2019 La Ferme du Vastel Paf Le 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 - and this bottle has plenty!

As always, amazing colour. Luminous orange. Fresh apples and florals, interlaced with honey droplets. Pectin in the back. Lots of bubbles, which are fine, strong and persistent. The taste is bright, fresh and mouth coating, before the drying tannins kick in. So tasty and easy to drink. Very dry, with just a little hint of sweetness at the front. Really refreshing, and very versatile in regards to food matching. Added complexity being 2019, really delicious.

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.