the nose. Not too sweet, which is nice. You can smell the skins, and a touch of salinity. To taste it has very fine small bubbles which are quite persistent. Dry, with restrained fruit. It's like a tonic with light flavours and a mineral edge. Shy, rather than in your face. Delicate on the palate, and perhaps the driest of the three on offer today. Not sweet, more flavourful, with a light tannic edge, and a nice touch of salt and bitter. Finishes with welcomed acidity. Very easy drinking, super smooth. I love the super fine bubbles on this one. The lightest, most subtle/restrained of this new release.
Christophe Bouvet created La Ferme du Vastel back in 2007. The farm is owned by his grandparents and has been in the family for over 150 years. Located in one of the most northern points in Normandy, it is perfect for the production of high quality cidre.
The farm had been relatively untouched since the 1960’s, until he decided to revitalise it with plans to make cidre and grow other produce. On the farm Christophe now grows various fruits, elderflower, hazelnuts and of course apples. He even extracts sap from birch trees! Aside from his grandparents land, he also leases some orchards to ensure there are enough apples in any given season.
All orchards are certified organic, although Christophe takes it beyond the certified requirements ensuring life is prevalent everywhere, promoting biodiversity as much as possible. Over the years he has restored balance to the farm, creating a healthy and thriving environment.