Calvados Review: Boulard XO Calvados Pays d’Auge

• Category: Calvados Pays d’Auge
• Origin: Calvados Boulard
• Bottling: Official
• ABV: 40%
• Cost: £41.52

What They Say

Calvados Boulard

Founded in 1825, the company Calvados Boulard has been passed down from generation to generation. The small family firm founded by Pierre-Auguste Boulard at the beginning of the 19th century has become an internationally renowned company thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of his descendants.

X.O.Appellation Calvados Pays d’Auge contrôlée

Obtained from blending several Calvados varieties from the Pays d’Auge aged for a minimum of 6 years, Boulard XO is a remarkable Calvados which can be recognised from its complex aromas of grilled almonds and ripe apples, as well as its balanced and mild taste. Delicious when consumed at the end of a meal.

Official tasting notes:

• Colour : Shiny amber colour.
• Fragrance : Harmonious apple and vanilla, with elegant hints of oak.
• Taste : Ripe apple, spices, nuts. Very smooth.
• Aftertaste : Spicy with an exceptional persistence.

What I say

Calvados Boulard has a long heritage having been established in 1825 by Pierre-Auguste Boulard and is situated in Coquainvilliers just to the south of Pont L’Eveque, made from around 120 varieties of apples that must be grown within the Pays d’Auge region. Calvados produced to the more exacting Pays d’Auge Appellation must also be double-distilled in pot stills. This XO expression is matured for a minimum of 6 years in oak barrels though reportedly is made from blending casks anywhere between 6 and 15 years of age to generate the Boulard typical House style.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Dark orange/amber with ruby highlights (14/20) sparse legs and slow medium tears.
• Nose: Caramelised toffee, toffee apple, red apples, caramel, oak wood, vanilla, apple jelly, gentle butterscotch or cream toffee candies, rosy apple sweeties and maraschino cherries precede toasted almond
• Taste: Creamy and gentle fruit, softened or baked ripe apple, gentle spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, vanilla, ginger – just gentle hints fo each, caramel sauce and toffee or fudge, caramelised nuts, hazelnut and or almond e.g. honey-roasted, maraschino cherry and cherry cola derived from tannic oak wood perhaps?
• Finish: Long, smooth and creamy toffee and oak wood spices.

Overall

Incredibly smooth and seasoned with the gentlest of woody spices, cream and toffee predominate but under the surface there is plenty to savour in this expert blend. Truly delicious!

Score 89/100

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